Takeda Becomes Founding Sponsor of LabCentral to Help Life Sciences Startups Accelerate New Medical Treatments

Investment from global pharmaceutical leader will provide strategic support for LabCentral's mission to foster biotechnology innovation and entrepreneurship in Massachusetts

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LabCentral today announced that Takeda, a global biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan with a global U.S. hub located in Massachusetts, will become a LabCentral Founding Sponsor. Takeda will provide funding over a period of three years to support LabCentral's biotech incubator located at 700 Main Street in the heart of Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass. The Founding Sponsorship will provide strategic support for LabCentral's operations at the location, including its shared lab space and a robust range of programs designed to help its community of biotech startup residents accelerate their research and development.

"Partnering is a critical element of Takeda's research and development strategy. We employ a unique model that supports diverse and flexible partnerships to translate science into highly transformative medicines for patients around the world," said Michael Martin, head of Takeda's center for external innovation. "As part of Takeda's broader partnering strategy, we endeavor to empower and accelerate early-stage biotech innovation and R&D. LabCentral's geographic location in the center of Boston's scientific community, along with its track record of success serving as a launching pad for biotech and life sciences startups, made it a natural investment partner."

LabCentral will allow a maximum of seven Founding Sponsorships for LabCentral 700, including up to four Sponsors from the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. Takeda is joining existing Founding Sponsors Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), Triumvirate Environmental, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Roche and Eppendorf.

"LabCentral 700 is our original facility, optimized to help early stage scientists and entrepreneurs cultivate the seeds of biotech innovation, and its success has become a blueprint for the buildout of our other facilities – LabCentral 610 and now LabCentral 238 – so we can support all stages of the biotech startup lifecycle," said Johannes Fruehauf, co-founder and president of LabCentral. "The support and collaboration of sponsors like Takeda is instrumental as we continue to grow and develop our operations to help high-potential startups at 700 Main and beyond."

Highlighting the success of LabCentral residents and alumni, the companies have raised nearly $17 billion in funding since 2013 and more than $6 billion last year alone. Also last year, LabCentral companies launched 80 new clinical trials and generated 1,449 new jobs within the local economy (and 4,608 new jobs since 2013.)

As part of the Founding Sponsorship, Takeda will have the ability to award up to fifteen LabCentral Golden Tickets, which include advisory support and a seat within LabCentral's shared lab space for one year, to promising biotech entrepreneurs. The company will also gain access to LabCentral's community of startups, with the right to organize monthly events and meetings at LabCentral 700, which include the support of LabCentral's team for logistics and marketing. Additional benefits include participation in LabCentral's resident Selection Committee, office space at LabCentral 700 and invitations to attend and speak at special events.

About LabCentral 
A private, non-profit institution, LabCentral was founded in 2013 as a launchpad for high potential life-sciences and biotech startups. Operating a total of 225,000 square-feet in the heart of Kendall Square in Cambridge, Mass., LabCentral offers fully permitted laboratory and office space for as many as 100 startups comprising approximately 1,000 scientists and entrepreneurs. More information is available at www.labcentral.org.  

SOURCE LabCentral