Houston ranks No.1 in the nation for emerging biopharma clusters, according to Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News’ inaugural Next 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters list.
The recognition comes less than a month after Bristol Myers Squibb announced a $2.3 billion investment in Houston.
GEN’s new list highlights emerging life sciences hubs outside of traditional markets like Boston/Cambridge and the San Francisco Bay Area.
What Put Houston at No. 1?
GEN evaluated emerging regions based on five factors: patents, NIH funding, venture capital investment, laboratory space and life sciences employment.
Houston led in NIH funding, with 2,262 awards totaling $1.25 billion from 2025 through July 6, 2026, according to the report. The region ranked second in life sciences employment, with more than 28,000 jobs, and laboratory space, with approximately eight million square feet. BioHouston Chairman Jeff Wade told GEN that Houston secured about $500 million in venture capital funding in 2025 and 2026 to date.
What Is Driving Houston’s Biopharma Growth?
Houston continues to attract major biopharma investment. Last year, Eli Lilly announced a $6.5 billion, 236-acre manufacturing facility at Generation Park, expected to create more than 615 full-time jobs. Bristol Myers Squibb followed with plans for a 600,000-square-foot manufacturing campus at Generation Park, creating nearly 500 skilled jobs.
READ MORE: Houston Wins Texas’ First Major Pharma Plant With $6.5B Investment
Houston’s startup ecosystem is also gaining traction. Lilly recently expanded its regional footprint by acquiring local biotech startup CrossBridge Bio for up to $300 million.
GET THE BACKSTORY: Eli Lilly to Acquire Houston Biotech Startup CrossBridge Bio
Duracyte, launched out of Rice University’s biotech venture studio RBL LLC, is working to commercialize technology designed to continuously produce therapeutic proteins inside the body.
“There’s a lot of great talent,” Duracyte co-founder Omid Veiseh told GEN. “But the unique advantage that we have is we are able to benefit from a lot of unique clinical infrastructure and clinician insights.”
Houston’s life sciences ecosystem is built to support companies at every stage, from startup and commercialization to large-scale manufacturing. The region combines the clinical reach of the Texas Medical Center, leading research institutions and specialized workforce training through programs like San Jacinto College’s NIBRT-licensed Center for Biotechnology.
Explore Houston’s life sciences ecosystem.