by Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
During a visit to South Brunswick Tuesday, Gov. Jon Corzine credited New Jersey’s pharmaceutical research industry with being a positive economic force for the state in the midst of tough times for the country.
The governor spoke to a group of researchers and executives at Wyeth Research on Ridge Road to promote New Jersey’s medicine development industry. Gov. Corzine has declared this to be Life Sciences Week in the state, and vowed additional support for the industry in the future.
”What is so important is that this is creating an environment that improves the quality of life,” Gov. Corzine said. “Even though we are going through some very challenging times right now, we are better off in New Jersey because we have this core industry.”
Gov. Corzine said he would include support for start-up pharmaceutical companies in his economic stimulus and recovery plan.
”We are glad you are here, and I am going to fight like hell to make sure you stay here,” Gov. Corzine said. “We need to keep this industry, which is the medicine chest of the world, in New Jersey.”
Bob Franks, former New Jersey Republican Congressman and current president of the Health Care Institute of New Jersey, also appeared with Gov. Corzine.
Mr. Franks called research the “lifeblood” of the pharmaceutical business, and touted the amount of research and discovery done in New Jersey.

