BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), the medical technology giant headquartered in Bergen County, announced a major $110 million investment on Tuesday that cements its role as the backbone of the global “weight loss drug” supply chain.
The investment will scale production of the BD Neopak™ Glass Prefillable Syringe—the high-tech delivery vehicle required for advanced biologics and GLP-1 medications like those used to treat obesity and diabetes. While the physical manufacturing will take place at BD’s strategic hub in Columbus, Nebraska, the move is being driven by the executive and R&D teams at BD’s global headquarters in Franklin Lakes.
Since its founding in 1897 and its move to Franklin Lakes in 1906, BD has been a cornerstone of New Jersey’s “Pharma Square Mile.” This latest move highlights how New Jersey’s life sciences expertise is directly addressing the global shortage of GLP-1 drugs.
“As demand for biologics and GLP-1s accelerates, BD is strengthening its American manufacturing footprint to support innovation right here in the U.S.,” Patrick Jeukenne, worldwide president of BD Pharmaceutical Systems said.
The Franklin Lakes campus remains the nerve center for BD’s Pharmaceutical Systems portfolio, where engineers and scientists develop the “combination products” (the marriage of a drug and a device) that allow patients to self-inject life-saving treatments at home.
The BD Neopak™ system is a marvel of New Jersey-led engineering. Traditional syringes often struggle with the “sticky” or highly viscous nature of large-molecule biologics. Neopak™ uses a proprietary silicone-reduction technology to ensure the needle doesn’t clog and the dose is delivered precisely every time.
Strategic benefits of the expansion:
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GLP-1 resilience: Ensures a steady supply of syringes for the skyrocketing obesity-medication market.
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Domestic reshoring: Reduces reliance on overseas glass manufacturing, a lesson learned from pandemic-era supply shocks.
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NJ economic anchor: While the Nebraska plant adds 120 jobs, the project supports the thousands of high-skilled corporate, legal, and R&D roles based in Bergen County.
This announcement comes on the heels of several other New Jersey-centric wins for the company. In 2025, BD received high marks for its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies, much of which is managed out of its Bergen County offices. Furthermore, BD’s recent collaboration with fellow NJ-based firms to streamline “fill-finish” capabilities ensures that the state remains the world’s most concentrated hub for drug delivery innovation.
