Massachusetts awards $30 million to 33 life-sciences companies, pledging more than 1,500 jobs

Gov. Maura Healey announced a $30,000,000 round of Massachusetts Life Sciences Center awards to 33 companies on Oct. 12 at Lila Sciences in Cambridge, saying the companies have pledged more than 1,500 jobs, including 100 jobs at Lila Sciences.

The announcement builds on the Mass Leads Act, which Healey said extended the life sciences initiative for 10 years and increased the annual tax-credit award pool from $30,000,000 to $40,000,000. "We're doubling down on our commitment to the life sciences industry," Healey said, adding that the administration expects the remaining $10,000,000 to be awarded in the next funding round.

Why it matters: Healey framed the awards as a state-level response to reductions in federal research funding and as a strategy to maintain Massachusetts’ competitiveness in biotech. "When we see cuts from the federal administration to NIH funding, NSF funding ... we are going in a different direction in Massachusetts," she said.

Details of the awards and job pledges mentioned by Healey include: 100 jobs at Lila Sciences (Cambridge); 100 jobs at Anilum (Norton); 80 jobs at Insulet (Acton); 70 jobs at Cipla (Fall River); and 300 jobs at Vertex (Boston). Healey also cited companies receiving awards in Lowell, Lexington, and Lee, among other locations.

Kirk Taylor, chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, thanked partners and said the awards continue a two-decade history of state support for the sector. "This is what makes my job incredibly exciting and rewarding and enriching," Taylor said, noting the center’s role in administering tax incentives and grants.

Jeff Lemelson, cofounder and chief executive officer of Lila Sciences, described his company's work using artificial intelligence to accelerate laboratory discovery. "We are convinced that is the future ... to model the way the world, brilliant teams and robotics and automation and instrumentation, run those experiments in the real world," Lemelson said.

Cambridge city leadership framed the investment as connected to broader local priorities. City Manager Yewon Ah said the city is working to build housing and infrastructure to support the life-sciences workforce: "We are making enormous strides toward creating a policy environment that allows more housing construction to address a lot of the shortages that make it hard for people to live here."

Healey highlighted statewide life-sciences metrics during her remarks: more than 6,000 active clinical trials, roughly 160,000 people employed in the sector in Massachusetts, and high per-capita NIH and venture capital funding. She urged the life-sciences community to look to the upcoming BIO International convention in Boston as an opportunity to showcase the state.

No formal vote or ordinance was recorded at the event; the announcement was a public funding award statement and recognition of awardees. Officials said additional details about award recipients and the timing for the remaining $10,000,000 will be released in a subsequent funding round.

Looking ahead: Healey said the administration will continue to promote policies and supports intended to keep Massachusetts a global life-sciences hub and to accelerate therapies and cures she said are needed by patients worldwide.