State-Of-The-Art Diagnostics Center Opening In Horsham

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —A state-of-the-art diagnostics center is expected to open in the township later this year, providing a "significant investment in the life sciences ecosystem" in the Philadelphia suburbs, township officials said.

Larry Burns, the township's director of community and economic development, attended a "sneak peak" of the Center for Diagnostic Discovery recently with about 50 dignitaries from the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

The center was constructed in the back 50,000 feet of NMS Lab’s Headquarters property at 206 Welsh Rd. Burns said the first tenant, a non-profit organization, is expected to occupy some space in December.

Burns said he was welcomed on the tour by Eric Rieders, chairman of NMS Labs.

"Given Horsham’s proximity to PA BioTech in Doylestown, the Springhouse Innovation Park up the road in Lower Gwynedd Township, and now this new Horsham-based incubator launched to accelerate discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostics, Horsham is poised and hopeful to grow the Bio/Pharma ecosystem here in the township," Burns said.

"As new therapies reach the proof of concept stage, Horsham is very well situated for a variety of reasons as a perfect location for Bio/Pharma CGMP Manufacturing," he said.

Burns said the center is ideal for the township.

Within 15 miles of Horsham, there is a population of almost 2.2 million, and generally a highly educated and affluent pool for employment, Burns said.

The township also is tax-friendly to businesses, as there is no township business privilege tax or mercantile tax, and real estate taxes are moderate in relationship to many surrounding townships in Montgomery County.

Further, per-square-foot rental rates are very competitive and affordable in relation to the Philadelphia suburbs as a whole, Burns added.

In addition to some networking and facility tours, Jeff Snellenburg, president of PA Angel Network, moderated a discussion with Lou Kassa, chief executive of the PA Biotech Center and Scott Dessain, chief science officer of OCMS Bio, LLC.

Norwood Construction is currently serving as design-builder on a new incubation and acceleration facility focused on the discovery and development of diagnostic products and equipment.

Branded as the Center for Diagnostics Discovery (CDD), the facility will offer secure BSL-2 labs, private office suites, meeting rooms, and support space.

Anchoring the facility will be The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE), a nonprofit organization providing education, training, and research in forensic laboratory sciences.

NMS Labs, a privately-held clinical and forensic toxicology reference laboratory headquartered next to the new space, serves as a CDD strategic partner. Click here for artist renderings for the project.