Baxalta Inc. has opened its Global Innovation Center in Cambridge, MA, which will serve as the innovation hub of the company’s global infrastructure.

Baxalta focuses on the development of therapies in hematology, immunology and oncology, as well as expanding its pipeline through an external innovation model, sourcing compounds externally through in-licensing or acquisitions. Baxalta has approximately 40 programs in development, and plans to launch 20 new products by 2020. The Cambridge center will provide Baxalta access to a range of innovations and collaboration partners to advance new treatments.   

The Center supports cross-functional, co-located teams including R&D, oncology, biosimilars, business development, corporate strategy and customer operations, along with others that support or work closely with R&D. By the end of 2015, Baxalta expects to employ approximately 500 people at the Global Innovation Center. The company also operates a hemophilia treatment manufacturing facility in Milford, MA.

“We are honored to join this robust biotech community in Cambridge,” said John Orloff, M.D., head of Research & Development and chief scientific officer, Baxalta. “Kendall Square was a natural choice for the location of our Global Innovation Center. Here we are surrounded by some of the top minds in the industry, immersed in a biotech community that is unparalleled by any other in the world. Our goal is to become a leading development powerhouse to deliver innovative treatments for patients with unmet medical needs.”