Roche is the first occupant of Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus. Credit: Sundry Photography/Shutterstock.

Roche has announced the launch of the Roche Genentech Innovation Center Boston, in the US state of Massachusetts, which will serve as the company’s cardiovascular, renal and metabolism (CVRM) hub.

The new centre at Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus in Allston will play a pivotal role in supporting Genentech’s and Roche’s AI and data science offerings to expedite drug discovery and development.

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CVRM product development global head and senior vice-president Manu Chakravarthy will be the centre’s site head.

The centre is set to become a cornerstone of Roche’s end-to-end research and development (R&D) presence in CVRM. Labs in the centre are set to be dedicated to research activities.

It could house up to 500 employees over time, starting with an initial lease of 30,000 ft².

Roche and Genentech’s expansion within the Greater Boston innovation ecosystem claims to harness local talent and establish an entrepreneurial hub.

This investment underscores Roche’s focus on progressing healthcare and builds on a relationship with Harvard that spans more than a decade.

Past collaborations have tackled challenges such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the application of AI in cancer research.

Roche is to be the first occupant of Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus in Allston.

Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker stated: “By investing in a new CVRM centre of excellence, along with data science and AI capabilities at this strategic location, we aim to accelerate Roche’s and Genentech’s research efforts and leverage the Boston innovation ecosystem.

“Roche has a significant presence in the US and this new centre is one of a number of research and manufacturing investments that Roche is making in the US.”

Roche’s US footprint involves the entire pharma and diagnostics value chain, represented by four Genentech sites in pharmaceuticals and seven in diagnostics.

In January 2024, MediLink Therapeutics and Roche entered a global partnership and licence deal to develop the antibody-drug conjugate, YL211, for solid tumours.