Witnessing the Evolution of Biotech in North Carolina
By E. Magnus Ohman | August 22, 2024
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Over the course of my career, I’ve witnessed the remarkable evolution of North Carolina’s biotechnology sector from its humble beginnings to a vibrant and influential ecosystem.
In 1996, I had the privilege of collaborating with Robert M. Califf — who now leads the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — as a member of the founding team of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. We tackled a crucial gap by leveraging academic methodologies to pioneer innovative strategies for clinical research.
The years that followed were very exciting as we worked with industry and the National Institutes of Health to develop new therapies in acute coronary syndrome and other areas.
As more and more drug targets were discovered I realized that clinical trials needed to be more efficient to achieve faster answers and better outcomes. I worked to streamline processes by collaborating with major pharmaceutical firms and consulting with the FDA on several panels.
Translating discoveries
There was a huge opportunity to grow the biotech industry in N.C. However, we needed to figure out better ways to translate academic discoveries into treatments and identify what the community needed to become a biotechnology hub like the Bay Area or Boston.
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center helped fill this need by providing the necessary link to facilitate the transition of discoveries into impactful developments. This crucial support helped put N.C. on the road to becoming a successful biotechnology hub.
NCBiotech has been instrumental in nurturing and empowering startup companies, enabling them to expand and thrive. Startups are indispensable because without translating discoveries into the clinic, they remain confined to the laboratory bench, unable to make a difference in people’s lives.
N.C. is now a prime location for innovation and entrepreneurship. We have a thriving area for investigation that goes from discovery into phase one and phase two clinical trials. The collaboration among all these parts makes us unique and has attracted venture firms helping drive innovation forward. NCBiotech is a vital part of this picture and a key part of the value proposition that is attracting more companies to the state.
Amgen comes to the Triangle
About two years ago, I realized that having held positions such as vice chair of medicine at Duke and chief of cardiology at UNC, I had accomplished what I set out to achieve in my academic career. I was intrigued by the prospect of transitioning to industry, having previously collaborated with them.
Joining Amgen as they built a multi-product drug substance manufacturing plant in Holly Springs seemed like a perfect opportunity to combine scientific expertise with community needs. Within Amgen, I see myself as an ambassador for N.C. This shift to industry allows me to continue my passion for clinical investigation while addressing pressing health issues in N.C., such as heart disease and obesity, through therapeutic manufacturing.
Amgen is excited to be coming to the Research Triangle region. Like many other large pharmaceutical companies now located in the area, we want to be part of this thriving biotech sphere and bring innovative and sustainable biomanufacturing to the area. Businesses here have the unique opportunity to tap into the large number of well-educated people from the area’s universities while enriching their workforce with a spectrum of knowledge and perspectives.
Employing more than 350 skilled individuals, we are dedicated to being an integral part of the community and actively contributing to collective improvement. Growing the life sciences in the state will require continued collaboration among academia, industry and organizations like NCBiotech. Whether in science, manufacturing, or other areas, we’re committed to working together to make progress.
This article originally appeared on NCBiotech‘s website. E. Magnus Ohman is vice president of global development, general medicine, at Amgen.
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