Chrissy Buteas got straight to the point.
“If you want to see what it looks like when science, manufacturing, talent, and patients all come together at scale — look at New Jersey,” she said. “The work happening in our state each day literally means life or death to patients around the globe.”
Buteas, the CEO of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, made the remarks recently in Florida, where she delivered a featured address at the 2026 Synergistix Collaboration Conference.
Her presentation, titled “New Jersey: The ‘Medicine Chest of the World’ for 150 Years,” highlighted the state’s enduring role as the “Medicine Chest of the World,” one in which its continued leadership in driving the innovation economy and advancing global health.
Buteas focused on the state’s unparalleled concentration of life sciences companies, research institutions, manufacturing capacity, and talent — and why New Jersey remains one of the most important hubs for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technology innovation anywhere in the world.
Buteas noted the presence of the longtime leaders in the sector that call New Jersey home, such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis and BD, and reminded the crowd that their impact and influence today is just as strong as it has ever been.
The impact of New Jersey, Buteas said, can be described as easily as 1-2-3:
- No. 1 state for heart disease and stroke drugs in development;
- No. 2 state for cancer drugs in development;
- No. 3 state for employed biochemists and biophysicists.
New Jersey also is home to breakthrough innovations including the first CAR-T cell therapy, the cure for Hepatitis C, the first FDA-approved 3D-printed drug and the first FDA-approved digital medicine system
“If you’re looking for a place that knows how to turn science into impact — put New Jersey back on your list,” she said.
In her remarks, Buteas outlined the ecosystem that continues to fuel New Jersey’s global competitiveness:
- One of the world’s densest concentrations of biopharma and medtech companies;
- World-class research universities including Rutgers, Princeton, NJIT and Rowan;
- 42 teaching hospitals and five medical schools;
- The highest concentration of scientists and engineers per square mile in the U.S.;
- And, of course, a highly educated workforce
In addition, Buteas said New Jersey ranks No. 1 nationally in biomanufacturing concentration, allowing companies not only to discover breakthrough therapies but to scale and manufacture them domestically.
Buteas said the state’s innovation ecosystem is further strengthened by collaboration with the N.J. Economic Development Authority and organizations such as Choose New Jersey, which support public-private partnerships, strategic innovation centers, and investment incentives designed to accelerate commercialization and job creation.
She told the crowd that New Jersey’s life sciences sector generates more than $120 billion in economic output and supports over 350,000 jobs, directly and indirectly — accounting for nearly one-fifth of the state’s GDP.
Put another way, New Jersey-based companies have been responsible for more than 40% of recent novel FDA drug approvals, far exceeding what would be expected from a state of its size, Buteas said.
“These aren’t just statistics,” she said. “They represent patients gaining more time, more hope, and more options.”
Buteas said her participation in the national conference reflects HINJ’s broader mission: to serve as a voice and advocate for New Jersey’s biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies, and to promote the state as a premier destination for innovation, investment, and global health advancement.
“We are proud to be ambassadors for New Jersey,” Buteas said. “Our story is not just about history, it’s about what comes next. New Jersey 2.0 is building on its legacy, competing globally, and continuing to scale the innovations that save lives.”
