Embark on our journey in personalized medicines
Discover our latest highlights
July 2026
Welcoming visitors at ww5 Leiden
During the Leiden Bio Science Park Open Day, we welcomed around 400 visitors to explore our site, meet our ww5 volunteers and learn more about our work in cell therapy. Through guided tours and interactive activities, visitors discovered the science, people and purpose behind our Leiden facility, which plays an important role in bringing innovative cell therapies closer to European patients.
July 2026
Welcoming visitors at ww5 Leiden
During the Leiden Bio Science Park Open Day, we welcomed around 400 visitors to explore our site, meet our ww5 volunteers and learn more about our work in cell therapy. Through guided tours and interactive activities, visitors discovered the science, people and purpose behind our Leiden facility, which plays an important role in bringing innovative cell therapies closer to European patients.
April 2026
100 patients served from Leiden!
Just a few weeks after welcoming our first patient, we have reached the milestone of 100 patients served from Leiden with both commercial and clinical products. These patients come from four countries that are helping pioneer access to our treatments across Europe.
March 2026
New Site Head for Leiden
Lorraine Jordan has been appointed Site Head of the Cell Therapy Facility in Leiden. In this role, Lorraine will help advance the site’s long-term manufacturing strategy, support commercial production and continue strengthening a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
March 2026
New Site Head for Leiden
Lorraine Jordan has been appointed Site Head of the Cell Therapy Facility in Leiden. In this role, Lorraine will help advance the site’s long-term manufacturing strategy, support commercial production and continue strengthening a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
November 2025
World Quality Week
This year’s theme, “Quality: Think Differently”, reflected our ambition to embrace innovation and turn challenges into opportunities. The team shared Think Differently success stories, personal Quality statements and took part in a Quality Game featuring a quiz, SOP-style T-shirt folding and GDocP error spotting.
November 2025
World Quality Week
This year’s theme, “Quality: Think Differently”, reflected our ambition to embrace innovation and turn challenges into opportunities. The team shared Think Differently success stories, personal Quality statements and took part in a Quality Game featuring a quiz, SOP-style T-shirt folding and GDocP error spotting.
October 2025
Family & Friends Day in Leiden
ww5 Leiden hosted a Family & Friends Day at the Cell Therapy Facility, marking the start of 2025 Patient Week. Colleagues, family and friends came together in a warm atmosphere to celebrate our shared commitment to patients. The day was filled with guided tours, interactive booths and a lively food truck festival.
September 2025
Cycling for cancer research (C2C4C)
For ww5, cycling is more than a sport. It is a symbol of solidarity, bringing people together, promoting well-being and driving meaningful change. For the 10th edition in the Netherlands, colleagues joined the C2C4C multi-day cycling relay to raise awareness and vital funds for cancer research.
Watch this video to learn more about the 2025 riders.
September 2025
Cycling for cancer research (C2C4C)
For ww5, cycling is more than a sport. It is a symbol of solidarity, bringing people together, promoting well-being and driving meaningful change. For the 10th edition in the Netherlands, colleagues joined the C2C4C multi-day cycling relay to raise awareness and vital funds for cancer research.
Watch this video to learn more about the 2025 riders.
May 2025
Ministerial visit to our Leiden site
On 12 May, International Nurses Day, ww5 welcomed Minister Fleur Agema to the Leiden Bio Science Park for a working visit initiated by the Vereniging Innovatieve Geneesmiddelen. The visit offered an opportunity to highlight our CAR-T cell therapy activities and show how our Leiden site contributes to bringing innovative, patient-specific treatment options closer to patients in Europe.
May 2025
Ministerial visit to our Leiden site
On 12 May, International Nurses Day, ww5 welcomed Minister Fleur Agema to the Leiden Bio Science Park for a working visit initiated by the Vereniging Innovatieve Geneesmiddelen. The visit offered an opportunity to highlight our CAR-T cell therapy activities and show how our Leiden site contributes to bringing innovative, patient-specific treatment options closer to patients in Europe.
