AstraZeneca has opened a new global research and development (R&D) centre in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, as part of a more than $1 billion investment in the state.
The new facility is designed to support the discovery and development of next-generation medicines across oncology, cell therapy, chronic diseases and rare diseases. AstraZeneca said the centre will bring together nearly 2,000 researchers and scientists when combined with its genomic medicine site at 100 Binney Street.
The 570,000-square-foot, 18-storey R&D centre at 290 Binney Street includes 10 floors of connected laboratories. The facility uses robotics, continuous automation and agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to support research and improve collaboration between scientific teams.
Researchers at the new Cambridge R&D centre will work on treatments for conditions including breast cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity, metabolic diseases and rare diseases. The site will also support research into newer areas such as cell therapy and biologics, which AstraZeneca expects to play an important role in its future drug pipeline.
The opening is part of AstraZeneca’s wider $50 billion investment plan in the US through 2030. More than $1 billion of that investment is being directed to Massachusetts, with the company expecting its workforce in the state to grow by more than 50% in the coming years.
AstraZeneca said the new centre strengthens its presence in the Greater Boston life sciences ecosystem, giving its scientists closer access to academic institutions, biotechnology companies and other research partners.
The company has maintained a presence in Massachusetts for more than 75 years. The new facility adds to AstraZeneca’s existing R&D network, which spans more than 40 countries, including another global strategic research centre in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
The centre is also expected to play a role in AstraZeneca’s efforts to expand the use of advanced technologies in drug discovery. By combining AI, automation and laboratory science, the company aims to speed up research and develop new medicines across several therapeutic areas.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the Kendall Square centre reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Massachusetts and its goal of using US-led scientific innovation to deliver new medicines to patients worldwide.
The investment further strengthens Cambridge’s position as a major global hub for biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, while giving AstraZeneca additional capacity to advance its pipeline beyond 2030.