North Carolina is the third leading state for biotechnology with 450 companies. That number includes:
- 91 contract research, testing companies -- one of the world's greatest concentration;
- 30 agricultural biotechnology companies -- second only to California;
- 31 publicly traded companies with a market capitalization of $543 billion;
- At least 45 based on North Carolina university technologies;
- more than 55,000 employees;
- Between 5 and 10 percent average growth in employment per year since 1996;
- Estimated $3 billion payroll;
- Average salary of $63,010;
- $145 million paid annually in personal state income taxes;
- About 150 bioscience patents granted each year to companies and universities.
Household Names Including:
- GlaxoSmithKline
- BASF
- Bayer
- Biogen Idec
- Cardinal Health
- Merck
- Novartis
- Novo Nordisk
- Syngenta
- Wyeth
Annual Impact of Biotechnology on North Carolina Agriculture:
- Food and fiber production boosted by 57 million pounds
- Pesticide use reduced by 1.4 million pounds
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.