UCB Inaugurates State-of-the-Art Gene Therapy Facility

Brussels (Belgium), 24 April 2026 – UCB today inaugurated its new gene therapy facility at its Braine-l’Alleud campus, marking a significant milestone in the company’s innovation journey and long-term commitment to patients.

Genesis is a strategic investment designed to establish end-to-end internal capabilities in gene therapy, reinforcing UCB’s ability to deliver next-generation treatments for patients living with severe diseases. The new facility represents an investment of more than €200 million and 100 jobs.

Advancing UCB’s innovation strategy

The Genesis facility brings together process and analytical development, clinical manufacturing, and quality control within a single integrated ecosystem. These capabilities are designed to enhance speed, scalability, flexibility, and quality across UCB’s gene therapy programs.

By strengthening internal expertise and infrastructure, UCB aims to build critical know-how and talent while ensuring greater control over its gene therapy pipeline — from early research through to clinical manufacturing.

Gaël Debauve, Head of Gene Therapy Analytical Sciences of UCB, commented: “The inauguration of Genesis marks an important step in our innovation journey. By investing in advanced gene therapy capabilities here in Belgium, we are strengthening our ability to translate cutting-edge science into meaningful solutions for patients. This facility reflects our long-term commitment to innovation, to patients, and to the ecosystems in which we operate.”

A flexible and future-ready facility

Located at the heart of UCB’s Braine campus, Genesis has been designed as a flexible, agile and future-ready facility supporting a multi-product gene therapy strategy.

The facility includes:

• GMP clinical manufacturing suites with single-use bioreactors
• Fully integrated analytical laboratories for quality control and method development
• Advanced process development laboratories enabling seamless scale-up
• A fully robotized fill and finish line
• A digitally integrated ecosystem enabling real-time process control

This integrated setup supports up to 15 batches per year and enables seamless interaction between R&D and manufacturing, accelerating development timelines.

A strong commitment to sustainability

Genesis reflects UCB’s ambition to lead in sustainable biopharma operations. Our ambition for the facility is to achieve BREEAM “Excellent” certification, potentially making it one of the first pharmaceutical production facilities in Europe to reach this level.

Sustainability has been embedded throughout the design, supporting efficient resource use, reduced environmental footprint, and long-term operational resilience.

Strengthening Belgium as a strategic hub

The investment further reinforces Belgium as a key hub for UCB’s global operations, combining research, development, and manufacturing capabilities.

The Braine-l’Alleud campus continues to play a central role in UCB’s global innovation network, bringing together thousands of employees and partners dedicated to advancing science for patients.

Supporting talent, growth, and long-term impact

The Genesis project represents a significant investment in people and capabilities:

• Approximately 150 roles supporting operations
• More than 400 workers involved during peak construction
• Dedicated spaces for collaboration, research, and advanced manufacturing

By building these capabilities internally, UCB is strengthening its long-term ability to innovate and deliver for patients worldwide.

For further information, contact UCB:

Corporate Communications

Laurent Schots

T+32 2 559 92 64

mailto:laurent.schots@ucb.com      

About UCB
 

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 9,000 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of €7.7 billion in 2025. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).