Andrea Hechavarria, executive director of NH Life Sciences, left, discusses the state’s life science industry with Rep. Maggie Woodlander, D-NH. on Wednesday. (Photo by Sarah Pearson)
New Hampshire is home to more than 600 life science businesses that manufacture pharmaceuticals, create medical devices and equipment, and biotech research and development.
Many companies have national and global reach, despite few people realizing that they exist in the state and are growing.
On Wednesday, Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-NH, learned more about the growing industry from the NH Life Sciences executive director Andrea Hechavarria and representatives from BA Sciences in Salem, a member of the association.
Investment in the research and development efforts and maintaining the stability of New Hampshire’s education network were areas highlighted to Goodlander where the federal and state government can support life sciences businesses.
“We’re very grateful for the proactive outreach from Congresswoman Goodlander and we look forward to working with her and being a resource for her in the future,” said Hechavarria.
BA Sciences is an analytical laboratory certified by the DEA and FDA to provide testing services to pharmaceutical and medical device companies globally. They are the only analytical testing lab in New Hampshire. Their Salem location has 60,000 square feet of lab and office space across two buildings, plus they operate two satellite offices in Massachusetts and Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.
They do not manufacture drugs but instead study clients’ products to ensure things like any impurities in the product are at safe levels, the packaging isn’t adversely interacting with the product, and the product is stable at common storage temperatures and humidity. They also do environmental testing to verify that “clean rooms” in labs meet standards.
James E. Mich, president of BA Sciences, said that about 60% of his 300 employees were graduates of the University of New Hampshire, and more from other Granite State colleges, such as Keene State and Colby-Sawyer.
Chief Scientific Officer Jeff Heiser is among those who started his academic career at UNH Manchester before transferring to the Durham location to finish a degree in microbiology research.
Heiser shared concerns with Goodlander on efforts to cut back regulations on pharmaceutical development, warning that lax oversight and loopholes could lead to illness and death. He shared the example of the 2012 case of the New England Compound Center, when contaminated injections sickened nearly 800 people and killed 64 with fungal meningitis.
To expedite and improve the release of new drugs, he suggested the FDA (which approved just 50 drugs and therapies out of thousands in 2024) could increase its capacity.
Life sciences is one of four priority growth sectors in New Hampshire. A Department of Business and Economic Affairs analysis found that the life sciences industry is diverse, vibrant and already supports more than 11,000 jobs, which, on average, are the highest-paying in the state.
