Drug Discovery and Development

Astellas strengthens commitment to cell and gene therapy with new $90M South San Francisco Innovation Center

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Astellas Innovation Center

Astellas Innovation Center [Image courtesy of Astellas]

In a move to bolster its presence in the pioneering biotech hub of South San Francisco, Astellas Pharma has unveiled a $90 million West Coast Innovation Center. The newly constructed 154,000-square-foot facility consolidates the company’s previously dispersed Bay Area operations, including research, technical operations, medical and development and commercial teams, under one roof.

“I want to take a moment to recognize that South San Francisco has been a hotspot for biopharmaceutical innovation for years,” said Astellas CEO Naoki Okamura at the opening ceremony. “It is one of only a handful of similar biotech ecosystems around the world, comparable to Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts. There’s a reason why over 200 biopharma companies are located here. South San Francisco represents a vibrant bio ecosystem, an incubator for continuous innovation.”

Astellas Pharma CEO Naoki Okamura (center left, foreground), donned in a traditional happi coat, partakes in a sake ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the $90 million West Coast Innovation Center in South San Francisco.

Astellas Pharma CEO Naoki Okamura (center left, foreground), donned in a traditional happi coat, partakes in a sake ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the $90 million West Coast Innovation Center in South San Francisco.

The company teased its plans for the center in a 2022 announcement, initially projecting a summer 2023 opening and a $70 million investment. Construction project delays, however, are common in the Bay Area. San Francisco proper, for instance, is home to some of the highest construction costs in the world. Ultimately, the Astellas project took slightly longer than anticipated and saw a budget increase to $90 million. In the opening ceremony, CEO Okamura shared a picture of the project in the earliest stages of construction when it was a barren plot of land, with only bulldozed soil visible in the early stages of construction.

The Astellas West Coast Innovation Center opened its doors to employees in December 2023, bringing together the company’s Bay Area businesses, including Astellas Gene Therapies, Xyphos Biosciences, Business Development and Rx+ business accelerator. The facility is designed to foster collaboration and productivity.

Among the features of the new West Coast Innovation Center is a high-tech, fully modular lab space designed to foster a collaborative environment. With its flexible layout, the lab can be reconfigured to accommodate the evolving needs of critical initiatives. The facility also will include an on-site cafeteria and auditorium.

Filed Under: Cell & gene therapy, Industry 4.0
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About The Author

Brian Buntz

As the pharma and biotech editor at WTWH Media, Brian has almost two decades of experience in B2B media, with a focus on healthcare and technology. While he has long maintained a keen interest in AI, more recently Brian has made making data analysis a central focus, and is exploring tools ranging from NLP and clustering to predictive analytics.

Throughout his 18-year tenure, Brian has covered an array of life science topics, including clinical trials, medical devices, and drug discovery and development. Prior to WTWH, he held the title of content director at Informa, where he focused on topics such as connected devices, cybersecurity, AI and Industry 4.0. A dedicated decade at UBM saw Brian providing in-depth coverage of the medical device sector. Engage with Brian on LinkedIn or drop him an email at bbuntz@wtwhmedia.com.

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