May 2025
Moving into our new facility!
Following the completion of construction, the Leiden team moved into the new facility. We celebrated the contributions of everyone involved in building our Cell Therapy Facility and welcomed employees as they familiarized themselves with their new workspaces.
March 2025
Women history month
Throughout March, colleagues at ww5 Leiden celebrated Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day by creating moments to reflect on gender equality and support women in the workplace and beyond. Activities included a photo campaign encouraging colleagues to share actions for greater equality, a clothing collection to support women who are unemployed or underemployed, and virtual sessions on topics such as mental well-being, AI and purpose-driven work.
March 2025
Women history month
Throughout March, colleagues at ww5 Leiden celebrated Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day by creating moments to reflect on gender equality and support women in the workplace and beyond. Activities included a photo campaign encouraging colleagues to share actions for greater equality, a clothing collection to support women who are unemployed or underemployed, and virtual sessions on topics such as mental well-being, AI and purpose-driven work.
February 2025
Run & Walk on World Cancer Day
Our Sports & Social Team organized a Run & Walk for World Cancer Day, raising awareness of cancer and bringing colleagues together in a spirit of support and solidarity. Every step reflected our shared commitment to hope, progress and a brighter future for patients and their families.
January 2025
Putting safety first in Leiden
B-SAFE is our internal safety initiative, designed to promote our daily commitment to employee and site safety. Everyone is encouraged to have B-SAFE conversations to raise awareness of the behaviors and conditions that help create a safe working environment.
January 2025
Putting safety first in Leiden
B-SAFE is our internal safety initiative, designed to promote our daily commitment to employee and site safety. Everyone is encouraged to have B-SAFE conversations to raise awareness of the behaviors and conditions that help create a safe working environment.
December 2024
A look inside our Cell Therapy Facility
We are proud to share what our CAR-T facility in Leiden looked like in December 2024. With this facility, we are taking a significant step forward in our mission to bring hematology care closer to more patients in Europe.
Watch the drone video of the facility here.
November 2024
Movember Walk
In November, the Leiden B-NOW chapter, in collaboration with the Sports & Social and Wellbeing teams and the Leiden PRIDE Alliance Chapter, ran its Movember campaign on-site. The initiative brought colleagues together to raise awareness of men’s health, including early diagnosis of male-specific cancers and mental well-being. The campaign ended with a fun moustache competition, inviting colleagues to grow, style or wear one, with more than 40 participants joining in.
Supporting our employees’ sustainable commute
At ww5 Leiden, we invest in sustainable commuting. To support colleagues who cycle to work, we organized a bike repair stand where a technician provided a thorough inspection: from tightening bolts and greasing the chain to checking the steering. This helped ensure their bikes were ready for daily commutes and weekend rides.
November 2024
Movember Walk
In November, the Leiden B-NOW chapter, in collaboration with the Sports & Social and Wellbeing teams and the Leiden PRIDE Alliance Chapter, ran its Movember campaign on-site. The initiative brought colleagues together to raise awareness of men’s health, including early diagnosis of male-specific cancers and mental well-being. The campaign ended with a fun moustache competition, inviting colleagues to grow, style or wear one, with more than 40 participants joining in.
Supporting our employees’ sustainable commute
At ww5 Leiden, we invest in sustainable commuting. To support colleagues who cycle to work, we organized a bike repair stand where a technician provided a thorough inspection: from tightening bolts and greasing the chain to checking the steering. This helped ensure their bikes were ready for daily commutes and weekend rides.
September 2024
From Paris to London for cancer research
The C2C4C (Country 2 Country 4 Cancer) ride was unforgettable from Paris to London, covering over 300 km in 3 days. Each participant carried their personal story with every pedal stroke, forging lasting friendships along the way. Together, our Leiden team put all their efforts into raising funds and awareness for cancer research.
