Black Women Are Transforming Biotech — And Tia Lyles-Williams Is Leading the Way

A powerful shift is happening in the biotech world — and at the center of that momentum is Philadelphia entrepreneur Tia Lyles-Williams, who has made history as the first queer Black woman to lead a biopharmaceutical manufacturing company, according to reporting from Face2Face Africa.

As the founder and CEO of LucasPye Bio, Philadelphia’s first Black-owned biotech manufacturing company, Lyles-Williams isn’t just breaking barriers — she’s building an entirely new lane.

A Mission Born From Lack of Representation

Lyles-Williams has openly shared that her initial motivation to enter biotech wasn’t fame or fortune; it was the overwhelming absence of people who looked like her in leadership roles across the industry. As she told Face2Face Africa, representation wasn’t just lacking — it was nearly nonexistent.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black professionals make up less than 12% of the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing workforce. In biotech executive leadership, the number is even lower, a disparity highlighted by both Forbes and Stat News.

This gap fueled Lyles-Williams’ mission:

• Make biotherapeutic drugs more affordable

• Create jobs for underserved communities

• Increase Black visibility and ownership in science and pharmaceutical manufacturing

Building a Company With Social Impact at Its Core

Founded in 2018, LucasPye Bio is one of only seven biotech companies in the U.S. with the capacity to develop and manufacture gene- and viral-based drug products, an achievement noted by Philadelphia Inquirer.

The company has already raised $50 million in operating funds — including $5 million from Black Pearl Global Investments and $45 million from additional partners — a remarkable achievement for a Black-owned firm in a sector where investment disparities remain stark (Forbes).

But for Lyles-Williams, the money is just one part of the mission.

“Our social impact goals are heavily targeted through offering jobs and opportunities to underserved communities,” she explained. “We want to bring down the cost of medications for patients and also lower the financial barriers for startup companies developing drug products.”

Navigating the Pandemic and Personal Challenges

Like many biotech companies, LucasPye Bio faced intense pressure and unexpected delays during the COVID-19 pandemic. But for Lyles-Williams, the stakes were personal: 12 members of her family contracted the virus, a challenge she discussed in interviews covered by Face2Face Africa and Philadelphia Inquirer.

Instead of slowing her down, the crisis sharpened her mission.
She strengthened partnerships with organizations like the Jefferson Institute for Bioprocessing (JIB) and Celltheon, while investing in robust customer recruitment strategies to prepare the company for long-term growth.

Following in the Footsteps of Pioneers

Lyles-Williams often cites trailblazing Black scientists as her inspiration — especially Dr. Percy Lavon Julian, a legendary chemist known for groundbreaking work in synthesizing medicinal compounds. Publications such as Smithsonian Magazine have long chronicled his impact on pharmaceutical science.

She aims to continue his legacy while pushing biotech spaces to become more inclusive, equitable, and accessible.

The Weight — and Power — of Being “First”

Entering a field where so few leaders look like her means Lyles-Williams meets both skepticism and support.

“Because of the lack of people that look like me at this level, they typically don’t take me at face value like my peers,” she shared. “Being a queer Black woman has worked both for us and against us. But I’m excited about the opportunity to take it to the next level.”

Her resilience, vision, and insistence on access make her stand out as one of the rising forces in modern biotech.

A New Era for Biopharma

Lyles-Williams’ work arrives at a pivotal time. As Stat News and Forbes have highlighted, the biotech industry is grappling with skyrocketing drug development costs, inequitable access to clinical trials, and a lack of workforce diversity.

LucasPye Bio is offering a model that addresses all three challenges — not through theory, but through action.

And for many young scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators watching her journey, Lyles-Williams represents possibility. She represents proof that Black women not only belong in biotech — they can lead it.

Congratulations, Tia — your work is inspiring a generation and reshaping the future of science.