Life sciences and healthcare investments have been a bright spot, yet the signals are mixed. Companies like Spark Therapeutics are moving ahead with a 500,00-square-foot Gene Therapy Innovation Center in University City, slated for completion in 2026, and the Wistar Institute has also expanded its lab footprint at uCity Square. At the same time, Spark announced nearly 300 layoffs in 2025, as part of a corporate restructuring under biotech company Roche. A spokesperson emphasized that the cuts would not affect the Innovation Center and that the remaining employees will be integrated into Roche’s broader operations in Philadelphia, however, the announcement reflects ongoing uncertainty in the sector, as similar volatility has been seen in recent lab space development slowdowns, where a cooling national capital market has tempered leasing activity in some parts of University City.

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