Florida Biologix launches out of Florida University with backing from Ampersand.

Florida Biologix, a biotech spinout from Florida University, has launched from the institution with investment from Ampersand Capital Partners.

The investment, the size of which was not revealed, will be used to build up the US-based company’s gene and cell therapy manufacturing capacities.

The company was originally founded in 2006 as a division of Florida’s centre for regenerative health biotechnology and has grown to 100 employees, but has not gone private up until now. During its development, it has received seed funding from Florida University, Florida state, and the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

Tim Martin, who is taking the CEO chair at Biologix as part of the round, said: “I am very excited to join Florida Biologix.  The Company has extensive expertise in a wide array of biopharmaceutical products with an emphasis on the emerging areas of gene and cell therapy.  After working with Ampersand to survey the contract development and manufacturing services industry focused on complex biologics, we determined that Florida Biologix occupies a unique position in this space.”