Global biosciences company XBiotech has announced its plans to establish a new research and development (R&D) facility in Austin, Texas, US.  

Construction of this R&D facility will expand the company’s Austin-based campus headquarters.  

XBiotech said it has already received approval from the City of Austin to begin excavation work at the site. 

The work will be followed by the commencement of associated groundwork in the first quarter (Q1) of the current year.  

The latest infrastructure expansion effort aims to bolster the commercialisation efforts for XBiotech's Natrunix rheumatology programme. 

The upcoming four-storey building, spanning more than 46,000ft², will be situated near the existing XBiotech manufacturing and R&D facility.  

It is being designed to accommodate clinical and medical operations along with the company’s commercialisation teams. 

The new facility will further have a subterranean parking garage, which is being constructed to reduce the overall footprint and ecological impact of the new structure on XBiotech’s 48-acre campus. 

XBiotech president and CEO John Simard said: “We are excited to begin construction of what will be a unique and remarkable R&D facility.  

“It will add significant operational capability to our existing manufacturing and R&D operations on the campus and will create among the most capable biotechnology operations in Texas.”