Life Sciences

Life sciences is a broad category including the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedical technologies, life systems technologies, environmental sciences, and biomedical devices. The sector relies heavily on supportive manufacturing and healthcare industries. Its expansion in the area has been driven by a successful ecosystem of academia, government, and private companies attracting key industry investments.

Life Sciences by the Numbers

More than 1,500 biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies operate within Florida, and is accountable for $672.2 million dollars in wages. The Sunshine State is home to the nation’s 2nd largest medical device manufacturing industry, 2nd largest pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry and 5th largest biotech R&D industry. With an increased interest in Florida, Lee County in a premier location for growth. The Life Sciences sector has seen a 5.4% increase in jobs during the last year, employing over 400 workers in our region. Life Sciences generated over $38 million in revenue in Lee County in 2020.

Notable Life Science Businesses

Created in 1998 by Lee Health and Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, LeeSar offers supply chain services for healthcare providers across Southwest Florida. LeeSar’s solutions include pharmaceutical services, culinary solutions, sterile processing, surgical packaging, and medical and surgical supply distribution. 

With a new headquarters being built in the Airport District, NeoGenomics is a cancer testing and pharmaceutical services company. It provides diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive testing for jobs in this industry cluster. 

With its global headquarters located in nearby Collier County, Arthrex has made Lee County its home to the company’s large logistics center. Arthrex is a global medical device manufacturing company that focuses on new product development and medical education in orthopedics.

Based in Fort Myers, Emcyte Corporation is a leader in cellular biologics, or the production of cellular materials used to treat health conditions.  The company works with doctors, health care systems, and military medical operations around the country, helping health care professionals extract and concentrate platelet rich plasma and other cellular materials.