The last piece of structural steel was laid in place at Beigene‘s Hopewell campus. To celebrate this construction milestone, the company held a “topping-off” ceremony Tuesday, during which local officials, patient advocates and BeiGene colleagues signed the last steel beam to be put in place.
The global biotechnology company is entering a new phase as it continues to construct its U.S. home that will provide a state-of-the-art commercial-stage pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and clinical development facility that will complement the firm’s existing capabilities around the world.
“The progress we are making in building our flagship U.S. biologics manufacturing and R&D facility at the Princeton West Innovation Campus is especially important to BeiGene, as we continue to expand our global business through new approvals, including the FDA’s recent approval of BRUKINSA for adult patients with (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) in the U.S.,” John Oyler, co-founder, chairman and CEO of BeiGene, said. “Adding these manufacturing and R&D capabilities in the U.S. is a major step toward fulfilling our vision to create impactful medicines that will be affordable and accessible to far more cancer patients around the world.”
The new campus will have approximately 400,000 square feet of dedicated commercial-stage biologic pharmaceutical manufacturing space, with the ability to add 600,000 more over time.
First announced in 2021, BeiGene’s investment in this project is expected to total approximately $700 million.
BeiGene acquired the approximately 42-acre site, which will include including up to 16,000 liters of biologics capacity, along with clinical R&D and office space. Additionally, the property has more than 1 million square feet of developable real estate for potential future expansion, and BeiGene has plans to create hundreds of jobs from the region’s deep talent pool to support its continued growth in the U.S. and commitment to developing and commercializing innovative and affordable cancer medicines.
Construction is expected to be complete next year.
“Serving the needs of cancer patients requires a focus on the big picture without losing sight of the needs of the individual patient,” Amy Sutton, CEO of Crossroads4Hope, a Network of Cancer Support, said. “While BeiGene’s new center will undoubtedly address that big picture by developing and manufacturing new medicines, as advocates, we truly appreciate the company’s partnership in supporting and listening to people affected by cancer.”
As construction continues, BeiGene is already beginning to hire, with nearly 100 employees expected by the end of 2023 and more to come once construction is complete. The company is actively working with local business groups, educational institutions and industry associations to tap into this community’s deep life sciences talent pool.
“Hopewell Township is pleased to see BeiGene following through with its plans to build a state-of-the-art center here,” Mayor Michael Ruger stated. “We are excited that our talented and experienced workforce will have the opportunity to help BeiGene develop and manufacture lifesaving medicines.”