[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E244-E245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING ALEXION ON ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2017

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, twenty-five years ago, in New Haven's 
Science Park, in an incubator space dedicated to research and 
development in the biotech industry, Dr. Leonard Bell celebrated the 
opening of Alexion Pharmaceuticals. From that day forward, Alexion has 
strived to meet its mission, to develop and deliver life-transforming 
therapies for patients with devastating and rare diseases.

[[Page E245]]

  Alexion is one of New Haven and Connecticut's greatest biotech 
success stories. In less than a decade, the company grew far beyond the 
incubator space of Science Park, first moving to new facilities in 
Cheshire, opening a bio-manufacturing facility in Rhode Island and 
establishing operations in Europe. I am proud to say that just last 
year we celebrated the return of Alexion's global headquarters to New 
Haven where they continue their good work in a new state-of-the-art 
facility that is anchor to an entire downtown revitalization effort.
  Alexion is special in many ways, but what makes them most unique is 
their commitment to patients who are all too often invisible to others. 
Alexion is dedicated to the development of drugs and therapies for some 
of the most rare diseases in the world, extending hope to patients and 
families who have nowhere else to turn.
  Alexion first found success with the development of Soliris, the 
world's first approved terminal complement inhibitor. Today, Soliris is 
approved in nearly 50 countries for the treatment of patients with 
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and in more than 40 countries 
for the treatment of patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome 
(aHUS), two life-threatening, ultra-rare disorders caused by 
uncontrolled complement activation. In more recent years, Alexion's 
metabolic franchise has grown to include two highly innovative enzyme 
replacement therapies for patients with life-threatening and ultra-rare 
disorders: Strensiq is approved for patients with hypophosphatasia 
(HPP) and Kanuma is approved for patients with lysosomal acid lipase 
deficiency.
  Patients with these life-threatening diseases have no effective 
treatment options, and they and their families suffer with little hope. 
Alexion's goal has and continues to be to deliver medical breakthroughs 
where none currently exist. They are driven because they know people's 
lives depend on their work.
  Today, Alexion employs nearly 3,000 people around the world, serving 
patients in 50 countries. From that small incubator space in Science 
Park, Alexion has emerged as one of the world's leading rare disease 
companies, advancing the most robust rare disease pipeline in the 
biotech industry. I was proud to stand with Dr. Bell as Alexion opened 
its doors and I am proud to stand today to extend my heartfelt 
congratulations to Alexion Pharmaceuticals as they celebrate this 
remarkable milestone. Happy 25th Anniversary and best wishes for 
continued success.

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