Massachusetts By the Numbers

Massachusetts is home to a biotechnology cluster that is second to none. Complementing its outstanding biopharmaceutical companies are 122 colleges and universities - over 40 of which offer advanced degrees in the life sciences, the top five National Institutes of Health-funded hospitals in the nation, and the highest educated workforce in the U.S. that offers unparalleled skills and productivity to employers.

Industry Strength

There are more than 430 biotechnology companies located in MA (MassBio, 2008); 277 of those companies are developing therapeutic drugs. (BioPharm Insight, 2008)

2,364 drugs (chemical- and biological-based) are being developed in Massachusetts, representing just under 7% of the global drug pipeline. With 1,092 biologic drugs in development, almost 8% of the global biologics pipeline is based in Massachusetts. (BioPharm Insight, 2009)

16 of the top 50 biopharmaceutical companies by revenue in the Forbes 500 list have a Massachusetts presence. (Forbes 500, 2009)

Funding & Capital

Massachusetts receives vast amounts of federal grants that advance the biotechnology industry. The Commonwealth has received 10% or more of annual NIH funds since 2005 and consistently ranks #1 in NIH funding per capita.

NIH Chart

 

While overall national SBIR investment decreased in 2008, Massachusetts gained in share of the national investment.  The $77.8 million in SBIR funds flowing to Massachusetts accounted for 13.94% of national SBIR funding in 2008.

SBIR Chart

 

Massachusetts is home to the top 5 NIH funded hospitals*:

1.               Massachusetts General Hospital

2.               Brigham and Women's Hospital

3.               Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

4.               Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

5.               Children's Hospital Boston

*National Institutes of Health, 2007

Venture Capital

Venture Capital Investment Chart

Massachusetts is a hub for biotechnology investment. In 2009, Massachusetts maintained a strong share of national biotech venture capital investment, capturing just over 18% of all U.S. biotechnology venture capital investment.

Talented Workers

There are 45,905 biotechnology employees in Massachusetts (2008) and the companies employing those workers are responsible for over $4 billion of in-state payroll.

The Massachusetts biopharma industry grew by 42.6% between 2001 and 2008, as compared to overall Massachusetts employment which declined by 56,000 jobs, or 1.7% during toughly the same period (2001-2007).

Mass Employment Growth



Contrary to popular perception, even within the industry, biopharma manufacturing employment growth outpaced that of the industry as a whole between 2001 and 2008, at 43.6% versus 42.6% growth.

Manufacturing Jobs

(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, County Business Patterns, 2001-2007; Massachusetts ES-202 report, 2008; MBC analysis)

 

In 2005, Massachusetts' 122 colleges & universities awarded over 4,500 degrees/certificates in biotechnology related fields of study.

Massachusetts ranks 1st in the nation in percentage of residents with a bachelors degree or higher (National Center for Education Statistics, 2007).

From the Laboratory to the Factory

Long known as a center for research and development in biotechnology, Massachusetts can count a growing number of manufacturing assets in Massachusetts because of a workforce highly skilled in biologics process development.  In addition to a number of contract manufacturers, Massachusetts is also home to commercial manufacturing for Genzyme, Biogen-Idec, AstraZeneca, Abbott Biosciences, Shire, and Wyeth.  Bristol-Myers Squibb will complete construction of its largest biologics manufacturing facility in the world at Devens, Massachusetts in 2011.

 

About MassBio

MassBio, founded in 1985, is a not-for-profit organization committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide.

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