BASEL, Switzerland — September 17, 2026
Roche announced the grand opening of the Roche Genentech Innovation Center Boston, expanding its research and development presence in one of the world’s leading life sciences hubs. Located at Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus in Allston, the 95,000-square-metre facility will serve as Roche’s dedicated Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) hub, bringing together expertise spanning discovery research, clinical development, artificial intelligence and data science. The center is designed to create an end-to-end R&D environment supporting drug discovery and development from early research through late-stage clinical programs.
New Center Brings Together Science, AI and Data Expertise
The Innovation Center will accommodate up to 500 employees across research, clinical development, data science and related disciplines. Roche and Genentech intend to use the Boston site to integrate scientific expertise with emerging technologies, including AI and advanced data science, to accelerate drug discovery and development. The companies’ research activities in the Boston ecosystem include efforts involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria as well as AI-enabled approaches in cancer research, including identifying targeted treatment strategies and analyzing the effectiveness of investigational cancer medicines in clinical trials. The new facility is positioned within Harvard’s broader research ecosystem, creating opportunities for collaboration among pharmaceutical researchers, academic institutions and biotechnology innovators.
Roche Expands Long-Term U.S. R&D Investment
The Boston Innovation Center forms part of Roche and Genentech’s approximately $50 billion U.S. investment commitment in manufacturing and R&D, alongside recent investments and manufacturing milestones in Holly Springs, North Carolina, and Hillsboro, Oregon. The companies said these investments are intended to establish a broader U.S. footprint spanning research, development and manufacturing. Roche and Genentech currently have approximately 25,000 employees in the United States, supported by 15 R&D centers and 13 manufacturing sites across their pharmaceutical and diagnostics operations. The Boston expansion further increases the companies’ presence within the Greater Boston life sciences ecosystem and reinforces their focus on developing scientific and technological capabilities in the United States.
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Roche Establishes Major CVRM Research Hub in Boston
Roche and Genentech have signed a 10-year lease for the new Innovation Center, which is being established as a major research hub for cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. Its location at Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus is intended to support interaction with the surrounding academic and innovation community, while its integrated research model connects discovery science with clinical development and computational capabilities. The center adds to Roche’s broader strategy of combining scientific expertise, digital technologies, AI and global development capabilities to advance new medicines. With capacity for up to 500 people and a 95,000-square-metre footprint, the Boston facility represents a significant expansion of Roche and Genentech’s U.S. research infrastructure and long-term presence in Massachusetts.
Source: Roche press release
