NUTLEY, NJ-Switzerland-based Roche appears to have given New Brunswick a serious look for the new research center it will establish as it departs its 83-year-old Nutley campus next year in a global restructuring.
Roche announced Friday, however, that it signed an 11-year-lease on space at the Alexandria Center for Life Science on Manhattan’s East Side. Roche will set up its new Translational Clinical Research Center next year when the center’s West Tower is completed.
About 200 scientists will move to Manhattan to conduct early drug development programs and clinical trials, as well as develop strategy and implement research programs focused on understanding disease and potential new medicines. The Alexandria Center is owned and operated by Alexandria Real Estate Equities.
The acting head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Dr. Mike Burgess, said the company considered several properties in New York and New Jersey and chose the Alexandria because of the thriving scientific atmosphere it offers, allowing the company to tap into scientific expertise and innovative development processes.
Yet, Dr. Burgess offered a distinct tip of the hat to New Jersey officials’ strong effort to attract the new research center to locate in New Brunswick, home to Rutgers University and the Robert Wood Johnson Health Center. The effort began just two months ago – after Roche made its abrupt announcement of the closing in Nutley.
"Governor Chris Christie and Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno made an extremely compelling case for the unified Rutgers and Robert Wood Johnson complex in New Brunswick,” said the Roche executive. “One outcome of their efforts is that we have decided to keep around 50 management-level positions in a northern New Jersey location."
Roche is not yet saying where those jobs will be centered. Christopher J. Paladino, president of the New Brunswick Development Corp., the city’s development arm, said he was pleased that at least the case was so strong for his city that Roche “really had to think about it.”
He noted that state officials have moved to strengthen coordination between economic development officials and higher education officials, and predicted that will pay off in attracting research and high-tech companies in the future.
The Nutley site is to close at the end next year, when Roche will begin marketing the 119-acre property.
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