Thriving biotech industry still a midstate secret

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Now executive vice president for public affairs at the international Biotechnology Industry Organization of Washington, D.C., he flipped when he saw the group’s 2014 report ranking the best metropolitan statistical areas in the biotechnology field.

Lebanon County ranked as the 10th best small MSA in the country for highest location quotient in drugs and pharmaceuticals, and 14th in medical devices and equipment. The York-Hanover market also ranked 14th for medium MSAs in location quotient in medical devices and equipment. Location quotient measures the relative size of an industry in a region versus the rest of the country.

“To see this all happening in my home area, without many people realizing it, yes, I was surprised,” said Bittenbender, who was born in Mechanicsburg.

It’s not a surprise to locals in the industry, but they also see a disconnect between public perception of the strength of the biotechnology, biomedical and life sciences industry in Central Pennsylvania.

Mel Billingsley, president and CEO of public investment group Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania, said the lack of a central cluster of midstate biotech companies likely contributes to the lack of a strong perception that the midstate is a player in the field.

“People see the names along the road here and not necessarily associate it with life sciences,” he said. “Cambridge (Mass.), the Bay Area, they have clusters, but we don’t have flagship buildings all built around a central point.”

Chris Sellards, site general manager for Schott North America’s pharmaceutical packaging plant in Lebanon County, said the lack of knowledge is partly why Schott has trouble finding locals to fill needed positions at the plant, which employs 200 to 230 people, depending on demand.

“It baffles me. I don’t understand it,” he said as to why the region’s prowess in life sciences isn’t better known. “(Schott’s Lebanon County plant is) a high-end player in pharmaceutical packaging, and our facility is a center of excellence for Schott. Maybe it’s how the information is being presented to the community. We’re looking for talented people who want a long-term career here.”

Impressive statistics

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In a 2013 study of industry clusters, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Center for Workforce Information and Analysis said Lebanon County was one of six counties where more than 2 percent of the workforce was employed in the biomedical field.