- Specialist innovation real estate platform Mission Street and investor BGO have signed leading biotech firm Nucleome Therapeutics for 20,000 sq ft on a 10-year lease at Inventa, central Oxford’s first purpose-built commercial science scheme
- Nucleome Therapeutics is relocating its Oxford HQ to accommodate its expansion plans
- Science and innovation companies are increasingly demanding world-class labs and offices close to city centres
Mission Street, a specialist investor, developer and operator for the science and innovation sector, and BGO, a leading global real estate investment manager have together in partnership signed leading biotechnology company Nucleome Therapeutics (Nucleome) as a landmark tenant at central Oxford’s first purpose-built commercial science scheme. Nucleome will occupy 20,000 sq ft of fitted labs and offices in the 65,000 sq ft building.
Inventa is the first commercial science scheme to be delivered in Oxford’s West End, the only innovation district within walking distance to Oxford train station and the city centre. The West End has a long-term pipeline of over two million sq ft of commercial and academic buildings and will play a crucial role in realising Oxford’s ambitions to become a global top three innovation cluster by 2040.
Mission Street secured planning consent in December 2023 for the West End’s second phase, known as Fabrica. Construction for the 183,000 sq ft, five-storey, new-build scheme is due to commence in September this year. The two schemes, which have been a catalyst for change in the micro location highlight both Mission Street and BGO’s strong conviction for well-connected, amenity rich innovation clusters. Together, both firms have a pipeline of 1.5m sq ft in such locations in Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol.
Originally a spinout from Oxford University, Nucleome aims to address traditional drug discovery failure rates by derisking novel targets through proprietary genomics approaches. Nucleome will be relocating from its existing headquarters at the Oxford Science Park.
In 2022 the company completed an oversubscribed £37.5 million Series A funding round backed by investors including Oxford Science Enterprises, M Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, British Patient Capital and Johnson & Johnson Innovation.
Artem Korolev, founder and CEO of Mission Street, said: “Following extensive collaboration between our teams in designing and delivering Nucleome’s facility, we are excited to welcome them to Inventa for the next chapter of their growth. We look forward to building a long-term partnership with them and delivering a world class urban innovation district across Inventa, Fabrica and the wider West End.”
Stephen Harrison, Chief Scientific Officer of Nucleome Therapeutics, added: “Nucleome’s expansion, driven by the significant progress in identifying new drug candidates, has resulted in a need for larger office and lab space. We chose Inventa because of its central location, and Mission Street’s reputation for designing buildings that thoroughly accommodate the needs of life science companies. We are looking forward to being part of this exciting new science and innovation hub in central Oxford.”