Leiden Patient Week
We celebrated Leiden Patient Week with inspiring sessions and activities. Highlights include the moving "Who are you working for" story and an engagement CAR-T Game to explore our operations process.
First IGJ inspection: one step closer to serving our patients from Leiden
ww5 Leiden underwent its first IGJ inspection, focused on QP certification and oversight of imported cell therapy products. While most activities remain under the Utrecht license, Cell Therapy QP activities will move to Leiden. This inspection is a key step toward obtaining Leiden's first MIA license, which applies to the release of imported products.
August 2024
Important milestone: 2 million safe hours at Leiden
On July 10th, we reached an incredible milestone: 2 million working hours without a recordable case. With approximately 400 people on-site daily, this achievement highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols and the culture of care and responsibility we’ve fostered.
Celebrating achievements and inclusion together
"Here Comes the Sun" was an unforgettable event where our Leiden colleagues came together to celebrate their achievements and inclusion.
August 2024
Important milestone: 2 million safe hours at Leiden
On July 10th, we reached an incredible milestone: 2 million working hours without a recordable case. With approximately 400 people on-site daily, this achievement highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols and the culture of care and responsibility we’ve fostered.
Celebrating achievements and inclusion together
"Here Comes the Sun" was an unforgettable event where our Leiden colleagues came together to celebrate their achievements and inclusion.
June 2024
ww5 logo now tops our Cell Therapy Facility
The ww5 logo now proudly adorns our Cell Therapy Facility, symbolising our commitment to innovation, excellence, and patient care. A powerful moment reinforcing our presence and identity!
April 2024
Welcoming local stakeholders
ww5 Leiden hosted a delegation of stakeholders, including representatives from LUMC, Leiden University, LBSP, and local municipalities. Visitors were impressed by our CAR-T-therapy mission and commitment to patients in Europe. With this visit, we started valuable interactions and collaborations for the future of ww5 in Leiden.
First IG] inspection: one step closer to serving our patients from Leiden
ww5 underwent its first IG) inspection, focused on QP Certification and oversight of imported Cell Therapy products. While most activities remain under the Utrecht license, Cell Therapy QP activities will move to Leiden. This inspection is a key step toward obtaining Leiden's first MIA license, which applies to the release of imported products.
April 2024
Welcoming local stakeholders
ww5 Leiden hosted a delegation of stakeholders, including representatives from LUMC, Leiden University, LBSP, and local municipalities. Visitors were impressed by our CAR-T-therapy mission and commitment to patients in Europe. With this visit, we started valuable interactions and collaborations for the future of ww5 in Leiden.
First IG] inspection: one step closer to serving our patients from Leiden
ww5 underwent its first IG) inspection, focused on QP Certification and oversight of imported Cell Therapy products. While most activities remain under the Utrecht license, Cell Therapy QP activities will move to Leiden. This inspection is a key step toward obtaining Leiden's first MIA license, which applies to the release of imported products.
November 2023
Embracing diversity by implementing PRBGs
As our site grows, we embrace the diversity of our workforce by establishing People and Business Ressource Groups (PBRGs) to drive business results, enhance engagement, and support career development.
After two weeks of voting, we’re excited to announce the core teams for B-NOW, CLIMB, and PRIDE Alliance. These teams, alongside UNITE and OLA, are already working on their charters to represent Leiden and foster inclusivity.
September 2023
Health Holland and Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy on a visit
We had the honour of welcoming a delegation from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy and representatives from Health Holland. This visit was the perfect opportunity to introduce our new facility and highlight our innovative therapies, including CAR-T Cell Therapy. Our guests were very impressed!
ww5 Leiden’s first Works Council
In June 2023, ww5 Leiden Cell Therapy Manufacturing site employees elected members to occupy nine seats in the Works Council. Then, a two-day Works Council training took place on 18 and 19 September to introduce newly elected members to their roles and responsibilities under the Works Council Act. As an outcome of the training, the Council outlined its duties, established priorities, and decided on its working strategy.
