Basel is joining Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Beijing, China, as a location of one of the main regional offices of BeiGene. According to a press release, the biotech’s European organization currently includes more than 270 employees. The Basel office will become a hub for BeiGene’s operations in Europe and initially employ 150 members of staff.

“The skilled talent network in Basel will support our future growth,” said John V. Oyler, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO at BeiGene. And this is “just the beginning” of growth plans in Europe.

BeiGene is a global, commercial-stage, research-based biotechnology company focused on molecularly-targeted and immuno-oncology cancer therapeutics. Its internal pipeline reportedly consists of 40 novel oral small molecules and monoclonal antibodies for cancer.

“Basel is the biotech hub of continental Europe“

At the opening event of BeiGene Switzerland GmbH, Deborah Strub, Member of the Executive Board and Head of the Cluster & Initiatives Department at the Chamber of Commerce of the two Basel cantons, said “BeiGene’s presence also represents a great opportunity for the Swiss and particularly the Basel economy”. Gerwin Winter, Head of Europe at BeiGene, commented “our new European headquarters in Basel will further strengthen our position and will be a catalyst for changing the lives of European patients.”

Christof Klöpper, CEO of Basel Area Business & Innovation, also welcomes the opening of the new offices. In an article in the Basler Zeitung newspaper he is quoted as saying “Basel is the biotech hub of continental Europe. In recent years we have worked hard to promote this message – to the USA and also China“.