Drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. said it will open new research facility at Alexandria Real Estate Equities’ 100 Binney St. site in Cambridge’s Kendall Square.

The facility, which is expected to be approximately 400,000 square feet, will opening in early 2018  and be staffed with up to 200 existing employees from its Wallington, Conn. and Waltham facilities, which will close at that time, along with additional hires. The Waltham facility houses Adnexus, a biologics discovery site that has 100 employees specializing in in vitro technologies. An existing research facility in Redwood City, Calif., will expand by 61,000 square feet in 2016, Bristol-Myers Squibb also announced Thursday.

“Our new location in Cambridge and our expanding presence in the San Francisco Bay area positions the company and our scientists in the heart of vibrant ecosystems of world-class science, innovation and business opportunities, which offer ideal environments for fostering external collaboration,” Francis Cuss, executive vice president, said in a statement.

Transwestern RBJ’s Bob Richards represented Bristol-Myers Squibb in the transaction along with Morford & Dodds Realty and Garibaldi Group. CB Richard Ellis represented Alexandria.

A lease is expected to be executed in the near future following the recent letter of intent signed by the two parties, according to Transwestern RBJ.