Leading the nation in vaccine manufacturing and the world's largest cluster of CROs.
Ranging from fast growing start-ups to massive multi-national corporations, more than 500 life science companies operate in the Research Triangle Region.
We’re proud to be home to companies with a wide range of expertise. Some are focused solely on research, while others specialize in manufacturing drug therapies at a scale that can’t be replicated anywhere in the world.
Life Science at a Glance
Life Science Companies Located in the Triangle
(Partial List)
Industry Highlights
Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global corporation with more than 42,000 employees in 79 countries. They work every day to find ways to defeat serious chronic conditions and are recognized as a world leader in diabetes care.
The company’s Clayton (Johnston County) facility — home to the primary U.S. diabetes manufacturing facility — recently announced a $2 billion expansion that will add another 1,000 jobs by 2020.
Novo Nordisk is not only a great economic engine for the Research Triangle Region and the state of North Carolina, they’re also an outstanding environmental steward and corporate citizen. Needless to say, the Research Triangle Region is incredibly fortunate to have Novo Nordisk and companies like them doing business here.
North Carolina Biotechnology Center
As a private, non-profit, state-funded corporation, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center provides access to the people and resources companies need to get started in North Carolina. This includes identifying local talent and working with local government and economic development agencies to overcome challenges specific to life science. NCBiotech offers office space in its Landing Pad for relocating companies and grants to address gaps in infrastructure.
For the past 35 years, NCBiotech has supported the progression of ideas from research lab to marketplace. Consequently, North Carolina’s life science community is comprised of 700+ companies employing 64,500+ employees. NCBiotech continues to invest in technology development through grants and in company development through loans.
The Birthplace of the CRO (Contract Research Organization)
The Research Triangle Region is known as the birthplace of Contract Research Organizations with the formation of IQVIA (formerly Quintiles) in the Triangle Region. Today, seven of the top 10 global CRO’s operate in the Research Triangle Region – IQVIA, Syneos Health, Parexel, PRA Health Sciences, PPD, Charles River Laboratories International and Icon Public Limited Corp.
Not to mention, seven CRO’s are headquartered here including IQVIA, RTI International, Syneos Health, Duke Clinical Research Institute, PRA Health Sciences, FHI 360 and Rho.
How to land a biopharma job: Check out this virtual symposium on Jan. 28
Latest spinoff from UNC’s Gene Therapy Center wants to find a cure for hemophilia
