Baxalta, a global biopharmaceutical provider dedicated to delivering transformative therapies to patients with orphan diseases and underserved conditions, has announced the official opening of its Global Innovation Center in Cambridge, Mass.

The center will act as the innovation hub of the company’s global infrastructure designed to effectively deliver advanced treatments to patients.

Baxalta’s innovation efforts are focused on the development of lifesaving therapies in hematology, immunology and oncology. The company’s approach to expanding its pipeline is based on an external innovation model, sourcing compounds externally through in-licensing or acquisitions. The Cambridge life science community will provide Baxalta access to a range of innovations and collaboration partners with complementary expertise to advance new treatments for patients.

Baxalta has 40 programs in development, and plans to launch 20 new products by 2020, leveraging its experienced leadership team, existing global capabilities and footprint in more than 100 countries.

“Massachusetts is home to an extensive community of top-tier academic institutions, research facilities and life-science companies,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “The biotechnology cluster is an important part of our life-science community and a key driver for our economy. We remain committed to the life-sciences and welcome Baxalta to the commonwealth.”

The center supports cross-functional, co-located teams including R&D, oncology, biosimilars, business development, corporate strategy and customer operations, along with others that support or work closely with R&D. By the end of 2015, Baxalta expects to employ 500 individuals at the Global Innovation Center. In addition, the company also operates a hemophilia treatment manufacturing facility in Milford, Mass.