ChromaGenix, a biomanufacturing technology company built from research led byStefano Menegatti, has opened its GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) facility and R&D center on the NC State Centennial Campus. The new 6,500-square-foot site is part of a $35 million investment and is expected to create more than 40 jobs. The company also plans to recruit scientists from NC State, including the university’s Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC). 

At an April 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony, government, university and industry leaders celebrated the milestone. North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley highlighted ChromaGenix’s role in strengthening the state’s position as a global leader in biotech innovation and advanced manufacturing. The event also featured a roundtable discussion bringing together representatives from across the biomanufacturing sector, including global and regional organizations such as KBI Biopharma, Merck Life Science, NC Biotech, Novartis and Viragen. 

“Our vision is to help create a world where life-changing therapies can reach as many patients as possible by improving access and affordability,” said ChromaGenix CEO Chris Major. 

Based at the Keystone Science Building, the company will produce its cutting-edge technologies at commercial scale to support the development and manufacturing of advanced therapies. ChromaGenix products are used by biopharma manufacturers to purify the critical components needed to produce treatments such as gene therapies, mRNA-based medicines and antibody therapies, which are used to treat serious conditions including cancer, rare genetic diseases and infectious diseases. By improving how these materials are separated and processed, the company helps make medicines safer, more consistent and easier to manufacture at scale, supporting broader access for patients.

Menegatti, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a University Faculty Scholar, serves as the ChromaGenix Chief Scientific Officer. He co-founded Ligatrap LLC, a ChromaGenix precursor.

“This is a clear example of research translating into real-world impact,” said Menegatti.

This post was originally published in Partnership Portal.

This post was originally published in Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.