The Cortex Innovation Community and Washington University in St. Louis announced today that Vir Biotechnology, a San Francisco-based immunology research company, is expanding its presence in St. Louis. Vir will invest more than $41 million and create 36 new jobs.
Vir focuses on infectious disease prevention and will establish a lab and offices in St. Louis’ 200-acre Cortex Innovation Community, a vibrant immunobiology and microbiology research community. At Cortex, Vir will be near other biotechnology companies, university technology transfer, entrepreneurial programming, the Washington University School of Medicine, and the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Cortex is also near the BioGenerator Accelerator Labs and BioSTL, a hub of biotechnology activity.
David H. Perlmutter, MD, Washington University’s executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, the George and Carol Bauer Dean of the School of Medicine, and the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor, said, “We are excited to welcome Vir to St. Louis, which is already home to an impressive list of companies and researchers. We are particularly thrilled that the company’s research efforts are led by Dr. Skip Virgin, former head of Washington University’s Department of Pathology & Immunology. Skip made numerous brilliant contributions to the science of immunology and infectious disease during his 30-year tenure at the School of Medicine.”
While Vir’s Cortex space is renovated, Vir’s team will be located at Saint Louis University, which studies infectious diseases and treatments, develops vaccines, and prepares for public health crises through its Center for Vaccine Development. The Center has conducted pivotal research on vaccines for COVID-19 and a variety of other infectious diseases.
Vir worked with Greater St. Louis Inc., Missouri Partnership, the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and the St. Louis Development Corporation in their expansion efforts.
Vir used the Missouri Works program, a tool that helps companies expand and retain workers by providing access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation.
To learn more about Missouri Works, click here.
MEET
