Global biotechnology company BeiGene launched construction of its state-of-the-art manufacturing campus and clinical R&D center with a ground-breaking ceremony in Princeton West Innovation Park, in Hopewell, N.J. on Friday, the company announced in a press release.
BeiGene develops novel therapeutics for cancer, with a focus on oral small molecules and monoclonal antibodies. The company describes its main focus areas as: “hematology-oncology and solid tumor-targeted therapies and immuno-oncology” with “both mono- and combination therapies prioritized in our research and development.”
Their new “U.S. facility will include biologic manufacturing and late-stage research and clinical development of innovative cancer medicines,” the company said.
“Our planned flagship U.S. R&D and manufacturing center supports our commitment to fight for life for people living with cancer around the world, through state-of-the-art commercial-stage biologic pharmaceutical manufacturing, late-stage research, and clinical development capabilities,” said John Oyler, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of BeiGene.
The new facility of BeiGene, which is a member of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), will join five other U.S. offices and more than 30 offices across five continents and a growing global team of over 8,000 employees, the company said.
New jobs in New Jersey
Stretching across 400,000 square feet of “dedicated commercial-stage biologic pharmaceutical manufacturing space, with capacity for up to 16,000 liters of biologics formula”, the facility in Hopewell, New Jersey, will provide hundreds of jobs in the region, Good Day Bio reports.
The ceremony was attended by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Hopewell Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning, and BeiGene CEO, Chairman, and Co-Founder John V. Oyler, the governor’s office said.
“The Princeton-Hopewell area is an excellent location for BeiGene and the thriving life science community, with a deep talent pool as we continue to advance our pipeline of innovative cancer medicines and work to diversify our global supply chain,” said BeiGene CEO Oyler.
As BIO’s recent report, Driving the Bioscience Economy Forward During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Best Practices in State and Regional Economic Development Initiatives, notes, “biosciences boost employment and wages in states across America, with a $2.6 trillion total economic impact on the U.S. economy.”
As the report explains, “The biosciences create highly skilled jobs that diversify the economy and support the creation of improved living standards and state and local taxes to support K-12 education, public safety, and other budget priorities.”
