North Carolina is the third leading state for biotechnology with 528 companies. That number includes:
- 110 contract research and testing companies -- one of the world's greatest concentration;
- 60 agricultural biotechnology companies headquartered in North Carolina;
- 13 publicly traded companies with a market capitalization of $11.8 billion;
- At least 75 based on North Carolina university technologies;
- 57,000 employees;
- 18 percent growth from 2001 to 2006, the fastest of the top 10 biotech states;
- Estimated $4.5 billion payroll;
- Average salary of $74,650 (2008);
- $1.4 billion in state and local taxes;
- $176 million paid annually in personal state income taxes;
- About 145 bioscience patents granted each year to companies and universities.
- Approximately 12 percent of all patents issued to North Carolina assignees are biotech-related.
Household Names Include:
- GlaxoSmithKline
- BASF
- Baxter Healthcare
- Bayer
- Biogen Idec
- Labcorp
- Merck
- Novartis
- Novo Nordisk
- Pfizer
- Syngenta
- Quintiles
Annual Impact of Biotechnology on North Carolina Agriculture:
- Food and fiber production boosted by 86.6 million pounds in 2006
- Pesticide use reduced by 3.5 million pounds in 2006
Biotechnology Products Discovered, Developed or Manufactured in North Carolina:
- Drugs for multiple sclerosis; HIV/AIDS, psoriasis, Alzheimer's Disease;
- Industrial enzymes for detergents, baking and ethanol fuel;
- Herbicide-tolerant crops;
- Poultry vaccines; and
- Pediatric vaccines.
Verified March 2010