Portland biotechnology company AbSci announced Tuesday it will relocate its headquarters to the new Hudson Building in downtown Vancouver.
The company plans to begin renovations in the building, at 101 E. Sixth St., early next month and anticipates moving into its state-of-the-art lab later this year, according to a news release from AbSci.
AbSci, which launched in 2011, has developed a protein manufacturing platform that substantially reduces the production costs of therapeutic proteins and antibodies used in a wide range of medical treatments, including those for cancer, diabetes and autoimmune disorders, as well as hormone therapies.
The company’s relocation is backed by a commitment of $200,000 from Gov. Jay Inslee’s Strategic Reserve Fund to be used for the build-out of the lab, according to the news release.
AbSci currently has 14 full-time employees and anticipates adding another 20 to 30 jobs within the next five years, according to the company.
“We’ve been committed to finding a long-term home in Vancouver but needed a space that could accommodate our unique requirements and continued growth for at least the next five years,” said Sean McClain, founder and CEO of AbSci, in the news release. “The Hudson Building’s modern layout allowed us to design an efficient and collaborative facility that will support the company’s growth for the foreseeable future.”
In November, AbSci and the Port of Vancouver announced plans for the company to lease about 8,000 square feet of office and lab space at the Red Lion Vancouver Hotel at the Quay. But earlier this month, port commissioners approved AbSci’s request to terminate the lease agreement.
At the time, AbSci office manager Reid Van Atta said the waterfront space “just ended up not meeting our long-term needs.”
“We are excited that AbSci has found a long-term home in Clark County and look forward to continuing to work with the company along with our other private and public partners to grow the life sciences ecosystem in the community,” said Mike Bomar, Columbia River Economic Development Council president, in the news release. “The collaboration that has occurred to get to this point has created a great deal of energy and momentum on this front.”
