NanoViricides, Inc. celebrated the grand opening of its new R&D and cGMP pilot manufacturing facility with Congressman Jim Himes as the Chief Guest yesterday, July 21.
In addition, Senator Chris Murphy and Senator Richard Blumenthal sent delegates on their behalf while CT Governor Malloy sent a congratulatory Proclamation and was represented by Cowlis Andrews from CT’s Office of Business Development of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
The dignitaries took a tour of the facility led by Dr. Anil Diwan, President & Chairman of the Company. Congressman Himes performed the ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the facility. Dr. Diwan then read the congratulatory Proclamation sent by Governor Malloy to the Company and introduced the speakers. Congressman Himes spoke about the potentially great impact that a cutting edge nanomedicines pharmaceutical company like NanoViricides, Inc. can have, not only in Connecticut’s regional economic development but also in the service of humanity. He spoke about Influenza and HIV in particular as being very difficult diseases that continue to be devastating globally. He said that the nanoviricides technology developed by the Company has the potential to create effective drugs against these difficult diseases.
The delegate from Senators Murphy’s office presented a letter of congratulations to the Company. Senator Murphy stated in the letter: “This day brings with it the promise of high-skill jobs creation here in Connecticut, the advancement of truly groundbreaking medical technologies, and a continuation of international respect that this organization (NanoViricides, Inc.) has commanded since its founding.” The delegate from Senator Blumenthal’s office conveyed the Senators’ good wishes and congratulations to the Company. Bill Purcell, President of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, welcomed Nanoviricides to Shelton. Paul Dorfman, Managing Director, Global Corporate Clients Group of New York Stock Exchange said that NYSE was very pleased that NanoViricides, Inc. chose to up-list to this exchange, and expressed that NYSE extends continuing support to its clients including NanoViricides, Inc.
Dr. Eugene Seymour, CEO of the Company, offered closing remarks. He juxtaposed the extremely high levels of effectiveness observed for nanoviricides drug candidates with similarly dramatic effectiveness that penicillin had demonstrated in the first patient treated in the USA at the Yale University hospital in 1942. He said that the nanoviricides technology had the promise of being as transformative against viral diseases, as penicillin has been against bacterial diseases.
Several additional important community members also attended the event. CTInnovations’ Director of Strategic Partnerships, Ms. Deb Santy, said that this facility could have strategic implications for Pharma start-ups in Connecticut. Key members of Shelton’s City Government were present including Mayor Mark Lauretti, Board of Aldermen President John Anglace, Police Chief Joel Hurliman, and Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Ruth Parkins.
Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Senior Associate Dean for Executive Programs & Lester Crown Professor in the Practice of Management, School of Management, Yale University, also attended the event and congratulated the Company on its achievements.
Professor Thomas Lentz, the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board Member and Professor Emeritus of Yale University attended the event and said that this was truly a state of the art facility.
Several of the Company’s investors and associates from all over the world also attended this invitation-only event.