Massachusetts awards $30 million to 33 life‑science firms; Lila Sciences to add 100 jobs

Governor Maura Healey announced that the Commonwealth is awarding $30 million to 33 life‑science companies that have pledged to create more than 1,500 jobs across Massachusetts, including an estimated 100 jobs at Cambridge‑based Lila Sciences.

The awards, announced at Lila Sciences in Cambridge on an event hosted by the company and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, are funded through the Mass Leads Act and are part of an expanded life‑sciences initiative Healey said the administration extended and increased in cooperation with the Legislature. “These are investments that are gonna lead to new cures, new treatments, better quality of life, better outcomes for people, and also will create great jobs,” Governor Maura Healey said.

Why it matters: Healey framed the awards as a way to maintain Massachusetts’ global leadership in life sciences amid what she called reductions in federal research funding. She said the administration increased the program’s annual tax credit cap by one‑third — from $30 million to $40 million — and that the state will release the remaining $10 million in a near term funding round.

Details and scope: The governor and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) officials said awardees span the state. Healey cited specific company job pledges mentioned at the event: Lila Sciences, 100 jobs in Cambridge; Anilum, 100 jobs in Norton; Insulet, 80 jobs in Acton; Cipla, 70 jobs in Fall River; Vertex, 300 jobs in Boston. Other firms named by speakers included RevBio in Lowell, Novo Nordisk in Lexington, and Sharp Sterile Manufacturing in Lee. The administration described the awards as part of the life sciences incentive cycle created under the Mass Leads Act and the MLSC program.

MLSC context and remarks: Kirk Taylor, chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, said the MLSC and its board have supported state investments in research and industry for roughly two decades and described the awards as part of a continuing effort to support innovation and health‑equity goals. “Everyone deserves good health,” Taylor said, underscoring MLSC’s role in pairing public funds with private sector projects.

Company perspective: Jeff Von Maultson, co‑founder and chief executive officer of Lila Sciences, described his company’s work at the intersection of artificial intelligence and scientific discovery and said Lila has been operating in stealth before publicly scaling this year. “What if AI could reinvent the most valuable wheel that has ever existed,” Von Maultson said, summarizing Lila’s objective to use AI to accelerate the scientific method and speed discovery in biology, chemistry and materials science.

Local government: Yewon Ah, identified at the event as Cambridge city manager, said the city supports the life‑science ecosystem and is pursuing housing policy changes to help employees live closer to job centers like Kendall Square. “We are making enormous strides toward creating a policy environment that allows more housing construction to address a lot of the shortages,” Ah said.

Context on federal funding: Healey referenced cuts to federal research programs at agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and actions involving the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the rationale for state investment. She said Massachusetts aims to counteract those trends by doubling down on state support for research, workforce development and industry growth.

Next steps and timing: Officials said the $30 million announced will be followed by an additional $10 million in the next funding round; the administration said it intends to distribute that money “very shortly.” Healey also noted the upcoming BIO International convention in Boston as an event where the state will showcase its life‑science investments.

Discussion versus decisions: The announcement conveyed a formal decision to disburse $30 million in awards under the Mass Leads Act cycle and a public statement of intent to release the remaining $10 million soon. No formal vote or ordinance was recorded at the event.

Ending: Organizers and state officials celebrated the awards as part of a broader push to sustain Massachusetts’ life‑science workforce and innovation cluster, while flagging federal funding pressures as a reason for increased state investment.