Pharmaceuticals
Formulation to fill-finish—faster, smarter, compliant.
Why manufacture pharmaceuticals in NKY?
Of the imported goods arriving in Northern Kentucky via air in 2024, pharmaceuticals made up more than $8.2 billion in value. Northern Kentucky helps pharmaceutical manufacturers move from shortlist to execution fast, and connectivity via the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is just one of numerous competitive advantages offered by the region.
Along with CVG, cargo transport options for APIs, finished goods and cold-chain and time-sensitive products include rail, river and multiple major interstates. From Northern Kentucky, pharmaceutical companies can reach 54% of the U.S. population within a day’s drive.
The NKY region, named one of the most wired communities in the world, features reliable fiber, power, water quality and capacity for MES/QMS, and programs such as the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation’s Grant-in-Aid and Skills Training Investment Credit allow companies opportunities for GMP upskilling.
Companies located in Northern Kentucky gain speed-to-market with multimodal logistics, experienced GMP operators, strong QC/QA and validation talent, and cost-competitive facilities. The region’s life sciences ecosystem—spanning research, diagnostics, devices, and pharma adjacencies—creates a practical bench for suppliers and services.
“There’s a climate of excitement around new businesses and helping companies to grow here. There are a lot of things that we like about Northern Kentucky – the welcoming atmosphere, excitement for innovation and that we can be part of the community. Venture capital firms are investing here.”
Ray Takigiku, Founder & Scientific Consultant, Bexion Pharmaceuticals
How does the regional ecosystem support GMP operations?
- Workforce alignment: QC chemists, validation engineers, maintenance techs, sterile operators.
- Compliance culture: Access to regulatory consulting, serialization/track-and-trace, cold-chain.
- Supply chain fit: Packaging, labeling, and components (stoppers, cartons, labels) produced nearby.
- R&D to production: University partners and contract labs support tech transfer and scale-up.
Talent & Education Pipeline
Northern Kentucky University (NKU), University of Cincinnati, Thomas More University and Gateway Community and Technical College all contribute to the robust pharmaceutical talent network that exists in Northern Kentucky through programs in biological sciences, biomedical & chemical engineering, life sciences, and maintenance for GMP environments. NKU is undertaking an $80 million expansion and renovation of its Science Center to support growing enrollments in STEM programs, enable more research funding and enhance lab space.
The life sciences ecosystem in NKY also provides undergraduate and graduate students many opportunities for mentorship. More than 650 PhD scientists work at Thermo Fisher Scientific’s PPD Central Lab, and CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services is one of the largest and top-rated CROs in the world.
LifeSciKY, a nonprofit life sciences incubator in Covington, operates a 15,000-square-foot wet lab facility to support early-stage life sciences companies with lab space, shared equipment and wrap-around services. The Kentucky General Assembly allocated $15 million for this lab during the 2022 Regular Legislative Session.
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WITH KIMBERLY
Kimberly Rossetti
VP of Economic Development
