Debbie Hart, President & CEO, BioNJ

In an interview with Invest:, Debbie Hart, president and CEO of BioNJ, highlighted BioNJ’s work on the policy front as well as the strategic collaborations and partnerships BioNJ has in place. Hart also emphasized the strength of New Jersey’s ecosystem and the state’s leadership in life sciences innovation, noting that “companies with a footprint in New Jersey contributed to 43% of all novel FDA drug approvals in 2023 and 2024.”

Reflecting on the past year, what have been the most significant milestones or achievements for BioNJ?

Policy advocacy has been at the heart of BioNJ’s mission since its founding, and that commitment remains unwavering today.

In New Jersey, BioNJ has played a critical role in advancing legislation aimed at improving patient access to essential treatments. This includes efforts to place safeguards around step therapy, ensuring that patients can access the medications recommended by their physicians without unnecessary delays. BioNJ also supported legislation to ban copay accumulator programs, protecting the cost assistance patients are meant to receive, and backed a bill requiring insurance coverage for biomarker diagnostics — key to early and effective medical intervention.

BioNJ has also been a strong advocate for increased transparency and accountability around pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), whose practices often contribute to higher drug costs. In collaboration with the Garden State Pharmacy Owners and the New Jersey Pharmacists Association, BioNJ launched an educational campaign, placing resources directly at pharmacy counters across the state.

At the federal level, BioNJ welcomes heightened scrutiny of PBMs and continues to raise concerns about provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that could hinder future R&D and job growth in the life sciences sector. Notably, the organization has vocally opposed the “pill penalty,” warning of its potential impact on patient access and innovation.

Looking ahead, BioNJ remains committed to advocating for high-priority issues, including rare disease therapies, FDA modernization, tariff reform, and strengthening the life sciences supply chain.

The most significant achievements for BioNJ over the past year include continuing our work of fostering a robust innovation ecosystem in New Jersey, a charge we have been working on for more than 30 years. A key milestone was the launch of a strategic collaboration with Tech Council Ventures, a venture fund based in New Jersey. This partnership aims to foster and accelerate innovation across the life sciences sector by leveraging our network and TCV’s investment expertise. Early-stage capital is often the most challenging to secure, especially in the current funding climate, so this collaboration is particularly timely and impactful for early-stage companies looking to grow and expand.

Another achievement we are proud of is our partnership with Medidata to produce a white paper on health equity in clinical trials. The white paper analyzed New Jersey’s participant demographics in clinical trials compared to five other states, focusing on diverse patient recruitment in specific disease areas. We identified barriers to diverse clinical trial participation and developed policy recommendations to address these challenges. We are advocating for these changes in the current legislative session. That paper will be presented at the upcoming DIA Conference in concert with Medidata.

In November of 2024, BioNJ launched the “Time Off for Clinical Trials” initiative, encouraging member organizations to offer paid time off for employees to participate in clinical trials. Recognizing the importance of clinical trials in advancing medical research, BioNJ is dedicated to ensuring that all eligible workers have the opportunity to participate. Initial supporters include Amicus Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genmab, PsychoGenics, PTC Therapeutics and Sanofi, with more companies expressing interest. The intent is that our member companies will be a model for others.

Another highlight of 2024 was the 58 events that BioNJ hosted, covering a wide range of topics, including AI in digital health, our BioPartnering Conference and the C-Suite Summit, which is intended to address the questions keeping the C-Suite up at night. We continued our tradition of holding Legislator-Patient Advocate Roundtables, providing the opportunity for legislators to hear patient stories so they can better understand the impact of their work. We also closed the year with a “BioNJ Gives Back” event, where over 200 participants from member companies came together to create care packages consisting of hand-made teddy bears, superhero capes and heartfelt notes for pediatric patients around the state. These gifts were distributed to children battling various illnesses and showcased the types of giving our members provide every day. 

How does New Jersey’s healthcare and life sciences landscape stand out compared to the rest of the country?

New Jersey continues to lead the way in life sciences innovation. Over the past two years, companies with a footprint in New Jersey were responsible for 43% of all novel FDA drug approvals, placing New Jersey in a leadership role for addressing patient needs.

New Jersey is home to nine of the top 10 R&D firms globally, and our state supports over 5,600 life sciences establishments, more than 120,000 direct jobs and $121 billion in economic output. We also have more biomanufacturing facilities than any other state, making NJ a hub for biomanufacturing companies that are choosing to stay, grow, and innovate here.

State government has been undeniably supportive of the life sciences sector. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) offers a wide range of programs and incentives that far exceed those of other states. Also, the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) has invested nearly $30 million in 274 startups over the past four years. Additionally, the NJEDA created a novel Evergreen Fund to provide venture funding opportunities for the industry. Governor Murphy also played a significant role in supporting innovation. His administration established multiple strategic innovation centers, such as the HELIX in New Brunswick, which aim to bring together all aspects of the life sciences industry to drive further innovation. 

To support entrepreneurship, BioNJ hosts events, such as the BioPartnering Conference, which connects early-stage companies with potential investors, partners and collaborators. By fostering a supportive ecosystem, we are helping these companies thrive and contribute to New Jersey’s position as a global leader in life sciences.

Meanwhile, AI is a transformative force within New Jersey’s life sciences sector, driving advancements across the entire continuum from drug discovery to commercialization. The launch of an AI hub, announced by Governor Phil Murphy in partnership with Princeton University, positions New Jersey as a leader in leveraging AI to fuel scientific and industrial innovation. Notably, CoreWeave, a leading AI company, recently joined as a founding member of the new AI hub, alongside Microsoft.

Beyond AI, New Jersey is also at the forefront of personalized and precision medicine, leveraging genomics and biomarkers to develop treatments tailored to an individual’s genetic profile. This approach enhances treatment effectiveness while minimizing side effects, offering patients more precise and targeted care. Likewise, the state is making significant strides in gene editing and CRISPR technology, with numerous companies and researchers actively contributing to advancements in this field. These innovations position New Jersey as a powerhouse for life sciences and technological progress, shaping the future of medicine.

How has BioNJ adapted to changes in life sciences trends in New Jersey, and what role, if any, has the population influx played in shaping the industry?

At BioNJ, our work is deeply informed by the voices of our members. We continuously engage in conversations to understand the challenges they face, the trends shaping their work and the support they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving life sciences ecosystem.

These insights are the foundation of much of what we do. They drive the development of our educational programs, designed to equip industry professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate change. They inform our policy advocacy efforts, as we collaborate closely with state leaders and policymakers to craft initiatives that not only support the life sciences sector but also advance medical innovation for patients across New Jersey and beyond.

How is BioNJ addressing the increasing integration of technologies and AI in drug development?

In response to the firestorm of AI activity, BioNJ established a working group of experts from across the life sciences and adjacent industries to guide our efforts in this area. 

In 2025, BioNJ hosted our third annual AI/Digital Health Day featuring the latest breakthroughs, emerging trends and critical insights at the intersection of artificial intelligence and drug development. A LinkedIn group serves as a collaborative space for professionals to share case studies and valuable real-world data, fostering collective learning and insight. 

BioNJ’s membership continues to expand, reflecting the growing integration of cutting-edge technologies across the life sciences. A notable example is CoreWeave, a leader in high-performance computing and AI infrastructure, which recently joined BioNJ as a Market Maker Member. Demonstrating its commitment to advancing innovation in the region, CoreWeave also served as a title partner of BioNJ’s BioPartnering Conference in May of 2025. This collaboration underscores the increasing convergence of AI, digital health and biotechnology — and the critical role BioNJ plays in fostering these connections.

What is your outlook for the life sciences sector in the state over the next few years, and what are BioNJ top priorities?  

The advancements we’ve seen over time here in the state and across the industry are truly remarkable, and I believe this growth will continue. Science has never been more promising, especially in medical innovation. We are living in an unprecedented time, and the potential for breakthroughs is enormous.  

The impact of these advancements goes beyond scientific progress — they also hold significant promise for economic growth. As a key engine of New Jersey’s economy, the life sciences sector continues to thrive, and with sustained focus on innovation, its contributions to the state’s prosperity are poised to grow even further.

As the voice of New Jersey’s premier life sciences industry, BioNJ stands at the forefront of advocacy, representing the full spectrum of stakeholders — from emerging biotech start-ups and research institutions to established biopharmaceutical leaders and, most importantly, the patients they serve. BioNJ will continue to champion forward-thinking policies at both the state and federal levels that foster innovation, attract investment and accelerate the development and delivery of life-changing therapies.

Whether advocating for regulatory modernization, enhanced R&D incentives, streamlined approval pathways or expanded patient access to breakthrough treatments, BioNJ is dedicated to shaping a policy environment that not only strengthens the industry’s global competitiveness but also ensures that patients benefit from the latest medical advances without delay. 

Ultimately, it all comes down to the patients. Every initiative we pursue, every innovation our member companies advance, is driven by a singular purpose: to improve and save lives. It is this unwavering commitment that fuels our work and our passion, Because Patients Can’t Wait®.