Legend Biotech Chooses Philadelphia for New R&D Center
Legend Biotech Corp. is set to open a new R&D center at Breakthrough Properties’ life sciences building in Philadelphia, employing 55 staff. This expansion highlights Philadelphia’s growing role as a biotechnology hub, benefiting from access to top-tier talent and research institutions.
Bryan Kennedy | October 30, 2024
| BioBuzz has been connecting the life science workforce since 2009. We’ve built an expansive community in the Mid-Atlantic with a national readership that spans from Massachusettes to Florida, and New York to California. For our next chapter, we’re building a proprietary talent logistics model to help employers source and hire life science talent. Learn more. |
Legend Biotech Corp. (“Legend”), a rapidly expanding cell therapy company based in North Jersey and locations in Dublin, Belgium and China, is poised to open a cutting-edge research and development center in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia. The 31,000-square-foot facility will occupy the third floor of Breakthrough Properties’ upcoming eight-story, 223,000-square-foot life sciences building at 2300 Market St. Slated for completion in mid-2025, the new center will house 55 full-time employees and represents a major investment in the region’s thriving life sciences sector. This expansion highlights Legend Biotech’s dedication to enhancing its R&D capabilities while leveraging Philadelphia’s robust innovation and collaboration network.
“Our expansion into Philadelphia underscores our dedication to developing innovative therapies and advancing the science of cell therapies,” said Dr. Ying Huang, CEO of Legend. “This new R&D center will enhance our capabilities and provide us access to world-class talent and institutions in Philadelphia, allowing us to accelerate our mission of transforming patient outcomes.”
Legend Biotech’s upcoming R&D facility at 2300 Market Street is not just an impressive addition to the Philadelphia biotech scene; it represents a strategic investment in cutting-edge life sciences infrastructure. The building will feature modern laboratories designed for advanced research in cell therapies, equipped with the latest technology to enhance productivity and innovation. The facility’s prime location in Philadelphia’s Center City district places Legend close to some of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange crucial for breakthroughs in medical science.
As one of the largest leases in the region, this development marks a significant milestone for Breakthrough Properties and reinforces Philadelphia’s status as a growing hub for biotechnology. The site is poised to leverage its proximity to renowned institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and the Wistar Institute, ensuring that Legend Biotech has access to top-tier talent and research collaboration opportunities. This investment will support the company’s ambitious goals in advancing its pipeline of innovative therapies while contributing to the overall growth of the life sciences sector in Philadelphia.
Pioneering Advanced Cell Therapies
Founded in 2014, Legend Biotech is a leader in cancer treatment, specializing in advanced cell therapies such as CAR-T, gamma-delta T cells, and NK cell immunotherapy. Its flagship product, Carvykti, received FDA approval in 2022 and has made a significant impact in the market, generating approximately $340 million in net trade sales in the first half of 2024, after reaching $500 million in net trade sales for 2023. Legend market’s Carvykti in partnership with J&J under an agreement established in 2017. With a global workforce of 1,500 employees, including 350 in R&D, Legend is expanding its manufacturing capabilities with new facilities in New Jersey and beyond. As it pushes the boundaries of advanced therapies, Legend remains committed to providing innovative options to patients worldwide.
Carvykti has emerged as a groundbreaking therapy in oncology, highlighted by promising results from the CARTITUDE-4 study released in July. This study demonstrated that Carvykti significantly improves overall survival for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In April, the FDA approved Carvykti as a second-line therapy, showing a 59% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared to standard therapies. These advancements underscore the ongoing commitment of both Johnson & Johnson and Legend Biotech to innovate in cancer treatment, marking a pivotal step forward in the quest for more effective therapies.
Further solidifying its leadership in cell therapy, Legend recently secured a $100 million upfront payment from Novartis for access to its CAR-T candidates targeting solid tumors, with potential milestone payments exceeding $1 billion. This partnership leverages Legend’s T-Charge platform, which enhances CAR-T manufacturing by promoting in vivo T-cell expansion, offering new promise in treating solid tumors.
