By Ashley Robinson Inside a St. Petersburg manufacturing plant, billions of softgel capsules move through carefully controlled production lines. In Tampa, teams work on eye medicines, while scientists and business leaders in Miami and Coral Gables develop treatments for rare and difficult diseases. Florida may not have the enormous pharmaceutical concentration of New Jersey or Massachusetts, but its life-sciences sector has grown into an important mix of drug manufacturers, biotechnology companies, diagnostic businesses and contract development specialists.
The following companies have been selected according to their Florida presence, pharmaceutical operations, industry scale and contribution to drug development or manufacturing.
1. Catalent
- Global headquarters: Tampa, Florida
- Major Florida facility: St. Petersburg
- Main areas: Drug development, softgel manufacturing, biologics and advanced drug delivery
Catalent is one of the world’s largest contract development and manufacturing organizations. Instead of concentrating on medicines carrying its own brand, it helps pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies develop, test, manufacture and package their products.
In September 2025, Catalent opened its new global corporate headquarters in Tampa. The move gave Florida an even more prominent position in the international pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
Catalent’s St. Petersburg facility is its primary North American softgel development and manufacturing site. It has a reported annual capacity of approximately 18 billion capsules. The facility supports formulation development, clinical manufacturing, commercial production and specialized softgel technologies.
Catalent became a privately held company following its acquisition by Novo Holdings. Its global capabilities and large Florida manufacturing operation make it the leading name on this list.
2. OPKO Health
- Headquarters: Miami, Florida
- Main areas: Biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, kidney disease and antibody research
OPKO Health is a fully integrated healthcare company combining pharmaceutical research with clinical diagnostics. Its principal executive offices are located on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami.
The company’s pharmaceutical portfolio includes RAYALDEE, a treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism in certain adults with chronic kidney disease. OPKO is also developing biological medicines through ModeX Therapeutics, including multispecific antibodies for cancer and infectious diseases.
Its diagnostics operations have historically been connected with BioReference Health. This combination of medicine development, laboratory testing and advanced biotechnology gives OPKO a broader business structure than a conventional drug manufacturer.
OPKO remains an important Florida-based life-sciences company, although investors and readers should recognize that its business performance comes from both pharmaceutical and diagnostic operations.
3. Jabil Healthcare
- Corporate headquarters: St. Petersburg, Florida
- Main areas: Drug-delivery devices, pharmaceutical development, medical technology and contract manufacturing
Jabil is a global manufacturing company rather than a conventional branded drug producer. However, its healthcare and pharmaceutical activities have become substantial enough to justify its inclusion.
Jabil Healthcare develops and manufactures products such as autoinjectors, pen injectors, inhalers, diagnostic equipment and wearable drug-delivery systems. These devices help pharmaceutical companies deliver medicines safely and accurately.
Its 2025 acquisition of Pharmaceutics International significantly expanded Jabil’s Pharmaceutical Solutions business. The deal added drug development, aseptic filling, clinical manufacturing and commercial production capabilities. Jabil can now support a pharmaceutical product from early formulation and device design through manufacturing and packaging.
With its global headquarters in St. Petersburg and extensive manufacturing resources, Jabil is one of Florida’s largest healthcare-related employers. Still, readers should understand that healthcare is only one part of Jabil’s much larger global manufacturing business.
4. Bausch + Lomb
- International headquarters: Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
- U.S. headquarters: Bridgewater, New Jersey
- Florida facilities: Tampa and Clearwater
- Main areas: Ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, surgical equipment and eye-care products
Bausch + Lomb is one of the world’s best-known eye-health companies. Its portfolio includes prescription eye medicines, contact lenses, lens-care products, over-the-counter treatments, intraocular lenses and ophthalmic surgical equipment.
The company maintains a dedicated pharmaceutical facility at Hidden River Parkway in Tampa. It also has surgical and vision-care operations in Clearwater. These facilities give Bausch + Lomb a meaningful manufacturing and operational presence in Florida, although its headquarters are located outside the state.
Its prescription portfolio covers conditions such as glaucoma, dry eye, eye infections, inflammation following ocular surgery and retinal disorders. The company’s combination of medicines, consumer eye-care products and medical devices makes it broader than a pure pharmaceutical manufacturer.
5. Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
- Headquarters: Coral Gables, Florida
- Main areas: Rare-disease medicines and neurological treatments
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare and difficult-to-treat diseases. Unlike a contract manufacturer, Catalyst develops, licenses and commercializes medicines sold under its own portfolio.
Its leading products include FIRDAPSE for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, AGAMREE for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and FYCOMPA for certain types of seizures. During the first quarter of 2026, the company reported continued growth from its rare-disease portfolio.
Catalyst is smaller than Catalent, Jabil or Bausch + Lomb, but it has a more focused pharmaceutical identity. Its commercial success, marketed medicines and Coral Gables headquarters make it a better 2026 selection than the discontinued Xcelience name.
Why Xcelience Is Not Included
Xcelience was a respected Tampa-based pharmaceutical development and clinical manufacturing company. However, Capsugel acquired it in 2016, and Lonza subsequently acquired Capsugel in 2017. Therefore, Xcelience should not be presented as an independent pharmaceutical company in a 2026 ranking.
Conclusion
Catalent leads Florida’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector through its Tampa headquarters and major St. Petersburg facility. OPKO Health and Catalyst Pharmaceuticals represent the state’s drug-development and commercialization side. Jabil provides large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing and drug-delivery expertise, while Bausch + Lomb strengthens Florida’s position in ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and eye-care technology.
Together, these companies show that Florida’s pharmaceutical industry extends far beyond laboratories. It now includes global headquarters, high-capacity manufacturing plants, rare-disease medicines, diagnostic research and advanced drug-delivery systems.