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 480 biotechnology companies located in Massachusetts (MassBio, 2010); 277 of those companies are developing therapeutic drugs. (MedTRACK, 2010)

As of August 2010, there were 895 drugs in development, from preclinical to pending approval stage, in Massachusetts.  217 of the drug candidates were biologics.  Massachusetts-based companies account for 11% of the U.S. and 5.5% of the global drug development pipelines.  These figures do not include the substantial number of drugs being developed in Massachusetts by companies with headquarters outside of the state.

drug dev pipeline
Source: MedTRACK Industry Database, Life Science Analytics, Inc.

Funding & Capital

NIH funding to MA sharply increased in 2009 ($581+ million higher than 2008).  Massachusetts researchers receive over 11% of all NIH research funds.

NIH

 

Massachusetts is home to 5 of the top 8 NIH funded hospitals*:

1.               Massachusetts General Hospital

3.               Brigham and Women's Hospital

6.               Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

7.               Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

8.               Children's Hospital Boston

*National Institutes of Health, 2009

Venture Capital

 

vc share of biotech investment

Source Data:

2010 PricewaterhouseCoopers, National Venture Capital Association, MoneyTreeTM Report, Historical Trend Data.

In 2009, Massachusetts biotech companies received $807 million in VC funding (4th best year ever). Through the first two quarters of 2010, Massachusetts biotech companies received $550 million in VC funding.  The Massachusetts share of U.S. biotech venture capital reached 26% through the first two quarters of 2010.

Talented Workers

There are 46,553 biotechnology employees in Massachusetts (2009) and the companies employing those workers are responsible for over $4 billion of in-state payroll.

The Massachusetts biopharma industry grew by 60% between between 2000 and 2009.

employment growth

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, County Business Patterns and MassBio analysis

Contrary to popular perception, even within the industry, biopharma manufacturing employment grew at an impressive rate between 2001 and 2009, by 24.5%.

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 Pfizer.  Bristol-Myers Squibb will complete construction of its largest biologics manufacturing facility in the world at Devens, Massachusetts in 2011.

 

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About MassBio

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

Founded in 1985, MassBio represents over 600 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, and works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services.

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