Biotech opportunities in North Carolina, with Kyle Touchstone and Laura Rowley

One important feature of the BIO conference is the presence of states and countries highlighting the work being done in life sciences in their local ecosystems.

At BIO 2025, pharmaphorum’s Jonah Comstock caught up with Kyle Touchstone, director of Economic Development Raleigh and Laura Rowley, director of life sciences development for NCBiotech to talk about why North Carolina’s research triangle is a hot spot for biotech innovation.

Touchstone and Rowley highlight why companies like Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Genentech are choosing to set up shop in North Carolina. They also get into a discussion about the importance of domestic manufacturing, even before the current political and economic headwinds.

Also in this video: the effects of recent hurricanes on pharma manufacturing and how North Carolina is responding, and how states are making sure that the strong innovation talent in their academic centres sticks and contributes to their local economy.