Global Patient Week
Leiden proudly participated in Global Patient Week for the second time. We took this time to celebrate patients and their journeys while reflecting on the shared purpose that drives us each day. This week was a meaningful opportunity to honour our mission and reinforce the values that shape our work.
June 2023
Second ww5 Family Day
We welcomed colleagues and their families to the second ww5 Family Day at our European Cell Therapy Facility. Guests enjoyed perfect weather and a packed programme, including site tours. This special day offered families a unique glimpse into where their loved ones work daily, alongside a BBQ and a dedicated children’s playground.
June 2023
Second ww5 Family Day
We welcomed colleagues and their families to the second ww5 Family Day at our European Cell Therapy Facility. Guests enjoyed perfect weather and a packed programme, including site tours. This special day offered families a unique glimpse into where their loved ones work daily, alongside a BBQ and a dedicated children’s playground.
April 2023
Appointment of Marie Urtiaga as Site Head for the Cell Therapy facility Leiden
In April 2023, Marie Urtiaga, Vice President of Cell Therapy Manufacturing, was appointed Site Head for the Cell Therapy facility in Leiden. Marie will lead the facility through its next growth phase, focusing on completing construction, advancing the hiring plan, initiating Tech Transfer, and clinical and commercial operations. These critical milestones will pave the way for us to welcome our first patient in 2025.
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November 2022
Construction update
After spending more than 250,000 manhours to date the building of our first European Cell Therapy facility is getting its shape! It has been a pleasure watching the development of the building, from the first pile in October 2021 to where we are now.
November 2022
Construction update
After spending more than 250,000 manhours to date the building of our first European Cell Therapy facility is getting its shape! It has been a pleasure watching the development of the building, from the first pile in October 2021 to where we are now.
September 2022
TalentOn
Bright Young Minds together! Ann Emmerechts has been shedding the light on the regulatory challenges with novel anti-cancer therapies at the @European Commission @EU TalentOn, that took place from 14 to 17 September in Leiden.
July 2022
Almost a roof above our heads
How exciting it is to see the evolution of our first European cell therapy production site in Leiden. Here you see the progress of the building, with the last pieces of foundation and the first concrete on the roof.
July 2022
Almost a roof above our heads
How exciting it is to see the evolution of our first European cell therapy production site in Leiden. Here you see the progress of the building, with the last pieces of foundation and the first concrete on the roof.
June 2022
Starting to look like a building
Construction work on our first European production facility for CAR-T cell therapy is progressing rapidly!
June 2022
Family day @ Leiden
On the occasion of 'Dag van de Bouw' in the Netherlands (June 18th), we invited everybody working on getting our first European Cell therapy facility ready to bring their families to Leiden. On the agenda: a guided tour of the Bristol Myers Squibb construction site at the Leiden Bio Science Park.
Showing our loved ones how and where we will bring these personalized therapies closer to European patients was a fantastic experience. They could feel our proudness when we showed how we are contributing to the future of medicine.
June 2022
Family day @ Leiden
On the occasion of 'Dag van de Bouw' in the Netherlands (June 18th), we invited everybody working on getting our first European Cell therapy facility ready to bring their families to Leiden. On the agenda: a guided tour of the Bristol Myers Squibb construction site at the Leiden Bio Science Park.
Showing our loved ones how and where we will bring these personalized therapies closer to European patients was a fantastic experience. They could feel our proudness when we showed how we are contributing to the future of medicine.
May 2022
ww5 speaks at the Global Impact in Health Symposium in Leiden
Anne Kerber, Senior VP and Head of Cell Therapy Development at ww5, spoke at the Symposium about the importance of equity and diversity in clinical trials to deliver better science and outcomes for patients.
Learn more about why health equity is important and how ww5 is taking action.
May 2022
13 new colleagues joined!
