Contact: Jennifer Hollingshead
Office: (573) 882-0601
E-mail: hollingsheadj@umsystem.edu
Analytical Bio-Chemistry Laboratories, Inc. will be the first tenant at the new University of Missouri Discovery Ridge Research Park. During a ceremony at Discovery Ridge, located on Highway 63 just south of Columbia, ABC Labs announced that it intends to relocate its corporate headquarters and pharmaceutical labs to the new research park.
“Discovery Ridge represents a cutting-edge business model using public/private partnerships to generate new technologies and industry in our post-manufacturing economy,” UM President Elson S. Floyd said. “ABC Labs is a vibrant, progressive company and is the ideal first tenant for Discovery Ridge.”
“We applaud the leadership of the University of Missouri, Governor Blunt, and the various state, county and city representatives, for having the vision and commitment to make this project a reality,” Dale Creach, ABC Board Chairman said. “The relocation of ABC’s corporate headquarters and pharmaceutical labs to Discovery Ridge will be an important milestone in Missouri’s quest to become a hub for life sciences.”
“ABC Laboratories is excited about our plans to expand operations in Columbia,” ABC CEO Byron E. Hill said. “We are delighted to become the anchor tenant for this important new research park. If our presence here can help attract additional life sciences tenants, it will be a win-win situation that will benefit our company and the regional economy. We are particularly happy that ABC Laboratories will build its future upon a 38-year tradition of technology transfer from the University.”
“The formation and success of ABC Laboratories represent a wonderful example of how a major research institution like MU can help stimulate economic development,” MU Chancellor Brady Deaton said. “The vision that led to the formation of ABC Labs was born out of the academic excellence and entrepreneurial spirit of an MU faculty member and two graduate students. I could not imagine a better first tenant of Discovery Ridge than ABC Laboratories.”
“This is wonderful news for Missouri’s economy, the University and most importantly for students, whose education will benefit from enhanced employment prospects,” said Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt. “My administration is committed to these types of public-private partnerships to diversify our state’s economy and to help us remain at the forefront of health sciences research.”
Analytical Bio-Chemistry Laboratories was founded in 1968 by MU biochemistry professor Dr. Charles Gehrke and two graduate students, Jim Ussary and David Stalling. Today, ABC Laboratories is a full-service contract research and development company that provides analytical and biological services in support of U.S. and global product registrations for the pharmaceutical, agricultural, animal health, and chemical industries. ABC Laboratories employs over 250 people at its 56-acre complex facilities at 7200 ABC Lane in Columbia, Missouri.
The University and ABC Labs have signed a contract to sign a lease for 11.5 acres by Oct. 1, 2006, pending due diligence contingencies, including utility access and removal of an existing structure on the property. As part of the agreement, ABC labs will initially pay $100,000 and an additional $400,000 within five years of the signing date. The lease will be for 99 years.
Discovery Ridge is located on MU South Farm of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. It is a 1,452 acre agriculture experiment station, located approximately three miles southeast from the main Columbia campus and adjacent to US63 in the southeast portion of the city of Columbia. At its October 2005 meeting, the Board of Curators approved the designation of South Farm as a research park. For more information regarding Discovery Ridge, please visit: www.wheresciencegoestowork.com.
Reviewed 2010-06-17