Tia Lyles-Williams is behind Philadelphia’s first Black-owned biotech manufacturer, reports WPVI-TV.
As the founder of LucasPye BIO, Lyles-Williams is on a mission to make biotherapeutic drugs more affordable while strengthening the healthcare offerings within underserved communities and transforming the economy.
“Our social impact goals are heavily targeted through offering jobs and opportunities to underserved communities,” Lyles-Williams said. “Bringing down the costs of medication for patients and on the other side of that bringing down the cost of startup companies and companies with drug products.”
Lyles-Williams also shared how the company’s mission is being carried out.
“We’ve raised $50 million from Black Pearl Global Investments,” said Lyles-Williams. “$5 million of that is from them directly, $45 million is from their limited partners. We’ve accumulated enough partnerships to allow us to be open right now and to start generating income.”
She also adds how vital this is to get those much-needed products manufactured and into the market. Her goal is not only to help the industry become more inclusive overall but also to provide career opportunities for those looking for a change.
“A minimum of $50,000 entry, to come in with no experience, no college degree but they’re willing to do training,” said Lyles-Williams. “On top of that, more importantly, what I like best about it is that it’s giving them a huge leg up. Having an opportunity for those that need new job skills is what I find most attractive of what we’re bringing to the table.”
Currently, the company is working out of a shared office space in Center City, but LucasPye BIO is focused on securing their own official headquarters in Philadelphia.
The next steps for Lyles-Williams include working closely with companies to disburse the necessary resources needed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philadelphia hot spots.
