Baxter to form new Boston global innovation and R&D centre

Baxter International plans to establish a new global innovation and research and development (R&D) centre in Cambridge, MA in the US for its biopharmaceuticals business.

The company expects the operation to become a separate, independent global company known as Baxalta, by the middle of next year.

The new centre will enable the company to advance and build its innovation pipeline, which is centred on the core therapeutic areas of haematology and immunology, while growing its business in gene therapy and biosimilars.

The company expects to bring together approximately 400 R&D staff at the new centre, as well as its business development, oncology and biosimilars teams. Staff holding R&D positions that will relocate to the new centre are currently based in California and Europe.

Baxalta will maintain some R&D operations in Vienna, Austria, and will have its corporate headquarters in Illinois.

Critical elements to our success as an independent biopharmaceuticals company will be our ability to accelerate innovation and optimise R&D productivity

Ludwig Hantson, President of Baxter BioScience, said: 'Critical elements to our success as an independent biopharmaceuticals company will be our ability to accelerate innovation and optimise R&D productivity. Joining this unmatched biotech community is an important step.'

John Orloff, Vice President and Global Head of Research and Development for Baxter BioScience, added: 'Our new innovation centre will increase R&D collaboration and efficiency, connect us directly to a rich pool of talent in new and emerging biotech areas, and strengthen our ability to drive programmes forward in co-operation with current and future partners.'

The company expects to open the first phase of the 200,000ft² (18,580m²) in leased space later this year, and will continue to move work to the new facility over the next two years to ensure continuity of current programmes.