Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was founded in February 2000 as one of the largest biotech start-ups in the USA, occupies a renovated space in the George Street Technology Center in downtown New Haven, Connecticut, across from Yale Medical School. The new facility is dedicated to developing biotechnology products on a commercial basis. The facility is rented out to a number of other companies in the biotechnology sector, besides Achillon (thus functioning as an incubator). Achillion has assembled the necessary scientific, technological and human resources to discover and develop new products addressing serious unmet medical needs. Achillion is a privately held company financed by Schroder Ventures, Atlas Venture, Advent International and Connecticut Innovations.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FACILITY ACTIVITIES
Achillion, in partnership with Yale University, is a product-focused pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and commercial development of innovative therapeutic agents, with a particular emphasis on antiviral drugs to treat diseases caused by hepatitis B and C viruses (HCV and HBV), herpes viruses, and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The company, which originally planned to locate in New Jersey, moved to Connecticut so it could enter into a partnership with Yale University and Yale researchers. The company is now pursuing development of lead drug candidates, building its internal discovery teams and structuring a variety of business and research collaborations.
THERAPEUTIC AGENTS PRODUCTION
The company’s proprietary lead drug candidate (ACH126443) is under rapid advancement for the treatment of HIV and HBV infections. Achillion’s drug discovery and optimisation engine embodies both a conventional medicinal chemistry approach directed at classical molecular targets and the core breakthrough Zinc Finger Targeting Technology (ZFTT) for drug discovery.
TECHNOLOGY CENTRE AT NEW HAVEN
Achillion Pharmaceuticals and Molecular Staging became the first tenants in the new biotech facility located at 300 George St. The owner of the property, Winstanley Associates, spent a substantial amount of money to make what was once an SNET (phone company) building attractive to biotech tenants.
Winstanley Associates acquired the 550,000ft² building in downtown New Haven. A block from the medical school, this building houses Achillion and three other companies. The nine-storey facility was already outfitted with fibre-optic communication systems.
Winstanley planned a combination of laboratory space for biotech start-ups and offices for information technology and telecommunications start-ups.
THE WINSTANLEY PROJECT
The Winstanley project represents a multilateral commitment to biotechnology in New Haven. The predecessor of 300 George St., Science Park was launched in the 1980s with the help of Yale funds but faced debt and vacancy for many years. Now, however, the complex is a vigorous incubator for biotech start-ups and recently expanded to include 500,000ft of new space.
Several of the building’s aspects are ideal for biotech firms. For example, large chaseways used in its now obsolete heating system was easily converted to an exhaust system vital for biotechnology research. Installing a similar system in another building could be prohibitively expensive.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND NEW ENGLAND
The success of biotechnology companies has made them increasingly valuable to communities and developers, as demonstrated by the recent sale of the former Southern New England Telephone property to Winstanley Enterprises for more than $27 million.
Despite projects like 300 George Street, biotechnology has yet to generate many jobs in the area, but the industry plays an important role in revitalising the local economy. The conversion of the downtown site in close proximity to Yale University’s School of Medicine is supported by a private investment of close to $50 million by the developer, Winstanley Enterprises.
The City and State have funded the construction of an adjacent parking garage, as well as supported nearby restaurants, theatres, a park and the Omni hotel, creating a desirable and attractive downtown location next to Yale’s Medical School.