In another significant development, Legend has partnered with Multiply Labs, a robotics company specializing in automated drug manufacturing systems, to streamline its CAR-T manufacturing processes. Unlike traditional automation requiring major production changes, Multiply Labs’ robotic systems seamlessly integrate with existing instruments, promising improved efficiency while minimizing contamination risks and reducing labor costs.
Breakthrough Properties A Collaborative Effort
Breakthrough Properties is poised to make a significant impact in Philadelphia’s life sciences sector with the development of its latest project, 2300 Market. This eight-story, 223,000-square-foot facility, scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2025. The company is actively marketing the building to potential occupants, with Legend serving as the building’s first leaseholder.
In a statement, Breakthrough’s CEO, Dan Belldegrun, emphasized the excitement surrounding the partnership with Legend Biotech, highlighting the company’s commitment to expanding its research and development capabilities in Philadelphia. “We are excited to partner with Legend Biotech as they expand their research and development capabilities within the Philadelphia life science community. Legend continues to develop novel, life-changing therapies for patients around the world, and Breakthrough is honored to support this continued focus on R&D at our flagship 2300 Market project.”
Founded in 2019 through a joint venture between Tishman Speyer, one of the world’s largest commercial developers, and Bellco Capital, Breakthrough brings together significant expertise in the life sciences arena. Bellco Capital, founded by Dr. Rebecka Belldegrun and Dr. Arie Belldegrun, acts as a central hub for entrepreneurship within the Bellco life science ecosystem. The firm has a solid track record of investing in and building companies that transform patient care, including notable contributions to the field of cell therapy, such as Kite Pharma and Allogene Therapeutics.
Philadelphia’s Emergence as a Global Leader in Cell and Gene Therapy
Legend’s decision to expand in Greater Philadelphia highlights the region’s growing dominance in cell and gene therapy, outpacing other top biotech ecosystems across the U.S. After conducting a national search for its new R&D hub, Legend chose Philadelphia for its established position as a global center of advanced therapies, particularly in cell therapy.
“Philadelphia is ground zero for advanced therapies,” said Dr. Huang, “The labs here—like those of Dr. Carl June, Dr. Kathy High, and Dr. James Wilson—have consistently produced some of the most groundbreaking innovations in cell and gene therapy. The region’s wealth of R&D talent made it the perfect fit for us as we continue to grow. The collaborative ecosystem in Philadelphia is unmatched, providing the resources we need to drive innovation and advance our research.”
More than 10 percent of the world’s cell and gene therapy companies are now based in the Greater Philadelphia area, employing over 7,000 people. The region is home to 60 of the 500 global cell and gene therapy companies, including five of the Top 100 “Companies to Watch.” Additionally, Philadelphia ranks #1 in the U.S. for NIH funding specifically for gene therapy and #2 for cell and gene therapy combined, securing over $362 million in funding since 2019, according to a report by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.
Legend is not alone in recognizing Greater Philadelphia as a hotspot for advanced therapy R&D talent. AskBio established its R&D lab in the region during Dr. Kathy High’s tenure as President of Therapeutics, and even after her departure, the company doubled down on its commitment by expanding its operations in Philadelphia. Additionally, Kite is rumored to be on the lookout for additional R&D space following its 2023 acquisition of Tmunity, having been impressed by the depth of cell therapy talent in the area.
Dr. Huang expressed that this investment in Philadelphia represents the company’s unwavering commitment to advancing its research and development capabilities. He emphasized the strategic location’s importance in attracting top talent and enhancing collaborations with local research institutions, stating, “We are particularly enthusiastic about the proximity to leading academic institutions in Philadelphia that are at the forefront of medical breakthroughs.” This strategic focus will bolster Legend’s mission to develop a sustainable pipeline of innovative cell therapies that can transform patient care.
