Governor Phil Murphy joined business leaders and local officials Wednesday to celebrate the opening of Enzene Biosciences’ first U.S. facility, marking a major addition to the growing cluster of biotech companies at the former Bristol-Myers Squibb campus.
The 80,000-square-foot plant is the India-based company’s first manufacturing investment in the United States and will operate on EnzeneX, a continuous manufacturing platform designed to produce biologics more efficiently and at lower cost. Leaders said the Hopewell site will strengthen supply chains, create jobs, and expand global access to advanced medicines.
“When Enzene — one of India’s most promising biotechnological companies — decided to launch its very first U.S. manufacturing base, they knew there was nowhere better to do it than right here in New Jersey,” Murphy said. “This state-of-the-art facility represents the future of advanced manufacturing — ultimately creating hundreds of jobs and generating $50 million in investment.”
Murphy also emphasized the state’s ties to India. “That does not happen by accident. It’s a combination of talent, location, and the nation’s premier innovation economy. But it also has something to do with our deep ties to India, ties of which we are extraordinarily proud, and each day we try to deepen.”
Building more than a factory
Enzene Chairman Sandeep Singh called the Hopewell facility “a historical day” for the company. “This is just not steel and concrete. This is months and years of your hard work, your ideas, your perseverance. This plant represents long nights, problem solving, setbacks overcome, and dreams turned into reality. We are building more than a factory. We are building hope.”
Dr. Himanshu Gadgil, Enzene’s CEO, said New Jersey stood out after a nationwide search. “We went from coast to coast, from Boston to North Carolina, Seattle to San Diego, but New Jersey was an automatic choice. We were not just welcome, we felt this was the home where we should be.”
Enzene’s footprint and future in New Jersey
Founded in Pune, India in 2011, Enzene has grown from a 20-person startup to a global contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in biologics, biosimilars, and novel therapies. Its proprietary EnzeneX platform — billed as the world’s first fully connected continuous manufacturing system for biologics — delivers far higher yields at a fraction of the cost and carbon footprint of traditional methods.
At the Hopewell site, Gadgil pointed to early results that demonstrate the technology’s potential. “We’ve successfully taken our first trial batch, and we’ve manufactured four kilograms of material in just 200 liters. With a conventional process, you would need at least 2,000 liter capacity to do this.”
He also emphasized the company’s environmental commitment. “It not only addresses cost of these medicines, but also from a sustainability perspective, we are probably 50 to 60 percent lower in carbon footprint. So, we are going to keep this campus clean. That’s our commitment.”
Singh told attendees the Hopewell site is only the beginning. “This is our first plant in the U.S., not the last.”
Enzene has already supplied more than a million doses of medicines to patients in India, and leaders say the Hopewell facility — opening with 50 employees and projected to grow to 200 — will serve as the company’s U.S. base while complementing its Indian operations.
A local milestone
For Hopewell officials, the ribbon-cutting marked both economic recovery and community pride. Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning told attendees, “Critical, much-needed biologics will be made right here in Hopewell Township and sent to patients all over the world.”
She also framed the opening in Hopewell’s broader story. “It’s a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family… Our town, with its deep history yet forward-looking attitude, is proud to welcome Enzene today.”
Township Committee member Kevin Kuchinski said Enzene’s arrival reflects years of deliberate work to repopulate the campus after BMS’ departure. He and the entire committee with the help of groups like Choose New Jersey have helped shape a business-friendly environment that has already drawn several major biotech firms. “What attracts companies like Enzene to Hopewell is the combination of pharmaceutical talent in the region, supportive zoning, and a welcoming community,” Kuchinski said.
A repopulated campus
The former Bristol-Myers Squibb campus, now owned by Lincoln Equities, has steadily filled since BMS’ departure. Tenants now include PTC Therapeutics, BeOne Medicines (formerly BeiGene), and other biologics firms. Officials said the combination of existing infrastructure, pharmaceutical expertise between Princeton and New Brunswick, and supportive zoning have made Hopewell an appealing base for global biotech expansion.
Murphy credited the township for helping create the environment. “If you’re wondering where the secret sauce is, look up Courtney’s résumé and you’ll understand there’s a correlation between great leadership and why we’re in this community so often doing events like this.”
For Peters-Manning, the influx represents more than just tax stabilization. “We’ve gone to three or four ribbon cuttings at that facility recently. It’s exciting to see cutting-edge medicine being created here in Hopewell, and I’m proud we’ve been able to make that happen.”
