Johnson & Johnson hits the Big Apple with latest JLabs site
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) opened its latest life science incubator in New York City, the healthcare giant said today.
The 30,000-square-foot JLabs @ NYC is a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson Innovation, New York State and the New York Genome Center. Sited at the genome center in SoHo, the incubator is home to 26 startups and has room for four more, New Brunswick, N.J.-based J&J said.
“Johnson & Johnson has deep entrepreneurial roots in New York and we are pleased to see our unique JLabs model applied in this rich ecosystem to foster the creation of new healthcare innovations that have the potential to change the trajectory of health for humanity,” chief scientific officer Dr. Paul Stoffels said in prepared remarks. “Expanding ourJLabs network to NYC will link entrepreneurs around the region with Johnson & Johnson Innovation experts, allowing some of the brightest minds in healthcare to work collaboratively in a shared space.”
“This new 21st century incubator supports our efforts to boost economic growth by investing in cutting-edge research and technologies that advance human health,” added N.Y. governor Andrew Cuomo. “By investing in JLabs @ NYC, we’re connecting early-stage companies with the tools, resources, and networks to succeed while enhancing the life sciences industry and fostering job growth across New York.”
The company also announced the four winners of its Quickfire Challenge, who are slated to receive a year’s free tenancy at the incubator: small-molecule biotech Lab11 Therapeutics; cancer immunotherapy developer Manhattan Biosolutions; peptide developer Sapience Therapeutics; and cardiac mHealth developer Mobile Sense Technologies.
Some 370 companies have incubated in JLabs sites in San Diego, San Francisco and South San Francisco, Boston and Lowell, Mass., Houston, Toronto, Beerse, Belgium and Shanghai, J&J said.