UK ASTeCC Startup to Establish Headquarters, Create 23 Jobs in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 6, 2016) — A startup company that was incubated at the University of Kentucky Advanced Science and Technology Commercialization Center (ASTeCC) will establish its headquarters and create 23 jobs in Lexington later this summer.

Hera BioLabs Inc. provides genetically specialized products and services for scientists and pharmaceutical researchers. Specifically, the company produces laboratory rat models that could make pharmaceutical testing quicker, safer and more cost effective. Hera plans to invest $1.8 million to outfit an existing building with a buildout that will include positive-pressure barrier rooms for housing the rats, as well as office and lab space.

Jack Crawford, Hera’s CEO, said ASTeCC was especially helpful and accommodative for the growth of his company. 

“ASTeCC is ideal for early-stage life science companies,” Crawford said. “Easy and cost-effective access to shared resources such as cell culture, pathology, flow cytometry and other services was key for us to generate early data and move our projects along.”  

Hera was established in 2015 as a spinoff of Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals Inc., which was also incubated at ASTeCC. Hera’s specialized rat models will allow researchers to more accurately test drugs and other therapies before moving to human clinical trials, which can reduce the high failure rate of expensive and time-consuming clinical trials.

“Hera’s products and services hold promise in contributing to the fight against cancer and other diseases that affect us all,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “Our ability to attract, retain and assist in the growth of companies in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industry underscores Kentucky’s status as an innovative state addressing real and persistent problems.”

“Hera’s success is Lexington’s success in creating an environment that attracts entrepreneurship and enables businesses to prosper,” said Lexington Mayor Jim Gray. “When a home-grown biotech firm expands here we know we’re on the right track.”

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, visit uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Jenny Wells, 859-257-5343; jenny.wells@gmail.com