BioNJ dinner honors NJ life sciences leaders, Sherrill keynotes

The basics:

• BioNJ honors leaders driving New Jersey’s life sciences innovation
• Gov. Mikie Sherrill delivers keynote emphasizing patient care, business growth
• Awards include Dr. Sol J. Barer Award, Heart of BioNJ, inaugural Ecosystem Impact Award
• New Jersey leads US with 43% of new novel FDA approvals; growing AI in biotech

New Jersey’s life sciences leaders gathered in East Brunswick Feb. 5 for BioNJ’s annual Dinner Meeting & Innovation Celebration, a signature event honoring the strength and impact of the state’s innovation ecosystem.

The evening spotlighted industry achievements, policy leadership, and the companies and changemakers driving breakthroughs for patients in New Jersey and around the world. It included ample networking opportunities, powerful stories and a slew of awards.

The honorees included:

• Dr. Sol J. Barer Award: Dr. Jan van de Winkel, president & CEO, Genmab
• Ecosystem Impact Award (inaugural): Kathleen Coviello, chief economic transformation officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
• Heart of BioNJ Award: Jessica Klein, patient advocacy & industry relations liaison, Acadia Pharmaceuticals
• Heart of BioNJ Award: Pamela Zapata, cancer survivor & patient advocate
• Heart of BioNJ Award: Siobhan Barry, cystic fibrosis patient advocate
• Heart of BioNJ Award: Conor Reid, cystic fibrosis patient advocate

The event also included an appearance and speech from newly minted New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

New Jersey: a national leader

“We are so excited to gather and honor New Jersey’s exceptional life sciences ecosystem, a global engine transforming scientific promise into meaningful outcomes for patients worldwide,” said Debbie Hart, president and CEO of BioNJ, as the event kicked off. “Tonight, as you look around the room, look at yourselves and look at all the trailblazers in this room, the bold thinkers, the visionary advocates, changemakers, whose commitment and ingenuity are shaping a stronger, healthier future for so many.”

Hart described 2025 as an emotional rollercoaster.

“From the excitement of more than 20 life sciences ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings that showcased all that New Jersey has to offer – some of them are some of yours – to the industry confronting intense pressures amid an unprecedented and challenging policy landscape,” she continued. “From tariffs and MFN [most favored nation] policy to ongoing turnover at the FDA and even an attack on tried-and-true vaccines. It was a hard year.

“Yet the industry rallied together to save our innovation and to ensure the patients have access to new and innovative therapies,” said Hart. “Despite the downturn in FDA novel approvals last year, the Garden State continues to lead the nation accounting for 43% of all new novel approvals for the second year in a row – more than any other state.

“Tonight, we are celebrating 15 companies with 20 novel FDA approvals, as well as a newly approved cell and gene therapy. New Jersey also emerged as a national leader in AI from accelerating drug development to modernizing biomanufacturing, attracting world-renowned companies like CoreWeave and Microsoft. With so many achievements to spotlight – the Innovation Celebration begins now.”

Sherrill comes on strong

Hart then introduced Gov. Mikie Sherrill. She noted that while in Congress, Sherrill championed early cancer diagnostics, advanced Alzheimer’s research, pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) reform, strengthened copay protection, supported expansion of coverage for patients with rare diseases and more.

“These aren’t bullet-points. They are lifelines for families across our state,” said Hart. “And then came Trenton. From day one, she matched bold vision with decisive action, moving swiftly to cut permitting delays. She really listened to both the business community and the patients whose futures depend upon innovation.

“As a member of the Governor’s Economic Development and Innovation Transition Team, I saw firsthand the ability of the governor and her colleagues on her team to cut through the noise and turn ideas into action with urgency and purpose,” Hart continued. “And she’s only just begun.

“People ask what kind of governor she’ll be. If the past two weeks are any indication, New Jersey is in for something really special. And I, for one, cannot wait to see what comes next.”

People ask what kind of governor [Mikie Sherrill will] be. If the past two weeks are any indication, New Jersey is in for something really special.
– Debbie Hart, president and CEO, BioNJ

Making a difference

Sherrill opened by acknowledging that the congressional actions she took were a byproduct of engaging with BioNJ in pursuit of passing good legislation.

“I just really want to start by congratulating tonight’s honorees for the work that you have done to make our communities more healthy, to really have the lifesaving innovations and patient advocacy that you’ve worked on,” said Sherrill. “Nearly half of the nation’s new treatments and cures come from New Jersey. So that is truly an amazing, amazing statistic.

“What you do is amazing, not just for our state, but for families across the country, across the world, making such a huge difference, creating life and hope and opportunity for so many people,” said Sherrill. “And it makes me so proud to be the governor of this state.”

The governor noted she has hit the ground running in her first 17 days in office.  Sherrill pointed to the executive actions (including two on the inaugural stage) and snowstorm, among other notable happenings as her term has kicked off.

