Is Philadelphia a Leading Advanced Therapies Hub? Experts Weigh in.

In 2024, BioBuzz expanded into Greater Philadelphia, marking a pivotal moment in its mission to strengthen connections within one of the world’s most dynamic life sciences ecosystems. This expansion wasn’t just about geography—it was about deepening engagement and amplifying the conversations shaping the future of biotech in a city with a rich legacy of scientific innovation.

To solidify this expansion in 2025, BioBuzz launched the BioInnovation Series, a new platform designed for the scientists and entrepreneurs to investors, policymakers, and thought leaders who are driving the industry forward. The inaugural event focused on Securing Philly’s Place in Advanced Therapies, a fitting theme for a city at the forefront of cell and gene therapy innovation. But the conversation also raised an important question: Can Philadelphia maintain its competitive edge as other markets race to define the next wave of breakthroughs?

These are the Industry Panelists who led the discussion to answer that very question:

• Matthew Burkhardt, Director of B+Labs. (Moderator)

• Dora Mitchell, PhD (Chief of Staff & VP of Operations, Interius BioTherapeutics), 

• Dan Chung, DO, MA (Chief Medical Officer, SparingVision), 

• Yeh-Chuin Poh, PhD (Head of Tech Ops, Tolerance Bio), and 

  

• Francisco Leon, MD, PhD (CEO & Co-Founder, Tolerance Bio).

The launch event held on February 5th, 2025 was a sold-out success, bringing together 140 passionate voices from across the region’s biotech community, united by a shared goal: shaping the future of innovation in Philadelphia. 

The event series is supported by a set of sponsors who have come together to advance these conversations; including, Brandywine REIT, B+Labs, WuXi Advanced Therapies, CRB, Workforce Genetics, Kymanox, Qiagen, Keen Gas, Biocair, and Choice MedWaste. This group of locally invested organizations will be shaping the forthcoming events and topics through the course of the year to ensure the programming remains focused on the most pressing questions facing our industry and local community.

The energy in the room was palpable, driven by dynamic discussions about both the immense opportunities ahead and the challenges that lie ahead. But this event was more than business—it was about impact, innovation, and making a difference in the lives of patients.

Grounding Philadelphia in a Patient Focused Mission: Emily Whitehead Foundation

A key aspect of BioBuzz’s event series is its dedication to mission-driven impact. Each event partners with a foundation, ensuring that the evening goes beyond discussion and focuses on making a difference. For the inaugural event, BioBuzz teamed up with The Emily Whitehead Foundation, founded by Tom and Kari Whitehead to help raise awareness and ensure that more people have the opportunity to share a story like their Daughter, Emily’s - the first pediatric patient to receive CAR T-cell therapy, a groundbreaking treatment developed at the University of Pennsylvania by renowned scientist Carl H. June, MD, and his team.Emily’s story is an important part of the Advanced Therapies story, and of Philadelphia’s role in this field as well. Support a patient today through their newly minted Patient Bundle Program that delivers care packages filled with comfort items, encouragement, and resources for those currently battling cancer. 

Amy Lamperti of WuXi Advanced Therapies facilitated a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Brad Watts, a local CAR-T patient whose life was saved by Kymriah, the first FDA-approved cell therapy that resulted from Emily Whitehead’s clinical trial. Brad’s story was raw, emotional, and inspiring, capturing the fear, uncertainty, and hope that marked his journey through CAR-T therapy. Now, as a volunteer for The Emily Whitehead Foundation, he’s paying it forward—advocating for patients, spreading awareness, and ensuring that others have access to the same life-saving treatment that transformed his life.

An Honest Conversation About Philadelphia’s Advanced Therapy Future

While the region has made significant strides in research, the panelists agreed that it’s not enough to simply take pride in groundbreaking innovations. If Philadelphia is to become a leader in advanced therapies, the region must produce commercial products and build leading biotech companies that are not only innovative but also successful in the marketplace. With the ongoing "patent cliff" threatening over $200 billion in annual revenue for big pharma through 2030, Matthew argued that Philadelphia must go beyond just keeping pace with others and aim to have a much larger, more impactful presence in the commercial biotech space.

Dora Mitchell’s perspective was rooted in her deep passion for the region’s potential, drawing from her current role at Interius BioTherapeutics and her experience at Carisma Therapeutics. She sees the significant challenges that biotech startups in Philadelphia face in securing funding, noting how difficult it is for local companies to access the same level of venture capital as those in other biotech hubs like Boston or San Francisco. Despite the city’s many strengths - the local funding climate is still a critical element that needs improvement.

Francisco Leon, who lives in Maryland and has worked extensively in other markets such as Boston, shared a perspective as an outsider, viewing Philadelphia as a top-tier hub for strong advanced therapies research. He too emphasized that greater investment in innovative therapies is essential to keep pace with global competition. He also highlighted the need to engage big pharma, emphasizing that with 90% of major pharmaceutical companies located within an hour’s drive of Philadelphia, the region has a unique opportunity to leverage these industry giants as an asset. As a serial entrepreneur, Francisco understands firsthand the impact of strategic partnerships with big pharma. His most recent company, Provention Bio, was acquired by Sanofi for $2.9 billion in 2023, reinforcing the importance of integrating early-stage biotech companies with established pharmaceutical players to drive innovation and commercialization.

