Biotech Company Sema4 To Shutter Branford Laboratory Dec. 31: Report

BRANFORD, CT — In 2018, the Stamford-based genomic-testing biotech company Sema4 opened its laboratory on Commercial Drive in Branford.

At the time, then-Branford state Rep. Lonnie Reed and chair of the legislature's Bipartisan Bioscience Caucus, praised the company's plan to Now, four years later, the lab is closing, according to a news release.

Monday, it was announced Sema4 is, "exiting the somatic tumor testing business."

As such, it's planning to close the clinical laboratory in Branford effective Dec. 31.

"This business line represents less than 1% of the company’s revenue and approximately $35 million in annual expense," according to MarketWire.

In 2014, Sema4 partnered with the Icahn Institute at Mount Sinai to open the genomics research lab, which by 2018 would find its home in Branford. The company uses deep data analysis to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and advanced genome-based diagnostics for reproductive health and oncology.

Read more here.

In a letter sent to the state Department of Labor on Aug. 15, Sema4 officials wrote: "This letter is being issued in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ... in order to notify you that Sema4 is undertaking a reduction in force that will result in the permanent layoff of some employees at each of its three Connecticut locations beginning October 14, 2022.

"The numbers of affected employees are as follows:

"Headquarters, 333 Ludlow Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06092: 143 affected employees (102 of whom are remote employees working outside the state of Connecticut, but whose work is assigned from Headquarters and/or who report to Headquarters)

"Stamford Lab, 62 Southfield Avenue, Stamford, Connecticut 06902: 15 affected employees (6 of whom are remote employees working outside the state of Connecticut, but whose work is assigned from Stamford Lab / or who report to Stamford Lab)

"Branford Lab, 1 Commercial Street, Branford, Connecticut 06405: 81 affected employees (14 of whom are remote employees working outside the state of Connecticut, but whose work is assigned from Branford Lab / or who report to Branford Lab)

"All affected employees have been notified as of the date of this notice, and will be paid wages and continue receiving health benefits through the remainder of their employment with the Company. The affected employees are not represented by a labor organization and have no bumping rights," the letter concludes.

>>>Read the full letter here.