Astellas Pharma Inc. will open a new state-of-the-art life sciences facility in Cambridge, MA. The investment establishes a significant presence for Astellas in one of the world’s premier life science innovation hubs, showcasing the company’s commitment to expanding its R&D footprint to accelerate innovation.

The facility will be the fifth lab-ready building at Cambridge Crossing. Astellas expects to occupy two floors, or approximately 62,000 square feet, of the new facility in 2024. Astellas will house both laboratory and office areas. The laboratory area will be occupied by a discovery accelerator, which will serve as an additional incubator space for external collaborators as well as Mitobridge, an Astellas company involved in discovering and developing small molecule therapeutics that improve mitochondrial functions.

Eventually, a few hundred Boston-based Astellas employees will operate out of the new building, representing functions including medical & development, business development and research.

Tadaaki Taniguchi, chief medical officer, Astellas said, “This investment in Cambridge represents a significant milestone for Astellas, enabling us to continue growing our presence in the greater Boston area and to create additional hubs for innovation and collaboration. We view this as a strategic approach to enhance our ways of working, foster new collaborations, and open up new opportunities in the biopharma ecosystem. We look forward to leveraging the vibrant life sciences ecosystem in the area to drive scientific advancements for patients.”

Yoshitsugu Shitaka, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Astellas said, “Our new Cambridge space will be intentionally designed to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration. By providing shared resources, flexible workspaces, and dedicated areas for cross-functional and partner collaboration, the new building will enable our teams to work together seamlessly and capitalize on the diverse expertise both within the company and outside our walls. Moreover, we are excited to create an incubator space through a discovery accelerator that will provide new opportunities to support highly innovative external organizations.”