A COMPANY developing next generation engineered antibodies has relocated its laboratory operations from Oxfordshire to Teesside.

Absolute Antibody, a manufacturer of antibodies for the biomedical research and diagnostics markets, has doubled its lab space by moving to new laboratories at the 75-acre Wilton Centre business and science park at Wilton, near Redcar.

The expansion means it is now able to offer new services including antibody humanisation to supplement its antibody engineering, antibody expression and hybridoma sequencing services.

Absolute Antibody’s headquarters and sales and marketing office will remain in Oxfordshire, where it has close links with the universities, biotech and pharma companies.

The new laboratory currently employs four people but a further four will be taken on over the next six months.

Dr Ian Wilkinson, head of research and manufacturing, said: “The move to Wilton Centre and the North East makes sense on multiple levels. It has allowed us to increase in size whilst at the same time reducing costs. We can also continue to grow our service portfolio which is something we would not have been able to do in Oxford.

“The Wilton Centre provides first-class facilities and the excellent support we have received has resulted in a smooth relocation and expansion.”