Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, an RNAi therapeutics company, has announced the expansion of its global footprint with the opening of a new development and commercial hub in Maidenhead, U.K. In anticipation of substantial growth across Alnylam over the next five years, the office opens with a core clinical development, regulatory affairs and commercial team and space for an additional 100 employees.

“Since our inception in 2002, Alnylam has pioneered new and innovative potential treatments for challenging diseases. This effort has yielded a robust clinical pipeline with 10 programmes in development across our three Strategic Therapeutic Areas or STArs,” said Akshay Vaishnaw, executive VP of R&D and chief medical officer at Alnylam. “We’re thrilled to be expanding our global presence in the United Kingdom and Maidenhead in particular. This important new office will play a critical role in advancing our cutting-edge investigational RNAi therapies toward regulatory approval and launch in European markets to benefit patients with life-threatening diseases as quickly as possible.”

An office in Maidenhead allows Alnylam to support company growth in Europe, through its access to highly-skilled individuals, and proximity to scientific centers and regulatory agencies.

“With its strong academic and clinical research sector, as well as its universal health service and regulatory bodies constantly striving to be more streamlined and efficient, the U.K. has a lot to offer as a development hub for innovative medicines,” added Brendan Martin, general manager for U.K. and Ireland at Alnylam. “Our investment here signals a trust that the UK community will continue to treat this mission with the urgency and importance it deserves.”

Alnylam’s progress with its clinical programs in the U.K. to date has been in large part due to the support and contributions of numerous expert collaborators at many outstanding phase I units and academic sites across the U.K.