California is home to more Nobel Prize winners in science than any country: Newsom celebrates new investments in the biotech sector
California – California is writing another chapter in its long history of being a leader in the biological sciences. Amgen and Gilead Sciences, two of the world’s biggest biotech businesses, have pledged about $1.5 billion to expand their operations. This will boost research, generate jobs, and solidify the state’s status as the leading biotechnology hub in the United States.
Governor Gavin Newsom stressed how important these announcements are by pointing out California’s smart workforce and continual supply of new ideas in the biotech field. He said that these projects would not only lead to new therapies and discoveries, but they will also create thousands of good-paying jobs that help families and the local economy.
“California has long been a global leader in life sciences innovation, powered by a skilled workforce that continues to deliver groundbreaking discoveries,” Newsom said.
Amgen, which is based in Thousand Oaks, has promised to spend $600 million to build a new research facility at its global headquarters. This expansion will bring together researchers, scientists, and engineers under one roof to work on the next big discoveries in human health. It will add to the company’s 5,500 employees in Ventura County. The new building is meant to speed up scientific discoveries and keep Amgen in the center of the biotech sector.
Gilead Sciences is also expanding its presence in Foster City by spending $847 million on a center for developing and making drugs. The building is already being built, and it is set to open in 2029. When it’s done, the site is estimated to provide about 2,500 jobs and add more than $200 million to California’s GDP per year. This shows that Gilead is committed to the state for the long term and to developing innovative treatments.
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These two announcements show a bigger trend: California is the leader in the life sciences. In 2024, the industry alone brought in than $400 billion in economic production, supported more than a million employment, and drew in $63 billion in venture capital. The state also had the most pharmaceutical exports and the most medical equipment and supplies. California had more life sciences jobs than any other big biotech state, like Massachusetts and New York. Almost one-third of those positions were in manufacturing.
The state is also spending a lot of money to train the next generation of biotech workers. The California Jobs First program and a lot of money for university research and development are making it possible for people with and without college degrees to work in the field. These initiatives are part of a long tradition of excellence; California schools have produced more Nobel Prize winners in science than any other country outside the US.
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California is clearly on the rise, with a surging population, record tourism spending, and the fourth-largest economy in the world. The recent investments from Amgen and Gilead prove what has long been clear: the Golden State is not only a part of the future of medicine, it is also shaping it.