No time to waste

“Because I had committed to the people of New Jersey that I was going to start change right away,” she explained. “Because for too many people, and many of you in your business know this, people can’t wait sometimes for change. They can’t wait for a lifesaving drug; they can’t wait for innovation; they can’t wait if they’re about to be unable to pay for their electricity bills or a house or their groceries.

“So, that’s why it’s so important. And I know many of you share my dedication to the people that we serve, and it’s so important that we keep fighting hard and we keep moving quickly. So that is exactly what I’m going to do. I told people across the state that if it’s keeping you up at night, it’s going to be keeping me up at night,” Sherrill continued. “So, we have gotten to work.”

The 57th governor of New Jersey spoke about affordability and improving the state’s business friendliness, pointing to a focus on cutting through red tape and reducing permitting delays.

“Time is really important, as we’ve just discussed. So, making sure people knew when their permits were going to be done,” she said, also highlighting that Kellie Doucette (who worked with many in the room on COVID funding) is serving as the state’s first chief operating officer. “We’ve also put a 90-day pause on new regulations as we look at what’s going on in the state, so we can make sure that this fits the needs of the people we serve.”

An open runway

Nodding to the infamous “Trenton Makes – The World Takes” sign, Sherrill stressed that her administration wants to make sure that continues to be true.

“And to do that, we need to make sure government works for the people and the businesses it’s meant to serve,” she explained. “That’s going to be a great starting point, because this state has so much potential, and a lot of the potential is because of the businesses and the people in this room.

“Over 4,000 life sciences facilities are in New Jersey, eight of the world’s top 10 drug makers, nine of the world’s top 10 R&D companies, 1,000 new drugs now in development, and 300,000 jobs. But I do know that in order to keep that going, I need to fight for all of you. Because I know there’s other states that are doing just that, and so that’s why we have these executive orders.”

It was my pleasure to join @BioNJ_Org tonight to celebrate another year spent driving life-saving innovations.

Congratulations to all of tonight’s honorees! Your work gives millions of patients and families around the world life, hope, and new opportunity. pic.twitter.com/2ReskCiQr8

— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) February 6, 2026

The good fight

“That’s why we’re so committed to making it easier to do business here. We want to make sure it’s easier to invest and to grow. That’s why we’re expanding economic development agency programs that support you, protecting proven incentives like the New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit, helping you win more pharma-related federal grants.

“And we have beefed up our federal practice already – to fight for our state in Washington and ensure policies keep pace with new treatments and cures, precision medicine, cell and gene therapy, so we can continue to be on the leading edge of the life sciences.”

Sherrill spoke about the big challenges at the federal and state level.

Changes ahead

“And for patients, vital access to care. I’ve never seen a federal government attack jobs and opportunity in the economy, in the way I’m seeing now,” said Sherrill. She referenced the Gateway Tunnel Project funding freeze and subsequent lawsuit by the state. “Medicaid cuts that are going to cost 10 million Americans health care, 300,000 plus of them New Jerseyans – affordable care premiums that are set to double in our state.

“And you will all feel it. Because fewer people will be able to afford prescriptions and hospitals will lose reimbursement. We’ll do all we can to keep New Jerseyans covered, support hospitals and keep community health centers open; take the Trump administration to court to claw back that federal funding. We’ve been very successful in those endeavors. And with you drafting legislation to bring more oversight to pharmacy benefit managers.”

Sherrill said that New Jersey and New Jerseyans have never been afraid of a fight.

“And we have things that other states don’t,” she emphasized. “We have world-class companies like yours driving innovation and growth. We have incredible ports and connections across the globe, one of the nation’s most educated workforces and the most scientists per square mile of anywhere in the country, nimble community colleges and workforce training programs, first-class research institutions.”

A call to action

As she closed, Sherrill said she had one ask of everyone in the room.

“I’m asking you all to stay engaged,” the governor said. “I have learned over the years that we do our best work not when we sequester ourselves in back rooms and come up with policy we think is going to be great and then force it upon people.

“We come up with our best policies when we work closely and when we have the feedback from the community. And when we can say, here’s what we’ve done, how’s it working? And the community can say – great, or it’s not quite what we need. Let’s work together some more so we can get the results that we all want and need.”

‘This is just the start’

The governor said that is when her and her team do their best work.

“And that’s how I can create the best results for all of you,” said Sherrill. “So, this is just the start. Thank you all so much, Debbie and everyone who had input into the transition team. It was so powerful. I appreciate that, and I want to continue that conversation.”

She closed by expressing her commitment to deliver a government that delivers.

“That’s my focus. I need your feedback to do that. That’s my ask. I’ll tell you my door is always open, and we may not always agree, but we’ll always have a conversation about it, and you’ll know why we made that decision and how we can keep working on other things together in the future,” said Sherrill. “I want to thank everybody for having me, giving me just a few moments tonight.

“It truly is an honor. I’ve loved working with all of you over the years in Congress, and I can’t wait to get to work here in the state.”

More details on the event and the award winners and honorees are available here.