Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), a community of 70 life sciences firms, said that 12 new business partners joined the free zone during 2010 for setting up regional operations.

The new business partners include two global brands -- International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) and bio-pharma leader Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS).

DuBiotech, a member of Tecom Investments Sciences Cluster, has also launched state-of-the-art warehousing facilities for storage, showroom, distribution, logistics, re-packaging, labeling and light manufacturing requirements of the pharmaceutical, healthcare and biotechnology industries.

The facilities are designed to serve as a hub for clients wishing to access 1.8 billion people located in the Mena, Asian and CIS markets.

Dubai-based enzyme biotechnology company Epygen and leading regional speciality healthcare company taiba-ME are among the first business partners to locate their operations in the warehousing and pre-built modular units.

Dr Ayesha Abdullah, managing director, sciences cluster, Tecom Investments, said: “We are proud to announce the completion of the warehousing facilities at DuBiotech that will help add value and offer maximum advantages to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, facilitating imports, exports and other logistical operations.”

Spread over 22 million sq ft, DuBiotech has invested in world class infrastructure to offer specially-tailored facilities that meet the niche requirements of the life sciences industry.

“Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global bio-pharma company focusing on discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases,” Karl Lintel, regional vice president and general manager, Bristol-Myers Squibb.

“Around the world, BMS medicines help millions of people in their fight against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis and psychiatric disorders. The newly created offices at DuBiotech will help us better serve customers and patients in the Middle East and Africa region.”

Saif Al Hasani, managing director, taiba-ME, said: ''The new taiba-ME office at the state-of-the-art warehousing facilities at DuBiotech will allow us to gain full control over high quality storing and redistribution of our life-saving medicines and ultra-rare disease products to countries across the Mena region. We are extremely delighted to consolidate our offices in the same facility.”

Debayan Ghosh, president, Epygen Labs, said: “The new warehouse-cum-pre-built modular bio-industrial units have finally made it possible for Epygen Labs to relocate its enzyme manufacturing plant inside the specialized cluster.”

“We are positive that this move will help us lead the industrial biotechnology segment in the region through developing sustainable and eco-friendly solutions using enzyme engineering techniques,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service