Alexandria Real Estate Equities and Eli Lilly and Company have opened a new Lilly Gateway Labs facility in San Diego. Located at the One Alexandria Square Megacampus in Torrey Pines, the new center is designed to provide resources and laboratory space for early-stage biotechnology companies focused on developing new medicines.
The San Diego location expands a partnership that already operates similar innovation hubs in South San Francisco and Boston. The model combines Alexandria's real estate and operational infrastructure with Lilly's scientific guidance and access to venture capital networks.
Key Takeaways
- Alexandria Real Estate Equities and Eli Lilly have opened a new Lilly Gateway Labs in San Diego.
- The facility provides lab space, scientific mentorship, and operational support to biotech startups.
- The initial group of companies will focus on treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
- This expansion builds on the success of existing Gateway Labs in Boston and South San Francisco, which have over 50 therapies in development.
Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Drug Discovery
The collaboration between Alexandria Real Estate Equities, a leading life science real estate investment trust (REIT), and pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly aims to create an environment where small biotech firms can thrive. The Lilly Gateway Labs concept was first launched in 2019 to bridge the gap for startups needing advanced facilities without the high initial cost.
Under this model, Alexandria manages the physical infrastructure, including state-of-the-art laboratories and operational services. Lilly contributes its extensive scientific expertise, offering mentorship and guidance to the resident companies. This structure allows startups to concentrate on their core research and development activities.
"Our partnership embodies our shared mission to accelerate the trajectory of disruptive early-stage biotech companies and foster critical collaboration between innovative biotechs and large pharma," said Hallie E. Kuhn, PhD, a senior vice president at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and Alexandria Venture Investments.
Kuhn emphasized the importance of the model, stating, "The unique Gateway Labs model is an important engine for biomedical innovation that will deliver lifesaving medicines to patients in the future."
A Proven Model for Innovation
The San Diego site is the fourth U.S. location for Lilly Gateway Labs, with the first three established in Alexandria's facilities in South San Francisco and Boston. According to the companies, the resident startups at these existing locations are currently developing more than 50 novel therapeutics and platforms. This track record demonstrates the model's potential to significantly speed up the journey from scientific concept to clinical application.
Focus on Critical Disease Areas
The inaugural group of companies selected for the San Diego Gateway Labs is working on some of the most challenging medical conditions. Their research spans a wide range of therapeutic areas and modalities.
Targeted Research Initiatives
The initial cohort of venture-backed biotech firms will focus on several key areas of unmet medical need. These include:
- Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
- Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
- Various forms of oncology (cancer).
This targeted approach ensures that the resources and expertise provided at the hub are directed toward developing treatments for diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. The companies gain access to Lilly's network, which includes Alexandria Venture Investments, potentially securing further funding as their research progresses.
Advanced and Sustainable Facilities
The new San Diego facility is housed in a LEED Gold certified building that is fully electric, reflecting a commitment to sustainability. It offers modular laboratory spaces designed for flexibility, allowing companies to scale their operations as needed. Key amenities include cutting-edge microscopy and sequencing tools, dedicated security, and concierge services to handle operational logistics.
San Diego's Role as a Life Science Epicenter
The selection of San Diego for the latest Gateway Labs is strategic. The city is one of the world's top life science clusters, with a high concentration of research institutions, skilled talent, and investment capital. Alexandria has been a key player in this ecosystem for decades.
The company first entered the San Diego market in 1994, acquiring the Torrey Pines property that now serves as the anchor for the One Alexandria Square Megacampus. This long-term presence has helped shape the region into a global hub for biomedical innovation.
The campus is located near renowned institutions, including:
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Scripps Research
- University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego)
This proximity is intended to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between the startups at Gateway Labs and the broader academic and research community. The campus itself features amenities designed to attract and retain top scientific talent, such as a café, a restaurant, event spaces, and meeting venues.
About the Companies
Alexandria Real Estate Equities
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) is an S&P 500 company that pioneered the life science real estate niche after its founding in 1994. It owns, operates, and develops large-scale campuses in major innovation clusters like Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego.
As of June 30, 2025, the company reported a total market capitalization of $25.7 billion. Its North American asset base includes 39.7 million rentable square feet (RSF) of operating properties, with an additional 4.4 million RSF of properties under construction.
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical leader that discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceutical products worldwide. The company has a long history of innovation and is known for its work in areas such as diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. The Gateway Labs initiative is part of its strategy to collaborate with external innovators to advance new medical treatments.
