Why forward-thinking biotechs are ditching big leases in favor of shared lab space.

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Biotech companies across Greater Boston are facing a tough reality: too much lab space and too many operational headaches.

Between 2018 and 2022, a sense of urgency defined the lab real estate market. Faced with a shortage of lab space, many biotechs—especially emerging companies—made long-term commitments for more lab space than they actually needed. Leases and subleases were signed at a rapid pace, often driven more by availability than fit.

Today, that dynamic has shifted.

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The Bubble Has Burst

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The post-pandemic market correction, coupled with rising capital constraints, has left many biotechs overextended. As 4- to 5-year lease terms begin to expire, companies are coming to two key realizations:

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1. They secured far more space than they actually need—and have been paying for unused and inefficient square footage.
2. The cost and complexity of managing lab operations in-house is far higher than anticipated—from equipment maintenance and calibration to medical waste removal, permitting, and compliance.

These back-end burdens not only eat into budgets—they distract teams from what matters most: hitting scientific milestones. Dollars and time spent managing infrastructure are resources not being applied to advancing your science.

This current market calls for a leaner, more agile approach.

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What Does It Mean to “Streamline” a Biotech?

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“Streamlining biotechs” are companies taking a smart, disciplined look at their lab operations. Instead of defaulting to costly, oversized leases or complicated subleases, they’re choosing shared lab environments that offer greater flexibility, lower overhead, and faster paths to productivity.

Our analysis indicates there are approximately 150 companies in Greater Boston that fit this definition. As these leases and subleases expire, this number is growing—and Labshares is the only shared lab provider built specifically for it.

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Labshares: Built for This Moment

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Labshares offers a capital-efficient alternative for companies ready to right-size their operations. Our flexible, fully equipped labs allow our members to:

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• Scale with precision – Our terms are highly flexible, allowing you to expand in a modular way as your team or program grows—without committing to more space than you need.
• Conserve cash –Reduce fixed costs and preserve capital for science, not real estate. Our White Paper estimates that share lab can reduce total lab costs by 60% or more.
• Avoid becoming a landlord – Subleasing might sound like a solution, but managing subtenants, coordinating buildouts, and handling compliance is a distraction from your core business.

Just as important: Labshares provides access to over $7 million of scientific equipment and a full suite of back-end lab services. From medical waste disposal to safety and permitting to equipment calibrations, lab coat laundering, and more, we handle the operational heavy lifting—so you can focus on your science.

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“We were spending more time dealing with facilities issues than on science. Moving to Labshares allowed us to refocus on our milestones—and cut our operating costs!”

— VP, Boston-area diagnostic company now operating in 3 private lab suites within Labshares

The Only Shared Lab Built for Streamlining Biotechs

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This isn’t a theory—it’s already happening. Four of our last seven new customers made the move to Labshares after deciding their leased / subleased space no longer made sense. These are forward-thinking companies making capital-efficient decisions—and we’re proud to support them.

If your current lease is expiring—or you’re simply tired of paying for too much space and dealing with too many lab headaches—schedule a tour or connect with our team today. Labshares is purpose-built to help you streamline.

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