Biopharma Landscape: Today & Beyond

Biopharma, for those who don’t know, is the field of medicine that uses semi-synthesized or biological products to produce new medicines. The primary ingredients in the manufacturing process of the medicines are extracted from living and organic beings such as plants, animals, or humans.

Since their inception, Biopharma and Biotech companies have come a long way. Moreover, in these challenging times, especially after the arrival of COVID-19, scientists are investigating this field more than ever. Since biomedicines are more reliable and efficient, governments across the globe are also looking to invest in them to provide better healthcare to their people. 

On the same note, Biopharma companies are equally striving to subvert the paradigm of healthcare with their top-notch innovation and products.

Biopharma Landscape: Today

Today, the global biopharma market stands at $325.17 Billion, and the rise in partnerships and investments in the biopharma world is only going to make this number grow further. Genetics and cell therapy are believed to set evolution in the healthcare sector, and around 47% of pharma companies are already working on cell and gene therapies to provide cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other genetic disorders. 

Moreover, the success of anti-inflammatory drugs such as Humira has proved that biopharma R&D has what it takes to become the antidote to all the complex biological human problems. Given its considerable success, many large pharmaceutical companies have shifted a considerable amount of R&D investments in their biotech affiliates. 

However, today, producing biopharmaceutical medicines at an affordable cost is a big challenge; due to its manufacturing complexity. For example, a molecule of Aspirin has 21 atoms but the same biopharmaceutical equivalent molecule may contain 2000 to 25000 atoms, thus adding to its overall operational and manufacturing cost. 

Despite the manufacturing process complexity, their efficacy has proved to be one of the best. And resultantly, today there is a huge demand for biomedicines in the market, and the supply is far lagging the demand rate.

Biopharma Landscape: Beyond

Despite its challenges and expense, biopharmaceuticals are the future along with enhanced clinical efficacy with a better-personalized design of drugs.

Some of the biopharmaceutical trends that we may see coming in the future include,

• An increase in the number of Biopharma facilities globally.
• More biological products being launched under micro niches.
• A higher degree of monitoring, automation, and process control.
• More exploration in the areas of biosimilar and related products.

The rate at which Biotech companies are making progress is commendable. The pandemic has already expedited work in this area of medicine, and the future definitely will see biotechnology playing a major part in the world of medicine. It will chart a path for more sustainable and reliable medicines with treatment options for many untreatable conditions and disorders today. 

Would love to know your insights and views.