Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, and other officials gathered recently to mark the expansion of Varro Life Sciences in St. Louis. The biotechnology company is investing $42.5 million to create 33 new jobs and open a new laboratory and research facility in the Cortex Innovation District.
Varro Life Sciences, founded in 2020, developed its biosensor technology through collaboration with researchers at Washington University in St. Louis. The company has now made St. Louis its headquarters, citing support from the local innovation ecosystem as key to its growth.
Sam Fiorello, President and CEO of Cortex Innovation District, said, “Varro’s decision to establish headquarters here reinforces Cortex’s position as a premier destination for pioneering biotech and life sciences companies. This investment not only brings cutting-edge research and high-quality jobs to St. Louis but also strengthens the collaborative ecosystem that defines our innovation community.”
The company aims to use its technology to improve how infectious diseases are detected and monitored globally.
Tom Cirrito, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Varro, stated, “We are thrilled to expand our footprint in St. Louis. This city offers a diverse and educated workforce, world-class research institutions such as Washington University in St. Louis, and an entrepreneurial spirit that make it an ideal home for Varro’s growth. Our new facility at Cortex will hasten the development and deployment of our two next-generation biosensor devices that can improve human health and better prepare the world for future infectious disease threats.”
The move into the Cortex Innovation District places Varro among other science-focused businesses working on medical advancements in the region.
