TUCSON, Arizona — Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, closed on 53.6 acres at Innovation Park in Oro Valley for $18 million ($336,000 per acre) according to public records. The land is adjacent to the company’s current facility at 1910 E Innovation Park Drive and also in an Economic Expansion Zone (EEZ) in Oro Valley.

The purchase occurred within days of the Company’s announcement of laying off 84 employees, across multiple departments, at its Oro Valley facility, reportedly due to a “challenging business environment”. It does seem uncommon for a company to expand and retract at the same time, and we regret everyone involved in the transactions were unavailable for comment.

The Town of Oro Valley was able to confirm that Ventana had submitted plans for expansion to its existing 147,000-square-foot facility earlier this year, but later withdrew these expansion plans.

Ventana Medical Systems was launched in 1987 by University of Arizona professor and practicing pathologist, Dr. Thomas Grogan. It is one of the region’s largest employers, with 1,286 full-time employees reported at the start of 2016.

As the leading supplier of cancer diagnostic systems to the pathology market, Ventana manufactures over 220 cancer tests with related instruments right here in southern Arizona for 80 countries, and most importantly, for 4 million people afflicted with cancer yearly around the world. Ventana products provide healthcare professionals with a total solution for all critical steps involved in the analysis of tissue biopsies. This pioneering company also offers premier workflow solutions to improve laboratory efficiency and preserve patient safety.

Parent-company Roche, based in Basel, Switzerland, has expanded its facilities and workforce at Ventana since it acquired the University of Arizona technology spinoff for $3.4 billion in 2008 when it had about 800 workers. Roche reported strong sales growth for Q3, with sales from its diagnostics division rising 7 percent to $8.3 million.

In October, Ventana Medical took possession of a new 60,000-squre-foot distribution building in Marana see RED News article Oct. 2015 “Ventana Distribution at Tangerine Commerce Park Sells for $8.6 Million”.

The seller of the property was Venture West (Neil Simon, manager) the developer of Innovation Park. This master planned business park is situated on a 535-acre campus in the heart of the Tucson bioscience region, Innovation Park is genuinely unique. Located at the corner of Tangerine Road and Oracle Road, the park has easy access to Interstate 10 and to regions within Southern Arizona. 194 acres are available for development with land parcels up to 35 acres for sale. Total capacity will eventually accommodate 2.5 million square feet of commercial space.

Tim Healy and Bob Delaney with CBRE in Tucson represent Venture West at Innovation Park and were also unable to comment on the transaction, but it would appear to possibly be good news although a temporary setback for immediate growth for Ventana Medical.

To learn more, see RED Comp #4343.

Tucson, AZ – An affiliate of Cottonwood Properties announced they will be constructing and leasing a 60,000-square-foot distribution facility for Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., a member of the Roche Group. The new facility is located in Tangerine Commerce Park located on Tangerine Farms Road just west of the Tangerine Road freeway interchange. This is the first development within the 100-acre business park that provides a range of retail and employment uses and will be a key location for future employment and retail growth in the Marana area. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Bill Di Vito and Jesse Blum with CBRE’s Tucson office represented Cottonwood in the transaction. Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. was represented by Dev Gupta with DTZ.

“The Tangerine Corridor is an ideal location for this type of development,” said CBRE’s Di Vito. “Freeway access and the availability of larger commercial parcels will attract other logistics and employment users to the area, establishing it as the next major commercial hub in greater Tucson.”

The distribution facility is being designed by Gromatzky Dupree and Associates and construction with Barker Morrissey Contracting is scheduled to start in 4Q 2014 with completion projected for 4Q 2015.

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., headquartered in Oro Valley, Ariz., is a member of the Roche Group and is a world leader and innovator of tissue-based cancer diagnostic solutions for patients worldwide. At its existing facility, located in the master-planned business community of Innovation Park, Ventana delivers medical diagnostic systems and biopsy-based cancer tests that are shaping the future of healthcare. This new facility will function as a multi-use distribution facility with some assembly to support its facility in Oro Valley.

Tangerine Commerce Park is located just off Interstate-10 on Tangerine Road and is one of two mixed-use and industrial developments along the quickly developing Tangerine Corridor with direct access to Oro Valley and the bio-tech industries. The park can accommodate uses from smaller 2- to 3-acre requirements up to 100-acre requirements.

The world’s top scientific minds will convene at Oro Valley’s Hilton El Conquistador Resort February 25 and 26 to collaborate and share leading-edge developments in cancer diagnostics and treatment. The 10th Annual Tucson Symposium puts Tucson at the leading edge of cancer research, diagnostics and treatment, and promises to further the field of personalized medicine and positively impact medical practice all over the world.

Each year Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Ventana), a Member of the Roche Group, sponsors the Symposium to provide a venue for thought leaders to share new ideas and scientific achievements in cancer research and medical practice.

James Allison, PhD, is a leading cancer researcher with the MD Anderson Cancer Center and will be giving this year’s keynote address. Allison’s research has led to the development of the first FDA-approved drug to extend survival for late-stage melanoma patients.

“I’m enthusiastic about setting the tone of this scientific program with a focus on the importance of immune therapy,” he says. “Immune therapy is now becoming successful for patients only due to the collaboration of so many committed researchers, patients, clinicians and industry partners. It’s great to see a unique venue like this Symposium bring together very different expertise to focus on common issues.”

Each year, the Tucson Symposium has grown in size and stature.

Ventana founder Dr. Thomas Grogan remembers the event’s first year. “Ventana was coming of age scientifically, and it was time for us to expand our intellectual horizons, multiply our inventive reach, and to learn what we did not know,” he says. “We reached out to world-renowned researchers in pharmacology, oncology, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry and immunology.”
Some 165 researchers participated in the Symposium’s inaugural year. In 2013, that number grew to 480.

This year promises to be even bigger, drawing global scientific collaborators to drive advancements in pathology and oncology and improve patient care and treatment outcomes. Key research scientists, academics, oncologists and pathologists from the world’s leading hospitals and research institutions are expected to attend.

Topics of discussion include the most current trends, therapies and medical findings in cancer diagnostics and treatment.

“The Symposium has endured the test of time,” says Dr. Grogan. “It continues to draw scientific collaborators worldwide, sharing innovative approaches and breakthroughs that enable us to understand the pivotal role that scientific research and innovative diagnostic tests play in improving the quality of patient care.