But as happy as people at the news conference were about the state's historic growth, they spoke in glowing terms about the future. For example, they cited Pennsylvania-based Cephalon, which will move its Utah operations to larger facilities as it produces several products, including the hallmark Actiq lollipop-like method to deliver powerful medicine to help cancer victims deal with "breakthrough" cancer pain.

"Cephalon is glad to be part of the good news and glad to be part of Utah," said Mike Barr, general manager of the Salt Lake facility.

Moss noted that Utah's biopharm industry is expected to have 8,370 workers by 2014. With ripple effects on other industries, the job-growth figure is projected at 35,130.

"This is very significant. These are not entry-level jobs," he said. "These are jobs that pay very significantly higher than the state average and the national average, as well, in terms of the employee benefits."

Robin Riggs, vice president of the Salt Lake Chamber, also spoke of future opportunities.

"The Salt Lake Chamber believes that our research centers and world-class research institutions, such as the University of Utah and Utah State University, and affiliated resources, such as the medical center and Huntsman Cancer Institute, are huge economic engines that, if properly leveraged, can create unparalleled economic growth in this state," Riggs said.

Dr. Stephen Prescott predicts a bright future for the use of biotech to create treatments, the basis of the term biopharmaceuticals.

"We are creating an environment that allows this industry to thrive," said Prescott, executive director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

But he noted that that environment must be rich in collaborations and partnerships from different players. The communities that traditionally have dominated the field, such as San Diego and San Francisco, he said, have universities and other research institutes working closely with private companies, medical researchers and others to develop treatments that impact lives.

And he believes that Utah's genealogical research, combined with databases of information, will add a "unique element" to the state's strength in the field.

Predicting future growth in the industry is a "tough nut," said Kim Wheelwright, vice president of Ogden's Pro-Pac Labs, one of the companies cited in the report as contributing to the state's strong showing. Pro-Pac manufactures nutritional supplements for other companies, meeting their specifications.

"Not everyone in this industry sees future growth." It's clear, he said, that companies in the industry will either continue to try to improve how they do things and raise the entire industry to the next level, or they will become history. "There's beginning to be a division" separating companies willing to spend the money and the effort to do things right and meet new suggested standards.