Pasadena’s Economic Development Division Hosts Dozens on Tour of City’s Life Science Industry Sector

Nearly 60 cross-sector stakeholders visited key life science institutions in Pasadena on May 18 to weigh potential strategies that could expand the city’s life science industry. 

The tour, led by Pasadena’s Economic Development Division, included leaders in biotech, real estate, economic development, academia, philanthropy, and government. 

“Pasadena is one of LA County’s most thriving bioscience hubs, with motivated civic leaders and the desire to strengthen and grow the industry,” the Division said in an online invitation prior to the event.

The Division and its partners also pointed to the city’s thriving entrepreneurial community, its transit connectivity,  diverse and talented workforce as key contributors to growth.

Tour attendees were shuttled around the city on an electric bus. The tour included visits to local facilities of Xencor Inc., Protomer Technologies, and Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI).

Xencor Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company,  Protomer Technologies engineers next-generation protein therapeutics and HMRI is an independent, non-profit, applied medical research organization.

Pasadena, already well-known for its technological advancements, is emerging as a thriving bioscience hub. 

The city can boast of world-class research institutions such as the California Institute of Technology and the Pasadena Bio Collaborative incubator, among others. 

The bioscience industry in Pasadena is experiencing significant growth, driven by expansion and construction, with renowned institutions like the Doheny Eye Institute and Kaiser Permanente actively investing in the city.

The Doheny Institute’s revamped facility, which was expected to employ about 275 workers, was chosen from over 80 potential locations. Christopher Clinton Conway, the Chief of Development and Public Affairs at Doheny Institute, acknowledged the city’s commitment to the bioscience industry as a factor in their decision to choose Pasadena.

Pasadena’s burgeoning bioscience industry contributes significantly to the region’s employment. 

Lawren Markle, a Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp spokesperson, noted years ago that the industry creates jobs at all skill levels, ranging from doctorates to certificates from community colleges. Markle also emphasized that these jobs are well-paying, which is why the growth of the industry is essential.

Caltech is further bolstering the growth of the bioscience industry in the city with significant developments, such as the $200 million Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Neuroscience Research Building, which focuses on neuroscience and brain function. 

Additionally, Panda Restaurant Group owners Andrew and Peggy Cherng donated $30 million to support the development of micro- and nanoscale medical technologies and devices.

The Pasadena Bio Collaborative incubator, home to 21 early-stage businesses, is fostering startups, with companies working on innovative projects ranging from spinal implants to new pharmaceuticals to treat cancer. 

Additional biotech firms such as Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Auritec Pharmaceuticals, and Neumedicines, have found footholds in the city, further solidifying Pasadena’s status as an emerging bioscience hub.