BRIEF—Genentech breaks ground on mega-modern biologics facility

Swiss pharma giant Roche’s US biotech subsidiary Genentech on Friday announced the construction of a new biologics manufacturing facility at its Oceanside, California, campus, marking the occasion with a ground-breaking ceremony.

The new facility will harness transformational digital technologies to move medicines from production to patients faster and more sustainably, making it one of the most modern commercial-scale biotech manufacturing facilities in the world.

Genentech is investing around $450 million in advanced manufacturing capabilities at its Oceanside campus, and plans to add approximately 150 local, full-time jobs to support operations in addition to the trades who will be engaged during construction.

“As the founder of the biotechnology industry, Genentech pioneered the processes and technologies used to manufacture complex biologic medicines,” said Alexander Hardy, chief executive of Genentech.

“After more than four decades of manufacturing innovation, we remain committed to our home state of California and continue to invest in new ways to bring medicines to patients quicker and more sustainably,” he added.