Life Sciences Challenges and Opportunities: Discussion Draft

The Massachusetts life sciences industry is the envy of the world, a magnet for almost every global biotech and pharma company. More out-of-state companies are arriving, most recently Baxter International and GE Healthcare. The capital markets are soaring, as 16 Boston area biotechs went public last year. Employment is up sharply, increasing over 40 percent in the past 10 years (2004-2013), almost 10 times faster than the state job-growth average. This draft discussion identifies the challenges, opportunities, and vision for life sciences in Massachusetts over the next decade.