Roche Opens Boston Innovation Center to Expand US Drug Research

Roche and Genentech have opened a new innovation center in Boston, Massachusetts, expanding their research and development presence in one of the world’s major life sciences hubs.

The Roche Genentech Innovation Center Boston is located at Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus in Allston. The facility will serve as Roche’s Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) research hub and will bring together research and development activities across the drug development process.

The center will house scientists working across discovery research, clinical development, artificial intelligence and data science. Roche said the site will support research from early-stage drug discovery through late-stage clinical development.

The new facility expands Roche and Genentech’s presence in the Greater Boston life sciences ecosystem and is designed to connect the companies with local scientific talent, academic institutions and biotechnology companies.

The investment is part of Roche and Genentech’s wider commitment to expanding research, development and manufacturing in the United States. The companies also have manufacturing investments and facilities in Holly Springs, North Carolina, and Hillsboro, Oregon.

Roche and Genentech employ around 25,000 people in the US, with 15 research and development centers and 13 manufacturing sites across their pharmaceutical and diagnostics businesses.

Thomas Schinecker, CEO of the Roche Group, said the Boston investment will strengthen the company’s research capabilities and support the development of new medicines.

The new center will also support Roche’s work in areas such as artificial intelligence and drug discovery. The company has previously worked with researchers on projects involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the use of AI in cancer research.

The Boston facility covers about 95,000 square metres and has capacity for up to 500 employees across research, clinical development, data science and other functions.

The center’s location at Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus places Roche and Genentech within a growing research and innovation community in Allston.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said the expansion reflects the state’s role as a major life sciences center, while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the center is expected to create hundreds of jobs and bring additional investment to the city’s life sciences sector.

The opening adds another major research site to Roche’s US operations as the company continues to expand its drug discovery, clinical development and manufacturing capabilities.