We had the pleasure to welcome more new colleagues in Leiden, where we are building our first European Cell therapy production site.
May 2022
13 new colleagues joined!
We had the pleasure to welcome more new colleagues in Leiden, where we are building our first European Cell therapy production site.
May 2022
Progress with the steelwork
Excellent progress has been made with the steelwork. The building is shaping up nicely and all construction works are progressing according to plan. Stay tuned!
May 2022
Interview with Arjen Schippers and InnovationQuarter
Read the interview with Arjen Schippers, Senior Director and Program Head of Europe Cell Therapy Facility at Bristol Myers Squibb about what he has worked on over the last year with support from InnovationQuarter and what can be expected in the coming months.
Read the full article by clicking on this link.
May 2022
Interview with Arjen Schippers and InnovationQuarter
Read the interview with Arjen Schippers, Senior Director and Program Head of Europe Cell Therapy Facility at Bristol Myers Squibb about what he has worked on over the last year with support from InnovationQuarter and what can be expected in the coming months.
Read the full article by clicking on this link.
February 2022
Virtual Career Event BCF Career
Arjan Schippers welcomed many interested potential co-workers for the new CAR-T Cell Therapy facility in Leiden. He talked about how you can create a meaningful career and bring new hope to cancer patients.
February 2022
First steel is going up
It's full steam ahead on our Leiden construction site. The first steel nearly arrived, and is up already. So far, the construction of our very first European cell therapy facility in Leiden is progressing as planned. Stay tuned!
February 2022
First steel is going up
It's full steam ahead on our Leiden construction site. The first steel nearly arrived, and is up already. So far, the construction of our very first European cell therapy facility in Leiden is progressing as planned. Stay tuned!
January 2022
Foundation works completed
In January, we lay the foundation of the building. It will essentially be standing on 591 piles driven to a depth of 30 meters through soil, then sea water to reach deep compacted sand. We have successfully installed almost all 591 piles and completed on track this month.
October 2021
BCF Career Event in Utrecht
We are present at the BCF Career Event in Utrecht, the largest science job fair. What an energy we felt to meet again in-person and to tell how we transform the lives of millions of people through innovation and science.
October 2021
BCF Career Event in Utrecht
We are present at the BCF Career Event in Utrecht, the largest science job fair. What an energy we felt to meet again in-person and to tell how we transform the lives of millions of people through innovation and science.
October 2021
Bristol Myers Squibb starts construction of its European therapy facility and marks it with a Celebration Event
Bristol Myers Squibb celebrated the start of the construction of its first European cell therapy facility at the Leiden Bio Science Park in the Netherlands.
The celebration event was concluded with Arjen Schippers, Program Head of Europe Cell Therapy Facility, raising the flag on the new site: “Like the first man on the moon, I am really honoured to plant the ww5 flag in Europe. Let this be the symbol of our commitment to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines to help patients prevail over serious diseases.”
April 2021
Bristol Myers Squibb chooses Leiden Bio Science Park as the European site for a new CAR-T cell therapy facility
By building this production facility, ww5 is investing in the expansion of its global network to bring cell therapy closer to the European patient. In doing so, the organisation is expanding its capacity to treat patients.
April 2021
Bristol Myers Squibb chooses Leiden Bio Science Park as the European site for a new CAR-T cell therapy facility
By building this production facility, ww5 is investing in the expansion of its global network to bring cell therapy closer to the European patient. In doing so, the organisation is expanding its capacity to treat patients.
2019
Bristol Myers Squibb acquires Celgene
Bristol Myers Squibb and Celgene come together to create a leading biopharma company positioned to address the needs of patients with serious diseases.
2017
FDA approves First CAR-T therapy
The first CAR-T therapy is approved in 2017 for the treatment of young adult and pediatric patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
2017
FDA approves First CAR-T therapy
The first CAR-T therapy is approved in 2017 for the treatment of young adult and pediatric patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.