Sponsorship Supports Access to Higher Education for Local Community
CHESHIRE, Conn. and NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Gateway Community College Foundation (GCCF) today announced that Alexion has made a long-term commitment to support access to higher education in New Haven by subsidizing CT Transit bus fare for Gateway Community College students. Alexion will provide $50,000 a year over five years, for a total commitment of $250,000, to help make public transportation more affordable for Gateway students.
 
“Gateway is grateful to receive a sustained, multiyear commitment from Alexion, which will allow us to apply a consistent and supportive approach to the bus pass program that so many of our students count on,” said Dr. Dorsey L. Kendrick, President, Gateway Community College. “We look forward to our continued partnership with Alexion on this initiative and to welcoming the company as our neighbor in New Haven.”
 
“It is tremendously helpful when corporate partners like Alexion contribute in a meaningful way,” added Dr. Gregory Gray, President of the Board of Regents for Higher Education.
 
“Alexion’s gift will make it possible for many of our Gateway students to benefit over the next five years from greater access to the means of transportation needed to get to their classes. It is very rewarding to see this collaboration.”
 
Almost 14,000 students attend Gateway each year, and about one-third currently rely on the public bus system to get to and from campus. Alexion’s sponsorship, along with a partial subsidy from CT Transit, will significantly reduce the cost of a monthly bus pass and will be used for more than 100,000 student rides each year.
 
“Accessible and affordable transportation makes it easier to balance a rigorous academic program with the full-time professional and family commitments that so many Gateway students have. On behalf of our student body, I’d like to thank Alexion for providing a helping hand through this five-year bus pass subsidy,” said GCC sophomore Lauren Robinson.
 
Currently based in Cheshire, Conn., Alexion will move its corporate headquarters to New Haven in late 2015. The new facility will be located at 100 College Street, adjacent to Gateway, and will combine the company’s research, development, commercial and administrative functions into a single location.
 
“Alexion is proud to provide this subsidy to help make education more accessible for Gateway students as they pursue their academic and professional goals, while also making a positive impact on the environment by encouraging the use of public transportation,” said Daniel Caron, Vice President, Site Operations & Engineering, Alexion. “We look forward to our move to New Haven and remain committed to finding meaningful ways to support the local community.”
 
The subsidized bus pass program will become effective immediately. Gateway students can purchase a pass through the college bookstore with a current student ID card.
 
About Alexion
Alexion is a biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients with severe and rare disorders through the innovation, development and commercialization of life-transforming therapeutic products. Alexion is the global leader in complement inhibition and has developed and markets Soliris® (eculizumab) as a treatment for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), two debilitating, ultra-rare and life-threatening disorders caused by chronic uncontrolled complement activation. Soliris is currently approved in nearly 50 countries for the treatment of PNH and in nearly 40 countries for the treatment of aHUS. Alexion is evaluating other potential indications for Soliris in additional severe and ultra-rare disorders beyond PNH and aHUS, and is developing other highly innovative biotechnology product candidates, including asfotase alfa, across multiple therapeutic areas. This press release and further information about Alexion can be found at: www.alexionpharma.com.