SparingVision’s Dan Chung highlighted that attracting executive talent to Philadelphia remains difficult, which can slow the scalability of breakthrough therapies into successful, large-scale ventures. Dan reflected on Spark Therapeutics, which became the first company to receive FDA approval for gene therapy with LUXTURNA™, marking a significant achievement for Philadelphia’s biotech community. In 2019, Spark was sold to Roche for $4.9 billion, one of the region’s largest biotech successes. However, Dan pointed out that despite this success, Spark and other companies have struggled to sustain momentum, particularly in terms of scaling operations and getting commercial success. This underscores the importance of attracting executive talent that can help transform breakthroughs into thriving businesses, ensuring long-term growth for the region.

A risk-tolerant culture that rewards bold bets is an important element that the region needs to mature to, according to Yeh-Chuin Poh, of Tolerance Bio. Yeh-Chuin, having spent years in one of the most successful biotech ecosystems in the world, Boston, emphasized the critical role that collaboration and risk-taking play in driving innovation. Poh pointed out key differences between Boston and Philadelphia, noting that while Philadelphia has a strong foundation for success, it must cultivate a culture that embraces both bold innovation and the ability to learn from failure—something that has been instrumental to Boston’s growth. He also highlighted one of the major factors behind Boston’s success: the presence of organizations like the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, which provides funding, infrastructure, and workforce development to support the industry’s growth. 

Beyond institutional support, he emphasized the importance of fostering community and deeper industry connections through events that bring companies together in meaningful ways. He pointed to the Boston Biotech Games, a sporting event where biotech companies from across the region compete, not just for fun but as a way to strengthen relationships and build a more interconnected ecosystem. Poh suggested that Philadelphia could benefit from similar initiatives, helping to create a more collaborative and engaged biotech community that fuels long-term success.

The conversation touched on the Pennsylvania governor’s recent $30 million life sciences initiative—a positive step but far from the large-scale investments Massachusetts and California makes to maintain their industry dominance. Panelists stressed that for Philadelphia to remain competitive, the state must commit to more substantial, long-term funding efforts to sustain its biotech ecosystem and attract the next wave of groundbreaking companies.

A key topic during the panel was Philadelphia’s struggle to engage top-tier investors. Unlike established biotech hubs like Boston, San Francisco, and San Diego, where venture capital plays a central role, Philadelphia has yet to build the same level of investor confidence. Despite its strong talent pool and NIH funding, the city still lags behind in securing the venture capital needed for growth. While Philadelphia has made progress, it faces challenges in attracting large-scale investment. Established hubs like Boston and San Francisco dominate with billions in annual funding, driving innovation and talent. The panel emphasized the importance of better promoting Philadelphia’s success stories and engaging with investors beyond the region. As one attendee put it, “The talent and innovation are here, but we need to do a better job telling our story to the world.” Panelists agreed that a stronger narrative and deeper investor relationships will be key to securing long-term success for the city's biotech sector.

The panel wrapped up with an engaging Q&A, where attendees discussed the future of advanced therapies, cross-industry collaboration, and Philadelphia's competitive edge. The conversation also touched on challenges like public safety, schools, and infrastructure, which are key to attracting and retaining talent. Despite these hurdles, panelists were optimistic about the city's thriving biotech sector and its potential to lead in advanced therapies. They agreed that Philadelphia’s history of innovation and growing life sciences community position it well for success on the national and global stage.

Successful Ecosystems are Built on the Foundation of Community

Investment into the community is the bedrock for Philadelphia’s future as a leader in advanced therapies. Just as the success of this first event owes much of its credit to the generous support of those panelists, who gave up their time to share their expertise and insights with others in the region, and the sponsors and partners that committed their time and funding to see it happen; the region can only reach its true potential with the continued investment into one another, and helping each other overcome and ultimately solve for the challenges that were addressed during this discussion. 

Amy Lamperti from WuXi Advanced Therapies and Steering Committee member of the series expressed her excitement about the event, saying, “The BioInnovation Series is off to an incredible start. It’s a powerful platform for bringing together thought leaders, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of innovation in this region. We’re thrilled to be a part of it and look forward to seeing its impact grow as it continues to connect and inspire the local biotech community.”

Special thanks also to Steve Manobianco, founder of PSG Life Sciences, for hosting our media room and 5-min interviews with attendees and panelists to help amplify the voices driving innovation and highlight the dynamic work happening across the region. 

Every community needs a home-base to convene, so we also want to thank our Host Sponsor, CYTO | PHL, and to Kate Winters, the woman behind the magic at the venue. CYTO was an exceptional host with incredible food and world-class staff, providing the perfect environment for an event that celebrated collaboration and progress in the biotech space.

What’s Next for the BioInnovation Series?

This 8-part event series will rotate between locations and topics, featuring an incredible lineup of speakers, foundations, and patient stories. We’ll be releasing details and tickets for our next event in March soon—stay tuned!

But this is just the beginning. The BioInnovation Series is committed to bringing together the brightest minds in biotech to address industry challenges, explore emerging trends, and unlock new opportunities. Each session will dive deep into high-impact topics such as AI, next-gen manufacturing, workforce development, venture capital trends, and policy shifts shaping the sector, and much more.

If our last event is any indication, the conversations ahead will be insightful, action-driven, and essential to the future of Philadelphia’s biotech ecosystem.

Let’s keep the momentum going!