ECU conference highlights region’s growing pharma industry
East Carolina University’s Spring Pharma Conference highlighted industry growth while providing workers an opportunity to “find pharma knowledge.”
Mark Phillips, vice president of statewide operations and executive director of the eastern regional office of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, speaks during ECU’s annual Pharma Conference. (Photo by Rhett Butler)
Nearly 300 people from more than 100 pharmaceutical and life sciences companies and organizations throughout the state attended the two-day event this week in the Main Campus Student Center.
Attendees embraced the opportunity to network, hear presentations, learn about lab and manufacturing “pharmdamentals” in any of 24 breakout sessions, and talk to a variety of industry vendors.
“A lot of our clients come here, and we work with several companies that are exhibiting and presenting, so we’re here to network and try to learn something,” said Virgina Melton, a project engineer with WB Engineers. “I was excited by all the breakout sessions.”
The conference provided Melton a chance to return to ECU. She’s a 2017 engineering graduate with a concentration in mechanical engineering.
“I like to support what East Carolina is doing,” she said. “I’m real proud to have gone to ECU, so I want to make sure to represent both WB and East Carolina.”
ECU’s Eastern Region Pharma Center and Office of Continuing and Professional Education put on the annual event that began in 2019 with just 64 attendees.
“This is the largest gathering for pharma professionals in eastern North Carolina. We’re proud to say that,” said Dr. Jack Pender, director of pharmaceutical training and laboratory services in the Department of Chemistry and associate director of pharmaceutical sciences for the pharma center. “What we wanted to do was bring that national conference atmosphere here to the pharma community of eastern North Carolina, center it here at ECU, so it’s less cost, less travel and less time away from work. The outcome is we’ve had a lot more local people attend the event.”
Darshan Patel, left, scientist III with Cambrex, talks with exhibitor Andrew Castro, sales executive with Custom Powder Systems, during ECU’s annual Pharma Conference.
He said the conference’s growth mirrors that of the pharmaceutical industry in North Carolina.
“Every time I turn around, there’s a new announcement about someone expanding or coming to our state,” Pender said.
Mark Phillips, vice president of statewide operations and the executive director of the eastern regional office for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, illustrated that growth in his “state of pharma” address to attendees.
He said in 2024, 25 pharmaceutical and life sciences companies announced projects that would create more than 4,500 jobs with a $10.8 million investment in North Carolina. Seven of those projects are east of Raleigh, with a $7.1 billion investment and more than 2,600 new jobs expected.
“It’s not just recruiting companies, but it’s also expansion,” Phillips said. “Novo Nordisk announced a $4.1 billion expansion, and J&J (Johnson & Johnson) $2.2 billion. Those are big, big numbers.”
That’s where the ECU’s Eastern Region Pharma Center comes in. It serves as a workforce development hub for pharma manufacturing. Housed in the College of Engineering and Technology in the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building, the center has 4,500 square feet, four main labs and a pilot scale production area for student instruction as well as incumbent training for current pharma workers.
“It is so key that we offer these training initiatives for workforce development,” Phillips said, citing the need to start recruiting workers even in high school. “When clients come in, they ask about the infrastructure — electrical, gas, wastewater. But this is absolutely the key: How do we give them the workforce that they need in a timely manner? With all this growth, we can’t rest on our laurels.”
Cooper Kunkel, right, quality control analyst for Novo Nordisk and 2021 ECU graduate in chemistry, listens as exhibitors Mynde Nielsen and James Carlson discuss equipment during ECU’s annual Pharma Conference.
Phillips said 840 pharmaceutical and life sciences companies employ more than 75,000 people across the state, with an average annual salary of more than $87,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The N.C. Biotechnology Center website job search shows nearly 1,900 job openings, ranging from entry level to top administrative positions. And the openings stretch beyond those associated with biology or chemistry. Companies need engineers, technicians, supply chain managers, finance officers, accountants and sales representatives.
“We do have some tremendous growth, and it’s a lot of fun. … It takes this entire ecosystem of partners here,” Phillips said.
One of those is Custom Powder Systems, a builder of integrated containment systems based in Springfield, Missouri. The company was among 42 exhibitors at the conference.
“These are our customers, and we wanted to network with them,” Sales Executive Andrew Castro said. “We do dry materials handling systems, and we do containment systems. What pharma is built around, we fit well. We’ve had 20 years of history in the pharma world, and we enjoy being part of the community.”
As a quality control analyst for Novo Nordisk, attendee Cooper Kunkel has seen the growth in North Carolina’s pharma industry firsthand.
“I think we’re doing extremely well across the state,” he said. “Our company just started our $4.1 billion expansion here in North Carolina, and I know a lot of other companies are doing a lot throughout the state. We’re in a great spot.”
As a 2021 ECU graduate in chemistry, Cooper is proud to see the university take such an important role in supporting pharma industry growth in the region by hosting the conference.
“It’s awesome to see ECU be a staple in the community for the pharmaceutical industry, leading and delivering change,” he said.