Life Sciences

 

As a region, South Florida offers convenient access to leading research institutes and academic institutions for individual researchers or life science leaders hoping to collaborate with scientists on investigations and trials, or take advantage of nationally-recognized universities, professors and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) focused students. In Greater Fort Lauderdale, universities such as Nova Southeastern University, Florida Atlantic University and the Research Park at FAU, University of Florida, Florida International University and others are exploring science and technology in medicine, engineering and more. To the north, the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, Max Planck Florida Institute, and the FIU Center for Translational Science are pursuing compelling, world-class discoveries.

To the south, the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and Florida International University’s Biomedical Engineering Department are investing in biomedical research and commercialization programs. 

Life sciences companies also benefit from a trained 18,000+-person workforce, and a value chain that includes suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce training programs.

A Statewide Snapshot

Florida has a growing life sciences sector with new companies, more jobs and a significant number of bioscience-related patents. 

Top Reasons to do business in Florida:

1. Florida is home to the nation’s second largest medical device manufacturing industry, second-largest pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry and the fourth largest biotech R&D industry. (BLS)
2. $1.4 billion spent in life science R&D by Florida universities. (National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics)
3. Biopharmaceutical sector had $64.3 billion in economic output in 2022. ( PhRMA.org)
4. #1 in high-tech employment in the Southeast. (CompTIA Cyberstates)

A Collaborative Approach

On a statewide level, BioFlorida is the voice of Florida's life sciences industry with regional chapters that represent nearly 8,600 establishments and research organizations in the BioPharma, MedTech, Digital Health and Health Systems sectors thta collectively employ nearly 107,000 Floridians (Source: TEConomy/BIO (released 2022). BioFlorida’s initiatives provide a strong business climate for the advancement of innovative products that improve lives and promote economic benefits to the state.South Florida's academic institutions, research parks and economic development organizations have joined together to form Life Sciences South Florida (LifeSciencesSF.org).  Its goal is to provide state, federal and private investment opportunities. The organization also facilitates the sharing of high-tech equipment and guides the development of a skilled biotechnology workforce capable of supporting cutting-edge research and commercial innovation. 

Another collaborative asset is the Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research, which facilitates the creation of spin-off companies from technology developed at Florida’s publicly funded research institutions. The institute provides support services, including building relationships with seasoned entrepreneurs, in order to hasten the growth of commercially viable discoveries.

 

 A Diverse Industry Cluster

South Florida is home to approximately 1,500 bioscience businesses and institutions that according to some estimates generate more than $4 billion in annual sales.

Click here to download a PDF of the Life Sciences map.

Local life sciences leaders in Greater Fort Lauderdale include:

• Allergan is a brand/generic pharmaceutical company based in Ireland whose pharmaceutical facility in Davie manufactures about 2.2 billion units annually for global distribution.
• Aveva Drug Delivery Systems is a global leader in transdermal drug delivery solutions. The Miramar company is part of Apotex, Canada's largest pharmaceutical company.
• BioStem Technologies, Inc.is a pre-clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on a broad range of degenerative diseases.
• DNA Labs International provides forensic DNA analysis. The Deerfield Beach company has made a $7.5 million capital investment in its facility.
• EpiPaws, a Fort Lauderdale-based pet healthcare company that uses epigenetic biomarkers for age and early disease detection, was selected to participate in the 2024 BioTools Innovator accelerator that supports life science startups.
• Florida Supplement is a nutraceutical manufacturer and packager of nutritional supplements in tablets, capsules, liquids and power blend forms. Located in Miramar, Florida Supplement serves customers in the United States, Latin America and Europe.
• GBI Biomanufacturing, in Plantation, is a fully integrated contract manufacturing organization of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins for preclinical and phase I/II/III clinical trials. The company is adding 105 new jobs and making a capital investment of $28.2 million in 2023.
• Hema Diagnostic Systems, LLC, produces a full line of rapid diagnostic assays for major infectious disease testing. The Miramar company was acquired by Generex Biotechnology Corporation in 2018.
• Lupin Limited, a pharma-research company based in Mumbai, India, expanded its laboratory facility in Coral Springs. The company focuses on inhalation products for the treatment of asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and other lung diseases.
• Memic Innovative Surgery’s new facility in Fort Lauderdale advances its global commercialization, professional education and customer support services. The company raised $96 million for its robot-assisted surgery platform.
• OmniComm Systems, Inc. is a Fort Lauderdale-based global provider of eClinical solutions. It was acquired by Anju Software in 2019.
• OrbusNeich is a global medical device company that develops therapies for vascular disease at its Advanced Research and Development facility in Fort Lauderdale.
• SHL Pharma expanded its manufacturing and R&D facility in Deerfield Beach. SHL Pharma is part of SHL Group, the world’s largest privately owned designer, developer and manufacturer of advanced drug delivery systems.
• SKNV, based in Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, manufactures customized and affordable pharmaceutical medications for the treatment of topical dermatology conditions.
• Terumo Aortic in Sunrise develops products for endovascular aortic treatment, including its Relay Thoracic Stent-Graft with Plus Delivery System, a life-saving technology for patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., is an Israel-based company with engineering, information technology and purchasing services at its facility in Weston.
• Transpire Bio, a development-stage biopharmaceutical company celebrated the opening of its new research facility in Weston in late 2023 and will be developing inhalation medicines for conditions including asthma, COPD, and diseases of the nervous system, creating more than 30 new jobs and making a capital investment of $115 million.
• Trividia Health, a subsidiary of China-based Sinocare Group, makes glucose-monitoring equipment and related products for diabetics from its facility in Fort Lauderdale.

•  

For information regarding locating or expanding your business in Greater Fort Lauderdale, please contact Todd Holt, the Alliance's Vice President of Business Development, at 954-627-0124 or via email at [email protected].