Janssen Pharmaceutica invests in unique European production site for cell therapy in Ghent

Later this year, Janssen Pharmaceutica will start building a production facility for CAR-T therapy in the Tech Lane science park in Zwijnaarde. It will be the only European branch of the pharmaceutical company where this type of innovative cell therapy for blood cancers will be developed. The state-of-the-art complex, which will cover some 26,000 square metres, is expected to be operational in 2023 and is an additional asset in the strong ecosystem for pharma and biotech in our country.

Cell therapy offers a new approach to fight cancer cells by using the power of the patient’s own immune system. CAR-T therapy is a specific form of cell therapy. It is a complex and highly personalised technology in which a patient’s own T cells are isolated from the blood and reprogrammed to target and eradicate cancer cells. This makes CAR-T therapy a treatment tailored to the individual patient.