Biotech hot spots

Innovation Park is where biotech thrives in Oro Valley. Home to Ventana Medical Systems, an Oro Valley original that was recently acquired by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, the high-tech campus has also caught the eye of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis, which bought nearly 12 acres of land for a research and development center.

But Oro Valley isn't just for the big players. Innovation Park is the the location of choice for biotech spin-offs from the University of Arizona that have outgrown their facilities in nearby Tucson. Located at the foot of the Catalina Mountains and with minimal commute times, it's not hard to attract talent to this town, and the presence of organizations such as the Critical Path Institute, which helps bring medical products to the market, is a huge advantage for Oro Valley biotech entrepreneurs.

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