Virginia Biotechnology Association

News

Zen-Bio To Distribute Beta-Pro Islet Cells

Zen-Bio, Inc., (ZB) a global provider of advanced cell-based solutions and services to the life science, cosmetics, and personal care communities, is partnering with Beta-Pro LLC, a Gordonsville, Virginia-based biotechnology firm, as a distributor to provide diabetes researchers with clinical-grade ... read more ».

It Starts With The Heart At HDL Inc

Health Diagnostic Laboratory Inc. (HDL, Inc.), www.hdlabinc.com, has launched a community initiative known as It Starts with the Heart, a company-wide commitment to support not-for-profits of all sizes in making a difference in their ... read more ».

Governor McDonnell Unveils Bi-Partisan Biotech Plan

- Jobs package includes nearly $30 million for biotechnology development in Virginia - Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell today announced his “Jobs and Opportunity Agenda,” a legislative package that consists of 20 pieces of legislation, as well as previously announced budget amendments, all ... read more ».

Ethanol Plant To Open This Summer

The state’s first ethanol plant is on track to open this summer, according to a report on Richmond’s NBC12.  Construction on the $170 million Appomattox Bio Energy facility in Hopewell is about eighty percent complete.  The plant is scheduled to be finished in time for the 2010 barley ... read more ».

New Member Spotlight – Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the six global accounting, tax and advisory organizations. Through member firms in more than 100 countries, including 52 offices in the United States, the partners and employees of Grant Thornton International Ltd ... read more ».

Our Mission

The Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO) is the statewide non-profit organization that promotes the scientific and economic impact of the life sciences industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Approximately 200 biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies are based in Virginia, mainly clustered around universities in Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Norfolk and Northern Virginia. According to a recent study by Archstone LLC, the bioscience industry has a profound impact on the state’s economy:

• According to a study in 2006, the bioscience industry supported nearly 80,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Commonwealth.
• The value of the industry’s products and services was approximately $12.6 billion in 2006.
• The biopharmaceutical industry grew by 8.1% between 1996 and 2006.
• The industry paid employees about $1.8 billion in wages in 2006, resulting in $81.6 million in state taxes and $433.3 million in federal taxes.
• Biopharmaceutical employees paid, on average, $4,091 in state taxes, compared to the much more modest $1,501 paid by the average worker.
• In 2008, Virginia’s biomedical researchers conducted nearly 1,900 clinical tests of new medicines, including 678 trials for cancer drugs, 102 tests for heart disease medicines, 232 rare disease treatment trials and 80 tests for HIV/AIDS drugs.