March 11, 2010 — Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett joined Peter Kiener, D.Phil, Zyngenia Chief Operating Officer; Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot; Mayor of Gaithersburg Sidney Kat; David Mott, New Enterprise Associates (NEA) General Partner, Chair of the Montgomery County Biosciences Task Force and Zyngenia Chairman; local and state elected officials; and members of the local life sciences community to celebrate the build-out of Zyngenia’s new 14,000-square-foot office and laboratory space in Gaithersburg today. The formation and growth of Zyngenia, a privately held biotherapeutics company focused on next-generation antibody drug development, was spurred by significant venture capital and public-sector investments.  The company has a current staff of 14 employees and plans to grow to at least 20 by the end of the year.

This strategic public/private partnership is a component of the County’s recently unveiled Bioscience Strategy, which recommends enhancing the environment for entrepreneurship and creation of new life science companies in the County by merging increased local venture capital funding with serial biotech entrepreneurs and seasoned industry executives.

Source: Office of Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett