Connecticut: The quiet powerhouse of US Life Sciences

The week before last, I was in Houston, exploring one of the more underappreciated hubs for life sciences in the US. Last week, I visited another: Connecticut – often the forgotten state in the Northeast corridor. I’ve been visiting CT for years, usually just driving through or passing by on the train between Boston and the Tri-State area. And that’s part of the stigma, isn’t it? CT has long been seen as a “drive-through state,” a place en route to somewhere else. But spend a little time on the ground, and it tells a different story.

Connecticut offers the best of both worlds: beautiful countryside, tranquility, top-tier schools, and a growing life sciences sector. It’s well connected, with direct trains to Manhattan and a few hours to Boston. But unlike those dense urban centers, you’ll need a car to get around. Still, it’s a tradeoff many are happy to make. I know several industry leaders who live in CT, and the more time I spend there, the more I understand the appeal.

Connecticut has always been a quiet force in biopharma. With supportive state policies, strong academic institutions, and growing university-industry partnerships, its life sciences ecosystem continues to gain momentum.

One company that’s been part of this evolution for decades is Boehringer Ingelheim, with a presence in Ridgefield since 1971. BI has always struck me as a quiet operator, but one that delivers. Over the next year, they’ve got more than 10 new Phase II and III trials kicking off and are lining up multiple approvals by the end of 2025, including zongertinib for HER2-mutated lung cancer and nerandomilast for pulmonary fibrosis. Add to that a pipeline with ~20 potential launches in the coming years. Not bad for a company that rarely makes noise.

Its sprawling Ridgefield campus, nestled in forested surroundings, feels like a fitting reflection of its quiet strength. During a packed day of warm and engaging meetings with industry leaders and investors, I had the pleasure of returning to BI and spending time with Matthias Beck, who leads US HR and has been with the company since 2011. His long tenure reflects the company’s deep-rooted culture, but he’s clearly focused on what’s next – bringing in new talent and leadership to keep things moving.

And beyond BI, the broader energy across Connecticut is real. Merck KGaA recently completed its $3B+ acquisition of SpringWorks in Stamford and Merck & Co picked up Modifi in New Haven in a deal worth up to $1.3B. Meanwhile, Branford-based EvolveImmune signed a $65M discovery and license agreement with AbbVie to advance next-gen T cell engagers.

Sometimes, the most transformative work happens in the quietest places.

Up next, back to California – the Bay, San Diego, and the sprawl of LA.