The Lehigh Valley’s life sciences and chemical industries were highlighted recently at events that drew state policymakers and corporate leaders to the region to learn about the innovation occurring here. 
On Dec. 11, Pennsylvania state legislators and legislative staff toured Lehigh Valley life sciences businesses. They learned how research and manufacturing in the Lehigh Valley is saving lives while boosting the state and regional economy. Legislators had an opportunity to speak with company executives about what support they need to continue to grow and excel.
Also participating in the tour were representatives from the administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has made economic development a top priority, and Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).
The tour was led by Life Sciences Pennsylvania, the statewide trade association representing companies in the biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic industries, along with companies in related fields and research institutions. It has more than 900 members.
LVEDC co-hosted the tour, which included stops at global innovators Thermo Fisher Scientific and B. Braun Medical, and emerging startup companies Thread Bioscience and Ilico Genetics.
Christopher P. Molineaux, President & CEO of LIfe Sciences Pennsylvania, underscored how important the life sciences industry is to patients and to Pennsylvania’s economy.
“The companies and organizations visited as part of this tour comprise a true ecosystem. One in which entities researching, developing, and manufacturing medicines and technologies work with the necessary support services to improve the lives of patients around the world. It’s important that public officials understand this unique and resource-intensive process to ensure the commonwealth has a business and policy climate that incentivizes this innovative industry and the jobs it provides to Pennsylvanians.”
The Lehigh Valley is home to more than 170 life sciences business establishments – manufacturing facilities, labs, research centers, offices, and distribution centers - that employ more than 6,000 people. That sector has grown by about 50% over the last decade.
Leading companies are choosing to join the region’s growing ecosystem because the Lehigh Valley has the talented workforce they need, and because the region is located within a day’s drive of one-third of U.S. consumers, making it easy for them to get their products to market.
Don Cunningham, President and CEO of LVEDC, thanked the legislators and policymakers who participated in the tour.
“The decisions you make and support you give are critical to continue to grow this industry, whether it's support for talent supply, whether it's support for STEM education, whether it's support for community colleges, all those great things add up to building the ecosystem that allow us to do this work and create these jobs that we so desperately want here in the United States,” Cunningham said.
Thermo Fisher Scientific provides end-to-end drug development services, including clinical trials, logistics, and commercial manufacturing. It has more than 4,000 employees in Pennsylvania, including at its location in Upper Macungie Township in the Lehigh Valley.
German company B. Braun Medical has its U.S. headquarters in the Bethlehem. At its recently expanded manufacturing space in nearby Hanover Township, Lehigh County, the company makes more than 1,600 products including anesthesia kits, IV administration sets, pharmacy admixture devices, and safety catheters.
Thread Bioscience and Ilico Genetics are located at Ben Franklin TechVentures in Bethlehem, a state-funded business incubator for technology and science startups that is run by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Thread Bioscience is developing a point-of-care rapid test to improve testing for urinary tract infections. Ilico Genetics is developing a blood test for early detection of gastric cancer.
PA Chemical Industry Council
The Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council (PCIC) held a member meeting in the Lehigh Valley for the first time, on Dec. 11 at Piramal Critical Care in Bethlehem, where the company has its North American headquarters and a manufacturing facility.
PCIC is the trade association for the state’s chemical industry, which employs about 3,400 people in the Lehigh Valley at companies including Air Products, Evonik, Air Liquide, Wacker, and EMD Electronics.
The event at Piramal was attended by about three dozen leaders from Pennsylvania chemical manufacturers, along with consultants and engineers. They heard a year-in-review, and updates about legislation that could impact the industry in 2025.
Among the presenters was Congressman-elect Ryan Mackenzie, who explained his vision for future legislation that would aid the industry and further promote economic and workforce development.
Doug Warfel, LVEDC’s Director of Attraction and Lending, presented information about the Lehigh Valley’s growing $56 billion economy. Discussions included marketing and attraction efforts as well as the work being done with regional partners on workforce development. After the meeting, Piramal hosted lunch and a tour of their manufacturing facility.
(Photos courtesy of Life Sciences Pennsylvania)