The biopharmaceutical industry in North Carolina extends the healthcare frontier by innovating medical solutions, encompassing companies committed to delivering breakthrough therapies. These entities range from fully integrated solutions organizations to contract manufacturing enterprises and clinical research entities. They thrive on groundbreaking science, focusing on translating technical acumen into applicable treatment modalities. With a wide array of services - from clinical development and commercialization to product consulting and quality assurance - these companies play an instrumental role in driving accelerated medical progress. Given the industry's swift progression, North Carolina's biopharmaceutical landscape is projected to burgeon, positioning the state as a substantial healthcare hub.


Top 20 biopharmaceutical companies in North Carolina

1. Syneos Health

  • Website: syneoshealth.com
  • Headquarters: Morrisville, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1985
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Latest funding type: Post Ipo Secondary
  • LinkedIn

Syneos Health is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization that accelerates customer success. They utilize clinical, medical affairs, and commercial insights to deliver important therapies to patients. With a focus on shortening the distance from lab to life, they offer a range of services including clinical development, commercialization, and advisory solutions.


2. KBI Biopharma

  • Website: kbibiopharma.com
  • Headquarters: Durham, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1996
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Latest funding type: Series Unknown
  • LinkedIn

KBI Biopharma is a biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing organization (CDMO) that offers end-to-end services for the development and manufacturing of biologics. With a global presence and expertise in cell line development, process development, and manufacturing, the company is known for tackling challenging biologics projects to help clients reach the clinic faster.


3. Premier Research

  • Website: premier-research.com
  • Headquarters: Morrisville, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1989
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Latest funding type: Series Unknown
  • LinkedIn

Premier Research is a clinical research organization that helps innovative biotech and specialty pharma companies transform ideas and breakthrough science into new medical treatments. They offer a range of services, including product development consulting, global regulatory consulting, nonclinical studies, quality assurance, and project management.


4. Alcami Corporation

  • Website: alcaminow.com
  • Headquarters: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1979
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Alcami Corporation is a pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that offers comprehensive solutions to the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. They provide services across the entire life-cycle of products, including formulation development, analytical development, drug product manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and biostorage. With expertise in oral solid dosage forms, they support preclinical production through commercial launch. Alcami has recently invested $10 million to expand its laboratory operation, enhancing capabilities for biologics characterization and parenteral manufacturing projects.


5. Catalyst Clinical Research

  • Website: catalystcr.com
  • Headquarters: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2013
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Catalyst is a global clinical research organization (CRO) specializing in biopharma and oncology solutions. They offer comprehensive clinical research services, including resourcing, C3 for Leaders training program, and niche oncology expertise. Catalyst is dedicated to driving healthcare innovations and delivering next-generation therapies to patients in need.


6. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

  • Website: biocryst.com
  • Headquarters: Durham, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1986
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Latest funding type: Post Ipo Equity
  • LinkedIn

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company that focuses on structure-guided drug design for the development of therapeutics for rare diseases. Their primary product, ORLADEYO®, has shown sustained reductions in Hereditary Angioedema attack rates, improving patient's quality of life. The company's pipeline includes complement programs and medical affairs research. They collaborate with rare disease patient communities and offer clinical trial data transparency.


7. Ironshore

  • Website: ironshorepharma.com
  • Headquarters: Global, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2008
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Latest funding type: Private Equity
  • LinkedIn

Ironshore Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative medications. With a focus on ADHD, CNS, GI, diabetes, and obesity markets, Ironshore Pharma offers a range of products to improve patient outcomes. The company is dedicated to delivering excellence and upholding ethical standards.


8. Locus Biosciences, Inc.

  • Website: locus-bio.com
  • Headquarters: Morrisville, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2015
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Series B
  • LinkedIn

Locus Biosciences is a precision medicine company that develops bacteriophage-based products to combat antimicrobial resistance and treat microbiome diseases. Their powerful platform selectively removes pathogenic bacteria while preserving beneficial bacteria. They also utilize bacteria in the microbiome to produce therapeutics for various diseases.


9. vTv Therapeutics LLC

  • Website: vtvtherapeutics.com
  • Headquarters: High Point, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1998
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Post Ipo Equity
  • LinkedIn

vTv Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company committed to improving the lives of diabetes patients.


10. Tavros Therapeutics

  • Website: tavrostx.com
  • Headquarters: Durham, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2019
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Tavros Therapeutics is a precision oncology company that specializes in discovering and developing first-in-class, targeted cancer therapies. They use a combination of functional and computational genomic approaches to uncover unique vulnerabilities within tumors and create context-specific cancer drugs. Their goal is to make an impact on cancer by improving outcomes for patients.


11. Altavant Sciences

  • Website: altavant.com
  • Headquarters: Cary, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2018
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Altavant is a pharmaceutical company specializing in the development of novel therapies for diseases characterized by pathological serotonin signaling. Their lead candidate, rodatristat ethyl, is designed to block peripheral serotonin production, potentially representing a disease-modifying treatment for conditions such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and sarcoidosis.


12. Ribometrix Inc.

  • Website: ribometrix.com
  • Headquarters: Durham, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2014
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Series Unknown
  • LinkedIn

Ribometrix is a platform therapeutics company based in Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina. It specializes in discovering and developing small molecule medicines that target RNA structures for the treatment of human diseases.


13. Arrivo BioVentures LLC

  • Website: arrivobio.com
  • Headquarters: Morrisville, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Series A
  • LinkedIn

Arrivo BioVentures is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing biologics and small molecules to improve patient lives. They have a flexible approach and look for potential products that offer improvements in patient care across various therapeutic areas. They partner with commercial partners for each individual product, allowing them to build a diverse pipeline of assets addressing unmet medical needs.


14. BioPharma Business Development

Biopharmabusiness.com is a biopharma firm that provides product information to patients and healthcare professionals for EU medicines. They also focus on cancer research, drug development, and clinical trials.


15. Brain Neurotherapy Bio

  • Website: brainneubio.com
  • Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2018
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Seed

Brain Neurotherapy Bio is a company specializing in gene therapies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and Multiple System Atrophy.


16. Quality Chemical Laboratories

Quality Chemical Laboratories is a pharmaceutical development company offering a wide range of services such as raw materials analysis, stability testing, and organic synthesis. They provide tailored specialty services to meet the specific needs of their clients.


17. Allucent

  • Website: allucent.com
  • Headquarters: Cary, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2001
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • LinkedIn

Allucent is a biotech consulting company specializing in supporting small and mid-sized biotechs in breakthrough science. They provide expertise in clinical trial design and execution, focusing on complex therapeutic areas and challenging indications.


18. Synteract

  • Website: synteract.com
  • Headquarters: Morrisville, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1986
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Synteract®, a Syneos Health® company, is a leading full service CRO focused on the emerging biopharma segment. The Company’s multidisciplinary teams support biotech and pharmaceutical companies across all phases of drug development, providing deep expertise in oncology, dermatology, general medicine, infectious disease and vaccines, neuroscience, pediatrics, and rare and orphan diseases. Synteract has conducted nearly 4,000 studies on six continents in over 62 countries.


19. North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech)

  • Website: ncbiotech.org
  • Headquarters: Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1984
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Grant
  • LinkedIn

NCBiotech is a center that transforms life sciences in North Carolina. They provide resources, analysis, and meeting spaces to inform strategic decisions for companies in the industry.


20. Leaderboard Branding

Leaderboard Branding is a branding and naming agency that specializes in the biopharma industry. They offer services such as trade name development, positioning and messaging design, and drug safety. With a team of global leaders and innovators, they provide strategic solutions to enhance drug development and ensure consumer safety.


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