New Jersey
Rare disease specialist Insmed continues rapid growth in NJ
Insmed is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes drugs for serious and rare diseases – advancing a diverse portfolio of approved and mid- to late-stage investigational medicines as well as cutting-edge drug discovery focused on serving the most pressing patient needs. Its most advanced programs are in pulmonary and inflammatory conditions, including a therapy approved in the U.S., Europe and Japan to treat a chronic, debilitating lung disease.
The Bridgewater-based business is poised for even more in New Jersey.
In addition to its Somerset County headquarters, Insmed also has offices and research locations around the world – including a separate R&D facility Bridgewater. NJBIZ recently toured that facility to learn more.
The company is led by Will Lewis, who joined Insmed in 2012 after a stint in investment banking. Under his watch, the company has grown from a 30-person biotech company to a more than 1,200-person emerging global biopharmaceutical company with a nearly $13 billion market cap.
In October, Insmed earned the highest ranking in Science’s 2024 Top Employers Survey.
“It is a tremendous honor to have been named the No. 1 employer in Science’s annual survey for the fourth consecutive year,” said Lewis in an Oct. 24 statement. “This past year has been transformational for our company, as we’ve demonstrated the strength of our commercial and pipeline programs, continued to fuel the innovation engine behind our early-stage research, and enhanced our culture while growing to more than 1,200 employees around the world. Looking to the future, I am filled with pride and excitement as I think about the talent, dedication, and potential of our team as we strive to make a real difference in the lives of patients with serious diseases.”
“The culture we’ve built at Insmed is unlike any other I’ve experienced, and I am proud to see it continue to grow and strengthen as we expand our global team,” said Nicole Schaeffer, chief people strategy officer, Insmed. “Thank you to our colleagues around the world who show up every day with a desire to help patients, enrich our communities, and support one another. It is because of you that we have once again been recognized by Science as the top employer in the biopharma industry.”
In February, at BioNJ’s 31st Annual Dinner Meeting & Innovation Celebration, Lewis received the Dr. Sol J. Barer Award for Vision, Innovation, and Leadership.
“Often described as one of the humblest people in the industry, it is with immense pleasure that I present this year’s award to a truly fine human being – an individual who epitomizes vision, innovation, and leadership through tireless advocacy for patients, the health care system, and New Jersey’s life sciences ecosystem,” said Barer, former chair and CEO at Celegene Corp. and chair of the board at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, as he presented his namesake award.
“It struck me as I was walking up here that prior recipients and, indeed, going all the way back to when you began – have literally altered the lives or saved the lives of thousands, if not, millions of patients,” said Lewis. “That’s quite a remarkable achievement. It’s a daunting thing to receive this award – and I think I could spend the rest of my career trying to earn its worth, so thank you.
The greatest companies are forged during the most difficult times.
– Will Lewis, Insmed CEO
“For those of you in the room who are trying to build companies, I have been coming to this event for a long time,” said Lewis. “I was previously at a different company that struggled for many years – failing to go public three times before it eventually found success. I joined Insmed 11 years ago when it had a zero-enterprise value. Wall Street said we were worth nothing. Maybe this sounds familiar to some of you who are currently trying to build companies and run them during the worst market correction in several decades. My message to you is this – hold fast, your time will come. You can do this.”
Lewis noted that BioNJ and the attendees in the room were there to help entrepreneurs build companies.
“The greatest companies are forged during the most difficult times. And that means there are a lot of great companies being made right now – yours among them,” Lewis explained.
Preserving company culture
NJBIZ recently caught up with the Insmed CEO to discuss the latest happenings and milestones at the company, what’s on the horizon and more.
The conversation opened with Lewis lauding the efforts and passion of his team. He detailed how important culture and collaboration are at Insmed, which was on full display during the NJBIZ visit to the R&D facility.
“Honestly, it’s the thing that I’m the most proud of at the company,” he said, recounting a recent town hall. “We’ve gone from 30 people when I joined to 1,200 – and we’ll go to 1,700 at the end of next year. Actually, the biggest question that people have is – how do we preserve our culture? Because as we’ve gone through that journey, we’ve sort of maintained this commitment – everybody in this industry says they’re about the patient. But it takes about five minutes when you walk into any company to know – is that authentic? Is the screen that shows the CNBC channel bigger than the one that talks about what the medicine might do? You get the signals rather quickly.
“We want people to bring their authentic selves to work – feel like they are in a place where they can do their best work,” he continued. “And we always say to folks – the mantra that should be in your head is: How can I help? And if we can get that, then you really don’t have to manage anybody.”
