Biotech: Full steam ahead on several scientific fronts – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Where do you see San Diego's biotech/life sciences tech sector headed in 2017?

2017 will bring us skyrocketing advancements in genomics. In fact, it is already happening on several fronts. We know that Illumina is the behemoth in sequencing, and is a company that has put San Diego on the world map. Now, we are considered the global epicenter in sequencing. With Illumina's additional focus on oncology, we have the perfect pairing with another of San Diego's strengths: big data computation. Companies like Helix have recently begun operations in mass-sample sequencing, Edico Genomics and others are revolutionizing the way genetic data is analyzed, and Human Longevity is using genetic data to deliver personalized health solutions. There are dozens of such companies in the region that are fueling innovation for the coming year.

Additionally, the field of personalized medicine, especially as it relates to the device and wireless health side, is well positioned for continued growth. We are fortunate to have a telecommunications sector that evolved here alongside our medical device sector. That pairing is paying off today in the form of transformative companies such as Dexcom, with its advanced continuous glucose monitoring and dosing technology, and Qualcomm Life, with its platform that enhances clinical workflows and operational efficiencies in the hospital; both are widely recognized global leaders. I am eager to hear from companies on the continued development in this promising sector as it provides tangible results in terms of greater efficiency and lower cost of health care.

Where do you see biggest growth?

We have more than 120 oncology research and development companies working here in nearly every type of known cancer. We recently created an Oncology Committee within Biocom, much the same way we did seven or eight years ago with contract research organizations, or CROs. Back then, we recognized that San Diego had enormous strength in the contract research arena and brought those members together to promote their success. Recognizing San Diego's strength in oncology, we partnered on two Cancer Moonshot Summit meetings here last year in which researchers, patients and biopharma companies discussed how to more quickly develop therapies and move them into the hands of physicians.

The strengths of the larger pharma companies focused on oncology research and development here, including Celgene, Takeda and Lilly, contribute in a big way to growing the workforce as well. And our research institutes, including Salk, Moores Cancer Center and Sanford Burnham Prebys all three NCI-designated cancer centers contribute a pipeline of both basic and clinical research that is world-class.

What types of jobs will be in demand? (Conversely are there any jobs that are not as hot?)

Based on the results from a workforce trends report the Biocom Institute worked on with CLSI, in the life science industry, we will continue to see growing demand for research scientists, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, as well as in medical devices and equipment. Notably, disruptive advancements in big data and personalized medicine are spiking demand for skills in collecting, managing, analyzing and interpreting data. The push toward value-based health care is creating need for expanded skill sets for understanding reimbursement and the health care system.

On the device side, we will see growth in the number of engineering jobs of all types from electrical to computer engineering. In fact, the shortage of engineers has enticed the San Diego Venture Group to go to San Francisco to lure talent here.

Is there anything the Trump administration is doing or contemplating that is cause for excitement or concern in this sector?

It is too early to tell. We don't have a new FDA commissioner yet, but I am hopeful that members of the Trump administration will appreciate that the 21st Century Cures Act, which was passed by a bipartisan vote in both chambers of Congress, can only be effectively implemented if the allotted funding is received by the FDA.

Also, we would like to see the current freeze on federal employment be lifted, or see an exception for jobs such as those at the FDA that involve the health and safety of our population. I am encouraged by the reports on the recent meeting that President Trump had with PhRMA and its member executives recently in which he mentioned bringing more manufacturing jobs to the U.S., supporting innovation and looking for ways to streamline regulation. If the Trump administration is united with the industry in these areas, it will have a positive impact on biotech and medical technology in San Diego.

Anything else you'd like to add?

We're now entering a different dimension in the evolution of this industry one in which large pharma companies will depend even more on biotechnology companies to drive innovation. San Diego is known as a powerhouse of life science company formation and early stage growth, with many of these companies' cutting edge technologies positioning them for acquisition. Global biotech giants are making investments in San Diego companies and that's a great thing for our town moving forward. Even Johnson & Johnson, which has been here for more than 20 years, created an innovation center with its J-Labs containing some 40 incubated companies. It's refreshing and generous, as those companies have no direct tie back into J&J, contributing to their ability to innovate on their own.

We're seeing more incubators being created here, such as the partnership that Biocom is engaged in with another newcomer, BioLabs San Diego. I expect San Diego to grow in visibility because of this strength, along with demographic and economic advances, including the increased ease of international travelers coming to San Diego as a result of the launch of international flights this year to Frankfurt and Zurich, as well as the ability to fly directly into the Tijuana airport and cross the pedestrian bridge to the U.S.

Joe Panetta, President & CEO of Biocom

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Biotech: Full steam ahead on several scientific fronts - The San Diego Union-Tribune