Life Sciences

The life sciences industry moves at a rapid pace, driven by constant innovation, market disruption, and evolving regulatory standards. Companies across the industry each face unique challenges depending on their stage of growth or product development. From tax credits and compliance to streamlining your back office or IT solutions and cybersecurity, navigating this complex landscape requires a trusted advisor who understands the nuances of the life science industry and can provide strategic guidance.

Withum’s Life Sciences Services Team delivers tailored advisory, accounting, audit, and tax solutions to privately held, venture-backed, private equity-funded, and publicly traded companies. Whether you’re an early-stage startup, scaling rapidly, preparing for an IPO, or considering an exit, our life science accountants and consultants offer deep industry insight to support your goals.

Life Sciences Industry Challenges and Trends

For early-stage and development-stage companies, one of the largest expenses typically incurred are costs associated with research and development activities (R&D). When developing new products and ideas, opportunities may exist to reduce payroll tax liability by qualifying for a refundable R&D tax credit.

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Previously known as OMB A-133 Audits, Uniform Guidance Audits (UGA) are essential to ensure compliance, enhance internal controls, and strengthen an organization’s financial and operational integrity. Withum’s Life Science Services Team is among the few firms with decades of experience understanding and applying Uniform Guidance, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, agency specific grant regulations and guidance, as well as award-specific terms and conditions. Additionally, we have performed numerous program-specific audits for life science companies receiving funding from a variety of Federal agencies.

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Withum’s Life Sciences Services Team delivers tailored advisory, accounting, audit, and tax solutions to privately held, venture-backed, private equity-funded, and publicly traded companies. Whether you’re an early-stage startup, scaling rapidly, preparing for an IPO, or considering an exit, our life science accountants and consultants offer deep industry insight to support your goals.The rapid growth of your life science company can often put a strain on internal finance and accounting operations. Outsourced accounting, finance and CFO consulting services can create greater flexibility, compliance and cost savings in a scalable manner to support the growth of your business.

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Preparing for an IPO (initial public offering) is an enormous task for any company. Going public requires financial statement audits under PCAOB guidelines that will comply with strict SEC regulations. Withum as a firm is registered with the PCAOB and the Center for Audit Quality. Withum is among the firms nationwide that are required to meet the highest level of quality standards for life sciences companies.

Life science companies are a prime target for cyber crime due to the nature and structure of the business. By identifying areas of vulnerability in your IT infrastructure, you can better mitigate the risk of cyber threats by adopting effective cyber and information security strategies.

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Life Sciences Insights

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women in life sciences
Women Leading Life Sciences: A Withum Spotlight Series

Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the impact, leadership and lasting contributions of women across various industries. For those in life sciences, those contributions are shaping innovation, improving patient outcomes and driving meaningful progress. At Withum, we’re proud to work alongside and learn from women who are advancing this dynamic field. In honor…

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2025 MLSC Tax Incentives
2026 MLSC Tax Incentive Program: Key Considerations for Massachusetts Life Sciences Companies

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) has opened the application window for the 2026 Tax Incentive Program, making up to $40 million in tax incentives available to eligible life sciences companies of any size operating in the Commonwealth. The program is intended to support companies engaging in research and development, commercialization, and manufacturing that are…

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scientific microscope in life sciences lab
Case Study: Strategic Tax Review Yields Major Refunds for Pre-Revenue Biotech

How targeted tax review and technical expertise delivered over $720,000 in refunds and credits for a pre-revenue life sciences company. Executive Summary The client engaged Withum to uncover and resolve significant tax compliance issues, including misapplied R&D capitalization and overlooked Foreign Derived Intangible Income (FDII) deductions. Through Withum’s deep technical expertise and proactive approach, the…

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calculator, life sciences accounting
Solving Life Sciences Accounting Challenges With Outsourced Expertise

Life sciences companies operate in one of the most dynamic and high-stakes environments in business. Tracking milestone-based revenue, managing grants and preparing for audits often stretches internal resources thin. These demands require specialized accounting expertise that many teams don’t have in-house. Let’s explore the unique accounting challenges faced by life sciences organizations and the benefits…

Why Life Sciences Companies Choose Withum

Life Sciences Specialization

Sector-specific expertise guiding life sciences companies from early stage through exit.

Audit and IPO Readiness

Extensive experience working with Companies navigating audits, raises and IPOs, ensuring PCAOB compliance, clarity, efficiency and credibility with investors, boards, and regulators.

Integrated Advisory Model

Integrated tax, advisory and outsourced accounting services to support milestone revenue, grants, cash flow and growth-stage complexity.

Built for Global Scale

Strategic insights engineered for growth with confidence and access to our HLB global network.

2025 MLSC Tax Incentives

Global Expansion for Life Science Companies

Life Sciences companies are often expanding beyond geographic borders to execute their vision. Whether the need for global expansion is to attract talent, enter new commercial marketplaces, or perform research and development activities, companies need to consider how global expansion impacts their accounting and finance functions. If your life sciences company is expanding into or out of the U.S., Withum is your trusted advisor for global transfer pricing, international tax and tax structuring, R&D tax credits, outsourced accounting, insurance advisory, cybersecurity and connections to the HLB network.

Sample Client Portfolio

Active Members of Life Sciences Associations

Backed by decades of experience, we help you stay focused on innovation and growth—while we handle the complexities behind the scenes—so you can continue delivering value in a competitive market.

BioNJ
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massbio
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Connect with Our Life Sciences Leaders

Taryn-Bostjancic_Web
Industry Leader, Partner, Practice Leader
East Brunswick, NJ
Alex-Dundara_Web
Partner
East Brunswick, NJ
Doug-Pallota_Web
Office Partner-in-Charge, Partner
San Francisco, CA
Ed'OConnell_Web
Partner, Service Leader
East Brunswick, NJ
Kurt-Simmons_Web
Partner
East Brunswick, NJ
Lenny-Smith_Web
Office Partner-in-Charge, Partner
Burlington, MA
Mark-Silverman_Web
Partner, Service Leader
Whippany, NJ
Robert-Thomas_Web
Partner
San Francisco, CA
Robert-Traester_Web
Partner
Boston, MA
Patrick-Donahue_Web
Partner
East Brunswick, NJ
Zachary-Newcomer_Web
Partner
Whippany, NJ
Carolina-Rosenthal_Web
Principal
Boca Raton, FL
James-Reynolds_Web
Principal
East Brunswick, NJ

Contact Us

For more information or to discuss your business needs, please fill out the form and a member of our team will connect with you in a timely manner.