Flanders: The New Nexus for Global Cell Therapy Manufacturing

GHENT, Belgium – November 27, 2025 – When Legend Biotech, a global leader in cell therapy, was named Foreign Investor of the Year by Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), it was more than just a corporate accolade. The award signals a pivotal moment in the evolution of both a company and a region, cementing Flanders, Belgium, as a critical nerve center for the production of one of the world’s most advanced cancer treatments. The recognition underscores a powerful symbiosis: a high-growth company scaling its life-saving technology by embedding itself within a meticulously cultivated innovation ecosystem.

This award, following the company’s 2022 "Startup of the Year" win from the same body, highlights a meteoric rise. But beyond the trophies, the story of Legend Biotech in Ghent is a case study in strategic global expansion. It reveals how targeted investment, public-private partnership, and access to specialized talent are converging to solve one of the biggest challenges in modern medicine: delivering personalized cell therapies to patients at scale.

The Flanders Formula: Cultivating a Biotech Powerhouse

The decision for a US-headquartered firm to anchor its European operations in Ghent is no accident. It is the result of a decades-long, deliberate strategy by the Flemish government to build a world-class life sciences hub. FIT, the agency behind the award, is instrumental in this, acting not just as a promoter but as a strategic partner for companies like Legend Biotech. The Foreign Investor of the Year award itself is designed to recognize long-term commitment and tangible economic impact, criteria that Legend has met with resounding force.

Flanders' appeal lies in a potent combination of factors. At its core are premier research institutions like the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and Ghent University, which create a steady stream of foundational science and highly skilled graduates. This academic bedrock fosters an environment where, as Legend Biotech's General Manager for Belgium, Frederik Buysse, noted, "science and industry reinforce one another." This collaborative spirit is a hallmark of the region, which hosts over 140 biotech companies and accounts for a disproportionately large share of Europe’s biotech turnover and R&D spending.

Furthermore, the government provides robust support through venture capital, tax incentives for R&D, and the development of specialized infrastructure like the Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, where Legend’s facility is located. This "Flanders Formula" creates a fertile ground where a company can move from an "empty building and a small, ambitious team," as described by Senior Vice President Birk Vanderweeën, to a fully operational manufacturing centerpiece in just three years.

Scaling Hope: The Mission to Mass-Produce CAR-T Therapy

The strategic importance of the Ghent facility is directly tied to the complexity and promise of Legend Biotech’s flagship product, ciltacabtagene autoleucel, or cilta-cel. Marketed as CARVYKTI® in the European Union, it is a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, a revolutionary treatment for multiple myeloma. CAR-T therapy is a highly personalized process: a patient's own T-cells are extracted, genetically re-engineered in a lab to recognize and attack cancer cells, and then infused back into the patient.

While groundbreaking, this process is also logistically and technically demanding, creating a significant manufacturing bottleneck that has limited patient access globally. The joint €165 million investment by Legend Biotech and its collaborator Johnson & Johnson to expand the Ghent facility is a direct assault on this problem. The expansion aims to transform the site into one of Europe's largest and most advanced CAR-T manufacturing centers, serving as the supply hub for the entire EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region.

“We are proud to be recognized once again by Flanders Investment & Trade for our continued growth and partnership in Belgium,” said Ying Huang, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Legend Biotech. “This award reaffirms our long-term commitment to advancing cell therapy manufacturing in Flanders and strengthening our global capabilities to deliver transformative treatments to patients worldwide.” The investment is not merely about increasing square footage; it is about building the capacity to reliably and efficiently produce a therapy that offers new hope to patients who have exhausted other treatment options.

From Startup to Titan: A Global Workforce in Ghent

The speed and scale of Legend Biotech’s growth in Belgium are staggering. Since beginning operations in 2022, the local team has expanded from just two individuals to over 1,000 employees. This is not just a story of job creation, but of talent acquisition on a global scale. The workforce is a microcosm of international scientific collaboration, comprising 66 different nationalities.

This diversity is a strategic asset in a highly specialized industry. It brings a wealth of perspectives and expertise necessary to navigate the complexities of cell therapy manufacturing and global supply chain logistics. The ability to attract and integrate such a diverse talent pool speaks volumes about Ghent's attractiveness as a place to live and work, and about the company's reputation as a pioneer in a purpose-driven field. As Birk Vanderweeën stated, “Today, our Ghent sites are fully operational and play a central role in our global manufacturing network, enabling us to scale our therapies and bring hope to more patients around the world.”

This rapid expansion, with plans for continued hiring in the coming years, creates a powerful ripple effect. It stimulates the local economy, strengthens the regional talent base, and reinforces the feedback loop between industry and academia. The growth narrative—from a fledgling startup to an industrial titan in three years—provides a compelling blueprint for other international firms and solidifies Flanders' claim as a premier destination for high-stakes, high-growth industries. The investment is a testament to the idea that building the future of medicine requires not just scientific breakthroughs, but also the human capital and operational excellence to bring those breakthroughs to the world.