Roche and Genentech have opened a new research and development center in Boston focused on cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. Located at Harvard University's Enterprise Research Campus in Allston, the Roche Genentech Innovation Center Boston will bring together researchers working across drug discovery, clinical development, artificial intelligence and data science to accelerate the development of new therapies.
The center will support research spanning early-stage discovery through late-stage clinical development, with an initial focus on interconnected conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), hypertension and cardiovascular disease. By studying these conditions together, Roche and Genentech aim to better understand their shared biological mechanisms and identify opportunities for more integrated treatments.
AI, machine learning and advanced data science will play a central role in the center's research activities. Teams from Roche Product Development and Genentech Research and Early Development will use computational technologies to analyze large datasets, generate and test scientific hypotheses and identify potential drug targets. The approach reflects Roche's broader strategy of integrating AI throughout the pharmaceutical research and development process.
Roche and Genentech have signed a 10-year lease for the 95,000-square-foot facility, which can accommodate up to 500 employees across research, clinical development, data science and related disciplines. The Boston center complements the companies' established research operations in South San Francisco and Basel, while placing scientists within one of the world's largest biotechnology and academic research ecosystems.
The facility forms part of Roche and Genentech's previously announced $50 billion investment commitment in U.S. manufacturing and R&D. It also follows Roche's expanded collaboration with NVIDIA to build hybrid-cloud AI infrastructure for drug discovery, highlighting the company's growing investment in computational research alongside traditional laboratory science.
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