AIDS
Since 1995, the AIDS death rated has fallen by 70 percent nationwide, thanks to breakthrough treatments from California's biotechnology companies. Biotechnology innovation has greatly expanded the range of options available for diagnosing and treating the illness and helped transform what was commonly a death sentence to a chronic, manageable condition.

Alzheimer's
Fifteen years ago, there were no treatments for Alzheimer's. Today, California's biotechnology industry has developed three classes of medications which slow a patient's decline and keep them out of nursing homes. Researchers are close to discovering methods to treat and prevent Alzheimer's through therapies that regenerate and protect nervous tissues.

Cancer
Biotechnology therapies discovered in California can detect cancers in earlier stages, target and eradicate deadly cancer cells, boost the immune system, prevent relapse, decrease side-effects, and improve and prolong lives. New biological treatments can specifically target cancer cells without devastating healthy cells as do older therapies.

Diabetes
Prior to the discovery of human insulin by a California-based biotechnology company, patients had to use cow and pig insulin which caused serious side effects. DNA technology allows scientists to easily diagnose the disease and provide a range of treatments to manage insulin, control weight and maintain blood sugar levels.

Heart Disease
California's biotechnology companies are constantly researching methods to treat heart disease. Hundreds of therapies have been discovered and produced that detect heart disease, lower cholesterol, treat hypertension, stabilize heart rythms and lessen the damage of a heart attack. Thanks to life saving treatments, death rats from heart disease are falling.

Inflammatory
The second largest disease focus for California biotechnology companies, researchers have developed 163 treatments for inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, emphysema, allergies, organ transplants, lupus, and Crohn's disease.

 

 

75,000,000,000
 Dollars in revenue generated by California biotechnology companies in 2007.
20,300,000,000
 Estimated wages and salaries paid by the biomedical industry in 2007.
883,000,000
 Dollars donated in products by California biotechnology companies to patients and agencies throughout the United States in 2006.
271,000
 Californians employed by the biotechnology industry in 2007.
75,000
 Average salary California biotech employees were paid in 2007 – up nine percent from 2006. The wage is 60 percent higher than the California average.
2,042
 Number of California biomedical companies, the birthplace of the biotech industry and home to one-third of all biotech firms in the United States.
1,585
 Patents held by the University of California system, the single largest biotechnology patent holder in the United States.
900
 Number of new medicines currently in California’s research and development pipeline, which address virtually every known medical condition.
42
 Average percent of revenue reinvested into research and development each year by California biotechnology companies.
1
 Number of pills an individual with HIV/AIDS has to take to manage his or her illness. It was not too long ago when people had to take upwards of 10 pills a day.
More than 1/2

Portion of the 200+ medical therapies approved by the FDA since 1985 that were discovered or developed in California.