About the Industry

Select companies: St Jude Medical, Bausch & Lomb, Pfizer/Capsugel, GlaxoSmithKline, Span-America Medical Systems, STERIS Isomedix

Medical Devices

Upstate South Carolina has a long-established infrastructure and many examples of successful companies operating at each part of the medical device supply chain, for the supplying of high purity raw materials to the packaging and distribution of finished devices. World-class entities feed this supply chain which explains why the Upstate was recognized as one of six emerging medium-sized regions for the industry.

The South Carolina MedTech Council is a  membership-based council which works to foster a competitive business environment in South Carolina for medical device companies-from conceptualization to commercialization. The council hosts an annual conference in the state to promote cooperation and the exchange of information amongst the industry.

Pharmaceuticals

Upstate South Carolina has an established base of pharmaceutical manufacturers comprised of bulk manufacturers, chemical processors, generic and proprietary drug makers and packagers.

According to the Batelle/BIO State Bioscience Initiatives 2010 study, the Greenville-Mauldin-Easley MSA's private workforce was ranked as the fifth-largest MSA to support the drug and pharmaceutical industry, based on location quotient. In the same study, the Upstate was ranked as having one of the Top 25 MSAs in the nation, based on overall employment levels within the drug and pharmaceutical field.

Clinical Research & Testing

The Upstate has strong research capabilities, including the Greenwood Genetics Center, Clemson University's Bioengineering department, and the Bioengineering Translational Research Center at Greenville Hospital System.

By 2012, the Upstate will be home to 3 additional medical-related campuses:

• Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy
• Carolina Campus of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of South Carolina medical campus at Greenville Hospital System

The Upstate Is also home to a variety of incubation spaces and over 600 clinical trials are being conducted at any time in a variety of disciplines.