Innovation Lives Here: 25 Years of Amgen in Cambridge

When Amgen established a presence in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge in 2001, the company saw potential in the area's mix of academic institutions, hospitals, biotechnology companies, and in state and local leaders committed to growing Massachusetts' life sciences sector.

"We recognized Kendall Square as an emerging sector for scientific innovation based on its location," says Margaret Faul, Amgen's Cambridge site head and vice president of Drug Substance Technologies. Amgen was among the early companies to establish a presence there.

Over the past 25 years, the site's role has evolved. It began as a research and development organization. A major renovation, marked by a ribbon cutting in 2016, added next-generation laboratories, a scale-up process development lab visible from outside the building, contemporary offices, and an interactive visitor lobby.

Today the site brings together teams in process development, manufacturing sciences, analytical sciences, quality, regulatory, digital, and engineering. Faul describes it as Amgen's Operations East Coast Innovation Center.

Put simply, the site helps develop and refine the processes needed to make innovative medicines consistently and at scale. Once developed, those processes can be transferred to manufacturing sites across Amgen's network.

"Our goal is really to transform the molecules of today into the medicines of tomorrow," Faul says.

The Cambridge location also connects the site with nearby universities, research institutes, hospitals, and digital and AI companies, as well as talent available across the Greater Boston area. Amgen employees and people from academic institutions interact regularly, she said, creating an environment where ideas and expertise circulate.

Amgen's longstanding presence in Cambridge reflects the value of a strong life sciences ecosystem-and the public-private partnerships that help sustain it. David Goggin, associate vice president of U.S. State Government Affairs at Amgen, says Massachusetts' strength comes from collaboration among research institutions, teaching hospitals, biotech companies, and state and local leaders. Together, they help create an environment where companies can attract talent, invest, and advance scientific innovation.

The Commonwealth has made sustained investments in the life sciences sector. The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center reports that the state launched a $1 billion, 10-year Life Sciences Initiative in 2008, authorized up to $623 million in 2018, and renewed its commitment with another $1 billion over the next decade through the 2024 Mass Leads Act. These are statewide commitments that help drive growth and innovation for the state, not investments specific to Amgen or its Cambridge site.

The site's ties to the community extend beyond research and industry. Amgen employees engage with academic institutions, community organizations, and regional business groups. Through the Amgen Biotech Experience, a program offered by the Amgen Foundation, high school students across the state can get hands-on experience with biotechnology tools and lessons.

Supporting a life sciences hub also means considering the conditions that help people and businesses thrive, Goggin said. Education, housing, transportation, and quality of life shape the region's ability to attract and retain talent. "We value our partnership with local and state leaders, and we believe continued collaboration will help Massachusetts remain a strong home for life sciences," he said.

Looking ahead, teams are exploring how digital tools and automation will help drive innovation for the future. Faul cited high-throughput laboratory capabilities already in use, along with work on digital twins of manufacturing processes, and automation efforts across Amgen. These approaches could help teams run more experiments, generate data faster, and improve processes that help bring medicines to patients.

At the site's 25th anniversary celebration, people who helped shape its evolution came together with local community partners, nonprofit leaders, higher education representatives, and legislators to mark the milestone. The event's theme, "Innovation Lives Here," reflects the work and relationships that have defined Amgen's presence in Cambridge over the past 25 years.