The biotech industry includes bio-pharma, bio-services, bio-agri, bio-industrials and bioinformatics. Biopharma is a rapidly growing segment that accounts for a dominant share in this sector. Advancements in biotechnology have enabled researchers to evaluate and identify target biomarkers/cell receptors to develop targeted and personalized therapies. Scientific research and technological advancements have resulted in the emergence of various personalized medicines that are undergoing research. According to research conducted by the Personalized Medicine Coalition, 42% of all compounds and 73% of oncology compounds in the pipeline possess the potential to be personalized medicine. Moreover, according to this study, it is expected that companies will increase their investment in R&D of personalized medicines by 1/3rd over the following five years. The study found that over 20% of drugs approved in 2014 were personalized medicines.

The biotechnology sector has witnessed some disruptive innovations such as gene and cell therapies, immunotherapy, and antibody drug conjugates. Advancement in stem cell therapy is resulting in effective treatment therapies for chronic conditions, organ growth and repair and disease prevention.

Key Challenges

Biotech products have extensive application in oncology and autoimmune disease treatment. However, the cost of these drugs is high owing to extensive research and trials that need to be carried out for the same. Therefore, there is constant pressure to reduce price and increase accessibility, especially in emerging economies. In the U.S., companies are facing reimbursement issues with respect to biopharmaceutical products. Besides, there are regulatory and scientific challenges faced by the sector. Scientific research for new molecules and targeted therapies is capital intensive and challenging owing to growing concern for safety of the drug.

Also, there is lack of awareness about personalized medicine among most healthcare providers, which may hamper its adoption. Clinical adoption of biotechnology products is essential for its success. However, it significant scientific evidence and backing is required to ensure its safety.

“Translating genomic discoveries into personalized medicines entails overcoming substantial scientific, regulatory, and economic challenges, including identifying validated biomarkers, as well as developing personalized therapeutics and clinically relevant diagnostic tests.”

Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development

Opportunities

The biopharmaceutical sector offers vast lucrative growth opportunities. High efficacy and safety of biopharmaceutical products has led to a growth in their demand, Furthermore, consumers are willing to pay high prices for biopharmaceutical products compared to other conventional products. Biopharmaceutical brands have set new standards for blockbuster drugs by recording an annual average sale of over US$ 2bn. Drugs such as Humira have generated sales revenue of over US$ 10bn.

Governments in emerging economies are endorsing biosimilars as cost-effective alternatives to biotech products, which is expected to create significant growth opportunities for manufacturers of generic drugs. Therefore, cost-effectiveness and high quality are prime parameters that need to be considered while developing biosimilars. Recent and upcoming biologic patent expirations include the following:

Erbitux (cetuximab) - February 2016
Rituxan (rituximab) - September 2016
Herceptin (trastuzumab) - June 2019
Avastin (bevacizumab) - July 2019
Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) - May 2024
Enbrel (etanercept) - November 2028

Companies such as Teva Pharmaceuticals, Hospira, Sandoz, and Amgen are focusing on development of biosimilars and vaccines as preventive measures in addition to treatment. For instance, in 2015, Zarxio TM became the first biosimilar to be approved in the U.S. market. The EMA approved Mosquirix, a malaria vaccine, in the same year. Extensive research is currently underway to develop a dengue vaccine, which could be another breakthrough pharmaceutical product in the near future.

Conclusion

The increasing research in the biotechnology sector is expected to result in higher number of biopharmaceutical products seeking FDA approvals. Biopharmaceuticals are positioned to be promising treatment solutions that would improve patient outcomes and help with reduction of the cost of drug development.View less

Specialty and Fine Chemicals

Cosmetic Ingredients

Food Ingredients

Aerospace and Defense

Automotive and Transportation

Consumer Electronics

Construction Engineering

Industrial Automation and Machinery

Semiconductors

Smart Technologies

Information and Communication Technology

Biotechnology Published Insights

Single Use Bioreactor Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

The single-use bioreactor market has been gaining traction over the past few years owing to its advantages over conventional stainless-steel bioreactors. Single-use bioreactors use disposable flexible bags instead of stainless-steel containers for cell culture process... View more

