ChromaGenix, a biomanufacturing technology company built from NC State research, has opened its GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) facility and R&D center on 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.

The Centennial Campus location marks the latest in a longstanding partnership. ChromaGenix’s technology platform utilizes novel synthetic peptide ligands developed at NC State, built from research led by Stefano Menegatti, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. 

“This is a clear example of research translating into real-world impact,” said Menegatti, who also serves as chief scientific officer at ChromaGenix. 

Chris Frey, associate dean in the College of Engineering, added: “NC State is a community of people who think and do. Our faculty don’t just invent technologies – they help build companies, create jobs and improve lives.”

To provide a continuous innovation pipeline, a five-year research collaboration launched in April 2025 aims to develop 10 new technologies for future commercialization. Joint projects are focused on the development of novel ligands – components used to capture and purify specific biologics during drug manufacturing.

“ChromaGenix showcases the power of partnerships and Centennial Campus as a catalyst for economic development,” said Mark Schmidt, Interim Vice Chancellor for External Affairs, Partnerships and Economic Development.

To learn more about opportunities to partner with NC State, contact the Office of Partnerships at ncstatepartnerships@ncsu.edu.