Lewis spoke about his unique and personal journey into this role – from foreign service to investment banking to this sector. “I had a family member who passed as a result of a rare disease – and that really activated my interest in what biotechnology could do,” Lewis explained, discussing his older brother. “His life was literally preserved for a much longer time than would have otherwise been the case. I always think about that. When you talk about the commitment to the patient and all that sort of stuff – and you’re running a business. And people say – how quickly does that get corrupted?
“It always brings it back to the personal for me – and I think for a lot of people,” Lewis continued. “If you are in health care, really checking yourself at the mirror and saying – what am I going to do today and why? And no matter how big or successful the company gets, you have to remember that if the medicine makes a difference in the patient’s lives – and the people around them who experience that, then you will generate the revenue. Then, the stock price will go up. It’s a derivative – it’s not the driver.
What’s next for Insmed?
Lewis was asked to describe some of the products and areas the company is focusing on.
“The trick, in my view, and I worked as a banker sort of supporting this industry as well as an operator within it,” said Lewis. “It comes from both sides of that experience. The most important thing you can do is prove that you can develop a drug and ultimately get it approved – and launch it. So, the first identification of Insmed is the creation, development, approval and launch of a drug called ARIKAYCE. It treats a respiratory condition. And with that success, we’ve been able to then layer in other development programs.
“The second development program has been astonishingly successful – and that is what has driven us on to the map of a lot of people, in the aftermath of what happened this year when the Phase III data, the last trial, showed positive results,” Lewis continued. “Think of us as taking one drug through that long journey and as we start to look like we are going to have success, we added some others. And those now start to look like they’re successful.”
Despite all of these positive developments and continued momentum – Lewis believes Insmed is still early in its journey.
“As much as we’ve changed and as much as we’ve grown, we literally are at the beginning right now of becoming the next great biotech company,” said Lewis. “And we have everything we need to do that, starting with people – coupled with those products. This is a really rare moment in biotech development where a company has really important, impactful products aligned with good people. And watch out, it just goes like an Elon Musk rocket into the air.”
New Jersey
Ice, freezing rain alerts expand to 10 N.J. counties. Wind advisory issued for 50 mph gusts Monday.
Winter weather advisories have been expanded to 10 New Jersey counties with freezing rain that could cause a dangerous layer of ice tonight.
The National Weather Service has also issued a wind advisory for 16 counties Monday with up to 50 mph gusts possible.
The more immediate concern is freezing rain already hitting the state Sunday evening.
Winter weather advisories for Bergen, Essex, Hudson Passaic and Union counties expire between 10 p.m. and midnight.
Winter weather advisories for Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties take effect at 6 p.m. and run through 2 a.m.
As temperatures remain near or below freezing across northern New Jersey this evening, precipitation will fall as freezing rain, particularly in Warren and Morris counties where a glaze to one-tenth of an inch of ice accumulation is possible.
The National Weather Service warns that even areas outside the advisory that remain near freezing at the onset of precipitation could experience localized icing, especially on shaded surfaces that have remained below freezing for more than 36 hours.
Temperatures will rise above freezing areawide during the pre-dawn hours Monday as a warm front lifts through the region, changing any remaining freezing rain to plain rain.
A brief break in the rain is likely prior to daybreak Monday.
The warm front will be quickly followed by a strong cold front Monday afternoon, bringing another period of rain that may be moderate in intensity at times.
High temperatures Monday will reach the upper 40s along the coast before the cold front passes, bringing high winds to the area.
The wind advisory for 16 counties runs from 10 a.m. Monday to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Just Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties are not under wind advisories.
“Strong westerly winds develop Monday with wind gusts up to 50 mph and a wind advisory has been issued,” the weather service said Sunday evening. “Some tree damage and power outages possible.”
Tuesday will be markedly colder with high temperatures struggling to rise above freezing even at the Jersey Shore.
Wind chills in the teens and low 20s are expected during the day.
Skies will be partly cloudy with continued gusty winds of 20 to 30 mph.

Wednesday brings slightly milder conditions with highs in the mid 30s to near 40 degrees, though it remains well below normal for late December.
The extended forecast shows below-normal temperatures continuing through the end of the week and into the New Year.
Thursday may bring a chance of snow showers as a weak cold front passes through, though accumulations are expected to be light.
Friday looks dry with highs in the low to mid 30s.
Another weather system may impact the area late next weekend, potentially bringing a mix of rain and snow, though forecast confidence remains low for that timeframe.
Current weather radar
New Jersey
Deadly helicopter collision in New Jersey kills one, critically injures another
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One person was killed and another critically injured when two helicopters collided and crash-landed in Hammonton, New Jersey, on Sunday morning, authorities said.
The Hammonton Police Department told Fox News Digital that it received calls of an aviation crash at approximately 11:25 a.m. involving two helicopters in the area of the 100 block of Basin Road.
