The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, based in New Brunswick, announced a significant investment to expand the presence and capabilities of Janssen Research & Development in the San Francisco Bay Area.

According to Johnson & Johnson, this investment is designed to support the leasing and construction of a state-of-the-art R&D facility in the global innovation center of South San Francisco. Janssen BioPharma Inc. executed the lease within the Healthpeak Properties Inc., South San Francisco project at The Shore at Sierra Point, Brisbane, Calif.

In a press release, Janssen said that the investment would continue to enable discovery, enhance collaboration opportunities with innovation partners, and integrate data science in all aspects of research and development.

The expansion would also allow Janssen to bridge key interdisciplinary capabilities, such as biology and data science, to fuel a step-change in how it creates medicines.

“As a well-established global technology and entrepreneurial hub and home to a wide array of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the South San Francisco Bay Area is an ideal location to expand our R&D capabilities and global footprint,” Dr. Mathai Mammen, global head, Janssen Research & Development.

“Expanding our R&D presence in South San Francisco will better enable deep partnerships with biotechnology companies, universities and investors in the region. This is one important step to enable us to accelerate the growth of our portfolio of innovative products ultimately to deliver better health outcomes for patients around the world. We look forward to being an even greater contributor to and participant in one of the most vibrant scientific ecosystems in the world,” said Mammen.

Janssen said that the personnel at this new facility would focus on infectious and retinal diseases, data science and emerging modalities within discovery, product development and supply. The expanded facility is projected to more than double Janssen’s presence in South San Francisco and is anticipated to be fully operational in 2022, upon completion of construction.