Janssen Pharmaceutica

Janssen CAR-T programme

Sector

Life sciences

Project Value

€250m

Project Location

Ghent, Belgium

The challenge

Helping Janssen deliver a life-saving novel therapy

CAR-T therapy is an exciting novel therapy for patients with multiple myeloma, harnessing their immune systems to attack their tumour cells. Our client, Janssen Phamaceutica, wanted to create a landmark life sciences manufacturing facility (and ancillary support areas), to meet the market demands of a projected 10,000 CAR-T patients per year.

At the same time, they needed to establish a fast-track parallel project on an independent site so they could achieve 4,000 patients per year within 24 months. They also wanted to scale up quality assurance, quality control and warehousing capacity at their existing site in Beerse, Belgium.

The role we're playing

At Pulse Consult, we’ve developed a specialism in life sciences construction, and a trusted relationship with the Janssen team, so we were pleased to come on board. Our construction consultants have been involved from the very outset, providing early stage project controls support, estimation and costing.

A key challenge was scope definition. As CAR-T is a novel therapy, the exact market demand was unclear and subject to fluctuations, so we’ve managed the development of cost estimates through many different iterations and option appraisals, supporting Janssen’s management team in making the right strategic decisions.

With the project spanning three sites, involving three teams and sitting within a global programme that had sister projects in the US and Asia, it also had a large and complex range of stakeholders. We’ve used our experience to bring these different management structures together and develop a coherent, approved cost estimate.

Our close collaboration has culminated in a five-strong Pulse team supporting the three separate elements of the programme, and delivering a whole range of services, including schedule management, cost forecasting, progress reporting, scope change management, cashflow tracking, savings capture and payment application reviews.

The results

Once it’s complete, the building will give Janssen a brand new 23,000m² manufacturing facility, complete with cryo preserve, a cold / ambient warehouse and QC / QA labs.

As well as being Biological Safety Level (BSL) 2 compliant, it will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, creating a safe, sustainable, state-of-the-art working environment.

To support the new building and create the best facilities for the Janssen team, we’ve also created a new admin building, canteen and car parking.

I would like to thank you for all your efforts and ongoing enthusiasm, despite the many requests and changes and the long days. It is great to work with a team like ours and we can all be proud about the work we’ve delivered together.

Ilse Coppens

CAR-T EMEA Program Lead

Janssen Pharmaceutical