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  • Pages
  • Editions
01 Cover
02 Welcome Letter / Sections
03 Article & Interview Directory
04 Section 1: Introduction
05 Introduction to US Life Sciences
06 Janssen Pharmaceuticals Interview
07 Investment Climate
08 MPM Capital Interview
09 Signet Healthcare Partners Interview
10 Xontogeny Interview
11 Insights from EisnerAmper
12 The Life Sciences Regulatory Climate
13 Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC Interview
14 PhRMA Interview
15 PBOA Interview
16 Ernst & Young LLP Interview
17 LaVoieHealthScience Interview
18 Section 2: Introducing the Hubs
19 East Coast
20 BioNJ Interview
21 MassBio Interview
22 Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center Interview
23 West Coast
24 Biocom California Interview
25 QB3-Berkeley Interview
26 Section 3: Drug Discovery and Development
27 Therapeutic Fields On Fire
28 Insmed Interview
29 Mammoth Biosciences Interview
30 Innovations Enhancing the Patient Experience
31 Arcturus Therapeutics Interview
32 Karius Interview
33 Expert Insights: Targeted Therapeutics
34 First Wave BioPharma Interview
35 Aphios Corporation Interview
36 Section 4: Contract Manufacturing and Chemicals
37 A Shifting Landscape
38 Syngene International Interview
39 Cambrex Interview
40 Lubrizol Life Science Interview
41 Aenova Group Interview
42 Keeping Up With Demands
43 Cureline Interview
44 Interview: Murli Krishna Pharma
45 PsychoGenics Interview
46 Expert Insights: Innovative Technologies
47 AMPAC Fine Chemicals Interview
48 TCG Lifesciences Interview
49 CordenPharma Interview
50 Quotient Sciences Interview
51 A Post-Pandemic World
52 New Vision Pharmaceuticals Interview
53 Adare Pharma Solutions Interview
54 Ascendia Pharmaceuticals Interview
55 Chemicals Producers and Distributors
56 Brenntag North America Interview
57 BASF Pharma Solutions Interview
58 Section 5: Technology Services
59 Life Sciences Go Digital
60 RxS Interview
61 Insights from Markem-Imaje
62 AiCure Interview
63 WhizAI Interview
64 Section 6: Company Profiles
65 Brenntag Company Profile
66 Adare Pharma Solutions Company Profile
67 Quotient Sciences Company Profile
68 SK pharmteco Company Profile
69 AiCure Company Profile
70 Markem-Imaje Company Profile
71 TCG Lifesciences Company Profile
72 Murli Krishna Pharma Company Profile
73 Credits

Kendalle O’Connell, President and COO,

MASSBIO

"We have the most robust early-stage biotech ecosystem of anywhere in the world."

How has the Massachusetts life sciences evolved in the past few years and how is MassBio supporting them?

2021 was a very exciting year for the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem with US$13.6 billion of venture capital investment into biopharma companies here, up 70% from 2020, which was already a record-breaking investment year. There are 20 million square feet of lab and biomanufacturing developments in the pipeline between 2021 and 2024, and that expansion is expected to create 40,000 net-new jobs. We have the most robust early-stage biotech ecosystem of anywhere in the world.

Our core focus is to support early-stage biotech companies that are working on the riskiest, breakthrough, cutting-edge science. We are a leader around diversity, equity and inclusion, and we focus on creating pathways for our 1,500 member companies to prioritize DEI within their organizations. In August of 2020, we had a CEO pledge letter with over 200 commitments. Recently we conducted a survey of those companies to assess their DEI progress, resulting in the first ever set of Massachusetts data about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Massachusetts life sciences industry.

Could you tell us about MassBio Innovation?

MassBio Innovation is one of our leading initiatives designed to support the entrepreneurial and early-stage life sciences ecosystem. Through our Partnering Days program we provide unique opportunities for established biopharma, medical device, or digital health companies to connect with leading early-stage companies and academic institutions developing breakthrough life sciences technologies. Also, 2021 was the first year that we launched ‘Partnering Week’, expanding upon Partnering Days by giving start-ups access to five established biopharma companies over the course of a week. Sponsoring companies of Partnering Days or Partnering Week have the opportunity to share what their partnering strategy looks like, showcase the science that they are working on, and establish new relationships with up-and-coming biotech companies.

How are skilled labor challenges in the sector being addressed?

Massachusetts has always been known as a place that puts out some of the best and brightest talent, but we really have to be thinking about what is next as the cluster continues to expand. We need to think outside of Boston and Cambridge and focus on building a talent pipeline for biomanufacturing and entry level positions. We need to regionalize our approach into all the emerging hubs of life sciences and tap into communities that have historically been underrepresented in the life sciences to create pathways into the industry. MassBio is working with the government and universities to understand the types of training that our industry companies will accept at all of the different levels. We also need to work on talent retention. To fill these 40,000 jobs we are going to have to take talent from all over the US and internationally.

How has public perception of the sector shifted in the past few years?

Public opinion is probably at an all-time high for the life sciences industry because of what happened through Covid-19. This was the first time in recent history that everyone in the world knew what it was like to live with an unmet medical need. And with the record-breaking development of multiple Covid-19 vaccines in less than a year, society better understands the amazing opportunities for patients that this industry can create. Looking forward, new technologies being researched now have the potential to offer patients not just treatments but cures. This is probably the most exciting time for patients in history.

What is the outlook for MassBio and Massachusetts as a pharma and biopharma hub in 2022 and beyond?

Massachusetts remains the best place in the world for the life sciences. We did not get there by chance, and we will not stay that way without proactive efforts. At MassBio, we are focused on a range of programs and initiatives to keep that leadership position, including efforts to expand biomanufacturing across the state, grow and diversify our talent pool, and continue to provide programs and services to support entrepreneurs and emerging biotech companies. The density of small and emerging biotech companies has attracted 18 of the top 20 biopharma companies in the world to establish a physical presence here. MassBio remains focused on providing the necessary support to help companies succeed so we can continue to stay the best place in the world for life sciences.

Next:

Interview: Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center