BeiGene, a biotechnology company based in the US, is building a new manufacturing campus and clinical research and development (R&D) centre in Hopewell, New Jersey, US.
The facility will offer state-of-the-art US biologic pharmaceutical manufacturing at the commercial stage, along with advanced capabilities for late-stage research and clinical development. The additions will enhance the company’s existing global capabilities.
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The development plan for the new facility was announced in August 2021. The company is expected to invest approximately $800m in the project.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the facility was held in April 2022. The initial phase of construction of the facility began in 2022 and is expected to run through 2024.
BeiGene is expected to hire hundreds of new employees in the area to support clinical research, development, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, and manufacturing requirements.
Location of BeiGene’s manufacturing and clinical R&D centre
BeiGene acquired a 42-acre site at the Princeton West Innovation Campus from Lincoln Equities Group, a real estate company, in November 2021 for the development of the project.
The site previously hosted a life sciences campus of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). Lincoln Equities Group and H.I.G. Realty Partners purchased the site from BMS in 2020.
The Hopewell site was selected because of its central location and proximity to pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing expertise.
BeiGene’s new manufacturing and clinical R&D centre details
The facility will house 400,000ft² of commercial-stage biologic pharmaceutical manufacturing space, and the BeiGene Center for Pharmacovigilance Innovation. It further has the capability to add 700,000ft² over the upcoming period.
The facility will consist of five separate buildings, including the administration laboratory, drug substance, drug product, warehouse, and central utility plant. The buildings will be interconnected by a central utility spine.
BeiGene will use the site to pursue its plan to develop a flagship manufacturing and clinical R&D facility in the US. The facility will also help the company expand and diversify its global supply chain while furthering its plans to enhance the accessibility of treatments to patients globally.
The state-of-the-art facility will feature a biologics capacity of up to 16,000 litres, as well as clinical R&D and office space.
The manufacturing facility will be used to initially produce biologics and possibly small molecule cancer therapies. It will focus on the development of novel cancer medications.
Infrastructure at the existing site
The Princeton West Innovation Campus houses nine main buildings that comprise clinical production, plug-and-play biological labs and office space, and standalone R&D support space. The buildings also feature storage facilities, and a data and command centre.
The site, with 1.1 million ft² of developable land, will provide future expansion potential for BeiGene.
Contractors involved
DPR Construction, a commercial general contractor and construction management business based in the US, was selected as the construction manager for the project.
DPR worked with trade partners, Canatal Steel and Kenvil, both US-based steel fabricators, to supply and erect the steel for office and lab, spine, and warehouse buildings.
The DPR team used Synchro, which is an infrastructure construction management software to track steel installation by creating visual dashboards for worker safety and efficiency.
Integrated Project Services was appointed as the architectural and engineering company for the facility.
It is delivering the contract in partnership with Meyer Design, a major architectural and interior design business based in the US.