Police, fire and EMS responded, extinguishing one helicopter that was engulfed in flames.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and will investigate the crash, police said.
MIDAIR PLANE CRASH KILLS ONE PERSON NEAR COLORADO AIRPORT AS BOTH PLANES CATCH FIRE
Two helicopters collided Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Hammonton, N.J. (WTXF)
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way wrote on X that she has been updated on the midair collision.
The site of a deadly helicopter collision in Hammonton, N.J., on Dec. 28, 2025. (WTXF)
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“The Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management, Hammonton Police Department, and @NJSP personnel are on the scene,” she said.
This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.
New Jersey
New Jersey Celebrities Who Died in 2025
These actors and musicians all called the Garden State home at some point in their lives. Though they have passed, their work and spirits endure.
Peter Greene
1965-December 12, 2025
Born and raised in Montclair. Greene attended Montclair High School but dropped out before graduating, according to his IMDB biography, and ran away from home as a teenager, he revealed in a 1996 magazine interview. He struggled with homelessness and drug addiction before pursuing acting and became best known for his villainous roles in the films Pulp Fiction and The Mask. Greene was slated to begin production on an indie thriller this January, the New York Post reported. He was 60.
Eddie Palmieri
1936-August 6, 2025
Photo: Shutterstock/lev radin
The Grammy-winning musician was a New York City native but was living in Hackensack when he died at home at the age of 88. Palmieri’s decades-long career was “marked by his groundbreaking fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and jazz harmonies,” wrote Manahil Ahmad in an obituary for NorthJersey.com. “His orchestra La Perfecta, formed in the early 1960s, set a new standard for Latin music….showcasing his explosive piano style—a blend of precision, power and improvisational grit.”
Palmieri performed at the Montclair Jazz Festival in 2019. Earlier this month, on what would have been his 89th birthday, the festival posted a tribute on their Instagram account. “We are so thankful to Eddie for his music and his friendship!” it concluded. “Long may his legacy continue!”
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
1970-July 20, 2025
The Jersey City-born actor, beloved for his role as Theodore “Theo” Huxtable on NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, died in an accidental drowning off the coast of Costa Rica, ABC News reported. He was 54. Warner played Huxtable from 1984 to 1992, and was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 1986. More recently, he starred as a surgeon on Fox medical drama The Resident until the show ended in 2023.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jersey City native Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” Governor Phil Murphy posted on social media. “[…] Malcom-Jamal brought joy and hope to millions of Americans. We are praying for the Warner family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Connie Francis
1937-July 16, 2025
The Newark-born pop singer, best known for ’50s and ’60s hits like “Who’s Sorry Now?” and “Where the Boys Are,” passed away at the age of 87 this summer. Dubbed “the girl with the million-dollar cry” by Dick Clark, she was the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Francis spent her early years in Brooklyn before her family moved back to New Jersey, where they lived in Newark’s Ironbound section and later Belleville. Francis attended Newark Arts High School for a few years before transferring to Belleville High School, where she graduated in 1955. She was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016 at a 2017 ceremony held at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall.
Just two months before her death, Francis had responded to news that her deep cut “Pretty Little Baby” had gone viral on TikTo, six decades after its original release. “My thanks to TikTok and its members for the wonderful, and oh so unexpected, reception given to my 1961 recording,” she wrote in a Facebook post. Her publicist and record-label president, Rob Roberts, had informed her of her “viral hit”—a term she didn’t understand. “Clearly out of touch with present day music statistics terminology, my initial response was to ask: ‘What’s that?’” she continued. “Thank you everyone!”
Lenny Welch
1938-April 8, 2025
Though born in New York City, the pop singer was raised in Asbury Park, where he was shaped by the vibrant Black music scene on the city’s West Side. He attended Asbury Park High School and joined a local vocal group called the Mar-Keys, which, according to the Asbury Park Press, opened for Little Richard at city’s Savoy Theatre in the 1950s. He later became best known for his cover of “Since I Fell for You,” which hit number 4 on the Billboard chart in 1963.
During a 2011 panel about the history of race and music, Bruce Springsteen referred to Welch as “Mr. Asbury Park,” according to NJ.com. Later that year, Welch returned to his hometown to perform at the Soul of Asbury Park concert held at the Paramount Theatre. In 2012, he was inducted into Asbury Park High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. A few years before his death, in 2021, Welch told the Asbury Park Press that he thought about the city “every day” and hoped to return “before I leave this earth.” He said he wanted to “walk around, go up Springwood Avenue because that’s where I grew up….just walk up the street, look around, visit relatives’ gravesites […].” Welch died in Florida at the age of 86.


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