Stem Cell Manufacturing Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

The global stem cell manufacturing market has been witnessing significant growth in the recent past due to the increasing incidence of chronic diseases and rapid advancement in stem cell-based therapies. Stem cells have the potential to treat various degenerative dise... View more

Cell Therapy Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Global cell therapy market is estimated to be valued at USD 2,832.1 Mn in 2025 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period (2025-2032). Global cell therapy market is expected to witness growth substantially over the next decade due to rising... View more

Cardiac Biomarkers Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Cardiac biomarkers refer to proteins that are present in blood when the heart muscle is damaged or stressed. They help detect and monitor various heart conditions. The cardiac biomarkers market has been witnessing significant growth over the past few years driven by t... View more

Neurological Biomarkers Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Neurological biomarkers help in objectively measuring and evaluating normal biological and pathogenic processes. These aid in detecting neurological disorders, assessing risk, tracking disease progression, and measuring response to therapeutic interventions. Rising in... View more

Histology And Cytology Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Global histology and cytology market growth is driven by rising prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide. Histology and cytology procedures play a crucial role in disease diagnosis and pathological examinations. Factors such as growing geriatric population, increasing... View more

Bovine Serum Albumin Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is a protein derived from cows that has wide application in life sciences research and biotechnology industries. As a blood derivative, BSA plays a critical role as a protein standard and blocking agent in techniques like enzyme-linked immun... View more

Vaccines Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

The global vaccines market has been witnessing steady growth over the past few years due to the rising prevalence of various infectious diseases and technological advancements in vaccine production. Vaccines aid in building immunity against specific diseases and allow... View more

Meningococcal Vaccines Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Meningococcal disease refers to the bacterial infections causing meningitis and sepsis that can lead to serious illness or even death, if not promptly treated. Rising prevalence of these invasive meningococcal diseases along with growing awareness about the availabili... View more

White Biotechnology Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

White biotechnology utilizes biological processes such as enzymes to develop eco-friendly industrial products and processes. It utilizes renewable materials like plant waste, agricultural residues and organic waste to develop alternative fuels, bio-based chemicals and... View more

Tissue And Organ Transplantation Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Tissue and organ transplantation refers to the surgical procedure of transferring tissues or organs from one person to another person to repair, replace or enhance the function of the recipient’s organ or tissue. The transplantation of tissues and organs has bec... View more

Stem Cell Therapy Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Global stem cell therapy market is estimated to be valued at USD 18.61 Bn in 2025, and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 22.8% during the forecast period (2025-2032). Stem cell therapy is a promising and emerging field in regenerative medicine that involves the use o... View more

Immuno Oncology Assays Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Global immuno-oncology assays market is estimated to be valued at USD 5.55 Bn in 2025 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period (2025-2032). Immuno-oncology assays help analyze the expression of biomolecules like proteins that are relevan... View more

Stem Cell Banking Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Global stem cell banking market is estimated to be valued at USD 6.50 Bn in 2025, and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 14.7% during the forecast period (2025-2032). Stem cells are undifferentiated biological cells that are capable of differentiating into specialized... View more

Cell Cryopreservation Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Cell cryopreservation involves preserving cells by cooling them to extremely low temperatures, usually -80°C or below using liquid nitrogen. It helps to preserve cells for a very long period of time without affecting their viability. Factors such as rising prevale... View more

Influenza Vaccines Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Global influenza vaccines market is estimated to be valued at USD 8.91 BN in 2025 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period (2025-2032). Influenza vaccines have been an important element of preventive healthcare for decades. The influenza ... View more

Cell Therapy Manufacturing Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

Global cell therapy manufacturing market is estimated to be valued at USD 5.65 Bn in 2025, and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 15.1% during the forecast period (2025-2032). Global cell therapy manufacturing market has been witnessing significant growth in the recen... View more

Tissue Engineering Market

Published Date : Feb 2025

The global tissue engineering market is estimated to be valued at USD 13.02 Bn in 2025 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 12.1% during the forecast period (2025-2032). Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies principles of engineering and life... View more