How Pittsburgh can cash in on biotech boom
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Pittsburgh's biotech industry is ahead of the curve, according to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB).
Why it matters: The commission was created by Congress in 2022 to see how biotechnology can improve national security, and Pittsburgh's biotech sector wants to show it's worth federal investment and attention.
Driving the news: NSCEB commissioner Dov Zakheim and officials held a roundtable discussion on Thursday in Bakery Square, and later met with Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor.
- They toured CMU's Biological and Chemical Innovation Cloud Lab nearby and Pitt's Bioforge in Hazelwood Green, showcasing how robotics and AI are working to secure biotech advances.
By the numbers: Congress is looking to direct $15 billion to boost biotech efforts across the country, according to NSCEB executive director Caitlin Frazer.
What they're saying: Zakheim said Pittsburgh is a model place to invest, since it has a network of educational institutions spinning off private companies like Abridge and Krystal Biotech, and that ecosystem has the backing of local, state and federal policymakers.
- "Given the nature of how things are working in this particular part of the world, where you've got academia, you've got business, and you've got the state, if you direct that money properly, you're gonna get a huge payback," he said.
Zoom out: The global biotechnology market is estimated to grow from $1.77 trillion in 2025 to $5.71 trillion by 2034, according to Precedence Research.
State of play: Pittsburgh's institutions like CMU are following NSCEB recommendations by creating a cloud lab to turn biotechnical research into products that can be used on a wide scale.
- Zakheim said Congress is concerned that China's growing biotech prowess could threaten America's national security.
The bottom line: Pittsburgh's success in scaling up to manufacturing is front of mind for many in the local biotech sphere, said Elevate Bio CEO Chris Murphy.
- It's not only critical to the industry's growth, but it is also key in attracting and retaining a talented workforce in Pittsburgh, per Murphy.
- "We think this is a perfect location for us and where we can launch the next phase of industrialization," he said.