Noachis Terra Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, has announced the location of its headquarters in Gainesville. The company’s main office will be at UF Innovate | The Hub, a world-recognized leader in technology business incubation affiliated with one of the nation’s leading research institutions, the University of Florida.
Noachis Terra is focused solely on meeting the immediate need for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and investing in research to discover and develop vaccines for other strains of coronavirus. Development plans call for introducing the vaccine to the market within the next 18 to 21 months. The vaccine is based on patent-pending technology that utilizes a stabilized prefusion conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein to generate a robust immune response with the potential for lifelong immunity from the currently circulating strain of coronavirus.
“We are excited to announce our decision to place our headquarters in Gainesville,” said Gary Ascani, Noachis Terra’s newly appointed interim President. “We looked at multiple communities across eight states for the home of our company and found Gainesville to be the perfect fit based upon the biotechnology cluster already located here. Staci Bertrand, Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, and her team worked closely with us to help in the final decision.”
The Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development team were highly involved during the location selection process for Noachis Terra.
“Noachis Terra is developing a groundbreaking vaccine, and we are so pleased to be the home of this exceptional company,” said Bertrand. “Biotechnology is a critical industry cluster in our regional economy, and Noachis Terra will help grow this sector, create high paying jobs and invest significantly in research and development.”
Gary Ascani will serve as the interim President for the company. Gary has more than 40 years of experience in biotechnology having served as CEO of Banyan Biomarkers and PNP Therapeutics, a biotechnology company currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for head and neck cancer gene therapy treatment. Ascani currently serves as an advisor to the Board for PNP Therapeutics, is active in the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Advisory Board at UF Innovate | The Hub and is the President of the Board of Trustees for Gainesville’s internationally acclaimed Dance Alive National Ballet.
“I am very pleased to join Noachis Terra as its interim President,” said Ascani. “The opportunity to work with very talented and accomplished scientists and businesspeople in the Gainesville region to attack this insidious disease was compelling. Being at the forefront of launching a new company to focus on innovative solutions to medical conditions has been at the core of my career. Noachis Terra developing a vaccine to COVID-19 fits that path.”
