The global Biotech industry is advancing rapidly. The world’s foremost Biotech hubs are pioneering these advancements within the greater industry, which include remarkable progress in the fields of gene therapy, oncology, obesity and disease treatments, and other notable areas of research.
In recent years, the U.S. has witnessed countless developments in treatment options and drug approvals, including the FDA granting accelerated approval of Leqembi for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in January 2023. Billy Dunn, M.D., director of the Office of Neuroscience in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research commented “This treatment option is the latest therapy to target and affect the underlying disease process of Alzheimer’s, instead of only treating the symptoms of the disease.”
Additional drug advancements in 2023 include the FDA’s approval of Inpefa for heart failure treatment, and the approval of Columvi, the first and only bispecific antibody treatment for people with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Each of these approvals demonstrate the significant impact of Biotech research and development.
In 2023, the world’s leading Biotech hubs include:
Boston
California
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina’s research triangle
The UK
Singapore
Switzerland
Germany
Boston
Massachusetts is now the world’s leading Biotech hub, outperforming its closest competitor California with significant industry growth and advancements. Data from MassBio shows that Biopharma employment grew in Massachusetts by 13.2% in 2021, and the greater Boston metropolitan area is well known for attracting significant talent to the region.
Biotech careers have also grown consistently in Boston for over a decade, with the Biotech R&D industry reporting an 11.5% growth rate between January 2021 and January 2022. Global leaders in Biotech, including Biogen, Boston Scientific, Intarcia Therapeutics, Moderna Therapeutics and Thermo Fisher Scientific, who are based in Massachusetts, have all contributed to this growth.
Massachusetts also receives the highest per capita funding in the US and was granted 9% of all NIH funding in 2021.
California
According to the California Life Sciences 2021 Sector Report, the industry employed 313,230 skilled workers and earned $12.5 billion in venture capital. The sector received $5 billion in NIH funding during 2021, and California also hosts renowned Biotech industry events, including the BIO International Convention in San Francisco.
California is home to a number of Biotech organizations, including Ultragenyx, with its headquarters in Novato. Ultragenyx has obtained FDA approval and launched four treatments for five different diseases over the past few years:
Crysvita, the first drug approved to treat adults and children with a rare form of rickets, XLH, as well as to treat TIO, a rare disease characterized by the development of tumors that cause weakened and softened bones
Mepsevii to treat pediatric and adult patients with an inherited metabolic condition called mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS VII)
Dojolvi for long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders LC-FAOD)
Evkeeza for children with HoFH, a condition characterized by extremely high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is another top location for landing a role in the Biotech industry. The Pennsylvania Biotech market is currently valued at $2.1 billion, with the sector directly employing 8,462 professionals across 108 regional Biotechnology organizations.
The King of Prussia region is also home to global Biotech leader, CSL Behring’s, operational headquarters.
Also headquartered in Trevose, Pennsylvania, Lannett Company, Inc. is developing biosimilar insulin aspart and biosimilar insulin glargine products with its strategic alliance partner, HEC. As part of its production, Lannett announced positive animal PK study results of insulin aspart versus US Novolog®, an exciting development for this product.
New Jersey
The Biotech industry in New Jersey has an expansive 135-year history, and recent data suggests that 14 out of the world’s 20 largest R&D Biopharmaceutical firms have headquarters or offices in the state. The state’s Biotech community has expanded by over 400% in just under two decades, and supports over 430,000 direct and indirect positions.
A key driver of this growth comes from Certara, a global leader in accelerating medicines with biosimulation, who’s corporate headquarters are based in Princeton. In April 2023, Certara announced that 90% of new drug approvals by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Review (CDER) were received by Certara’s customers in 2022.
New York
New York’s Biotech sector is supported by a $620 million Life Science Initiative, and is home to notable Biotechnology organizations including the Empire Discovery Institute, Wadsworth Center, and IndieBio New York. New York received $3.7 billion in NIH funding in 2021 and ranks second in the US for total academic R&D expenditure.
North Carolina’s research triangle
The Research Triangle received its name due to its “triangle” of three cities, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and is anchored by the largest research park in the US and three major research universities.
Ranking number 6 in CBRE’s analysis of life science research talent clusters, the region is renowned for being a hub for Biotech companies, including Avazyme, with major innovations in Biotech coming from here.
Other global Biotech hubs
Additional world leaders in Biotech present exciting opportunities for R&D candidates. These global hubs include:
United Kingdom. According to McKinsey, UK-based Biotechs raised £2.8 billion in 2020, and the nation currently supports 116,815 positions. R&D spending in the UK is expected to grow by 2.4% by the year 2027, and the country also leads Europe in the number of new Biotech startups being launched and funded.
Singapore. Singapore could become the next major global Biotech hub, thanks to the implementation of its biomedical strategy. This includes the launch of Biopolis, a bespoke hub dedicated to biomanufacturing and research & development. It is designed to attract local and international talent.
Switzerland. Switzerland is another world-leading Biotech destination that attracts numerous foreign investors, professionals, and organizations. It provides more than 50,000 Biotech positions and, when combined with the Pharmaceutical industry, accounts for over 40% of Switzerland’s exports.
Germany. The Bloomberg Innovation Index named Germany the most technologically advanced country in 2020, and the nation also scored top-five rankings in high technological density, patent activity, and value-added manufacturing. Germany exported $1.38 trillion worth of goods across the world in 2020, with pharmaceuticals accounting for 7.1% of the total value, and combines renowned scientists with world-class hospitals and R&D institutes to provide ample career opportunities for Biotech professionals.
Explore open positions in the top Biotech hubs
If you’re considering locating to a top Biotech hub, EPM Scientific can help you find your next position as a leading specialist life sciences talent partner. Register with us and view our open roles to secure your position in one of the world’s most highly respected Biotech centers.