Out of the Lab and Into the Factory
The Seattle-area life science sector has built out a niche for itself in biomanufacturing to support cell therapy, a type of biologics where human cells are engineered or modified and transplanted as medicine.
“We were sort of ahead of the curve,” Marc Cummings, CEO of Life Science Washington, said of the local biotech sector. “And so, we developed an expertise in cell therapy, because we had to.”
That focus has resulted in the growth of major companies here, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Sana Biotechnology and Seagen, acquired by Pfizer in 2023. Most recently, Sonoma Biotherapeutics announced plans to develop a manufacturing site in Seattle, with plans to hire 100 new employees in the area.
“The recent expansion of biomanufacturing in the region means that we now have a sophisticated workforce particularly in the complicated area of cell therapy manufacturing,” said Cummings.