Industries
Biopharmaceuticals
Biopharmaceuticals product developments and trends have increased dramatically in the past few years, and the industry continues to grow. These innovations include the ability to identify cancer tumor subtypes, use high-throughput techniques for drug delivery and improve long-term reliability of the supply chain.
High-throughput techniques
High-throughput techniques in biopharmaceutical process research have been developed to meet the needs of today’s burgeoning biopharmaceutical industry. They are designed to provide an effective and efficient approach to pharmaceutical discovery and development.
These technologies support a shift in the drug discovery strategy towards phenotypic screening. For example, high-throughput cell-based screening assays are routinely used in toxicology studies. In contrast to traditional methods, they are able to identify toxic compounds early in the process. Moreover, the high-throughput assays are also useful in identifying aggregate formulations.
During the 1990s, researchers began using fluorescence-based reagents to conduct simultaneous screening of multiple molecules. This helped to increase the sensitivity of HTS. Furthermore, the availability of transfected cell lines provided a suitable readout for high throughput assays.
The biopharmaceutical industry has been driven by an increasing demand for biotechnology products. This is particularly true in North America. As a result, biotechnology companies have been under pressure to reduce the cost of manufacturing.
Advances in genomics and proteomics have played a critical role in facilitating target identification. Combined with diversity screens, these approaches offer improved drug discovery strategies.
High-throughput screening is one of the most important drug discovery tools available today. It helps scientists to perform genetic tests and chemical analyses in a simple, cost-effective manner. Depending on the type of assay, the results can be used to assess physical and stability properties as well as aggregate formulations.
Currently, there are various high-throughput techniques that are being used for screening protein libraries, combinatorial chemistry, and genomics. Some of the newer techniques involve using artificial intelligence to rapidly screen large libraries of molecules with a limited number of assay points. Affinity chromatography methodology is a key element of these assays.
One of the most significant trends in the high throughput techniques market is the rise of miniaturized sensors. Such technologies enable real-time quality control. Other developments in the field include artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Several high-throughput providers are actively developing new products. These include Captor in Wroclaw, Poland; Cullgen in San Diego, CA; and Arvinas in New Haven, CT. Many of these companies are based in North America, which accounts for the largest share of the global high throughput techniques market.
Tumor subtype therapies
If you’re in the business of oncology or biopharmaceuticals, you’re probably aware of the advances in understanding the molecular basis of disease and the role of biomarkers in clinical care. These developments have led to more targeted therapeutic approaches and even better patient outcomes. However, they also pose new challenges to pharmaceutical companies.
To develop a successful product, biopharma companies must engage stakeholders across the R&D ecosystem. This includes payers, regulators, and patients. The key is to ensure that the most important messages get across.
The most effective methods are those that involve data-sharing. Sharing data helps to drive more informed conversations between stakeholders. Using real-world evidence can also be a powerful marketing tool.
There are a few different ways to do this. One way is with the biomarker-enrichment model. Biomarker-enrichment techniques use biomarkers to identify patients most likely to respond to an agent. Another strategy is to employ a master protocol that allows for the evaluation of several agents simultaneously.
Oncology remains a key focus of the pharma industry. Several first-in-class agents are currently in phase III trials. Others are in early stage testing. In the past decade, the number of new molecular entities approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) almost doubled.
Imbruvica was the first-in-class BTK inhibitor approved by the FDA and is quickly gaining ground in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) market. The drug is also used in previously treated Waldstrom macroglobulinemia and mantle cell lymphoma.
A new class of immune therapy drugs is delivering unprecedented efficacy. Essentially, these medicines activate the immune system and help it recognize cancer cells. It’s no wonder that Imbruvica is leading the second-line CLL market.
With the rapid progress in oncology, the field is becoming more visible. In turn, the field is garnering more attention from lawmakers, which can shape the direction of future therapies. As a result, the industry is stepping up its game. But a few years ago, oncology prospects weren’t so good.
The most significant improvement in oncology over the past decade was in patient outcome. Not only have cures and prognoses improved, but the standard of care has become more complicated, with more patients with multiple disease-related co-morbidities receiving particular treatment regimens.
Long-term reliability of the supply chain
As with any industry, the pharma sector is undergoing a number of changes. A shift in the modalities of drug development and manufacturing is bringing a new set of challenges. This includes increasing complexity, a slew of new products, and the need to improve supply reliability.
While the pharma industry is a fairly protected industry, the pressures of a highly competitive global market place are becoming increasingly evident. This is reflected in the growth in the volume of SKUs being manufactured using legacy processes. In addition, the rise of biologics is requiring longer lead times for production. Furthermore, the rise in complexity is leading to greater uncertainty in demand forecasts. The result is a vicious cycle.
One way that the pharma industry can overcome these obstacles is to increase its overall resilience. Specifically, companies must increase their capacity, capabilities, and capabilities.
Increasing capacity means that they will be able to withstand changes in demand. At the same time, increased capacity can also create a bottleneck. However, a well-designed supply chain can minimize such bottlenecks.
A robust manufacturing process can help reduce the cost of manufacturing, as well as ensure quality, speed, and efficiency. Historically, the pharma industry has lagged behind other industries in embracing such strategies. But, the advent of digital tools has made it more affordable to capture raw data and turn it into actionable insights.
Other innovations include cloud analytics, edge computing, and robots. These technologies help make real-time optimization and optimization possible. Ultimately, this has led to a number of opportunities. For example, a pharma company could use a sensor to detect if a particular medication is in stock, and then determine the next best course of action.
Investing in an efficient supply chain will not only minimize disruptions, it will also allow a pharma company to maximize profits. By implementing the right supply chain strategy, a company can leverage its resources and become a leading player in its space.
A robust supply chain will also help a pharma company meet regulatory requirements, including the FDA’s unique approval process in the US. It is important for the industry to stay abreast of changes to the system, as well as understand the public health risks that a product can bring.
Cost of research
R&D costs for new drugs have increased substantially in recent years. These increases are driven by several factors. Some of the trends may be related to the increased role of smaller biopharmaceutical companies. They may also be associated with the adoption of new strategies and technologies that enable drug developers to address the challenges of the pharmaceutical industry.
The costs of developing a new drug can range from $1 billion to $2 billion. This amount includes the costs of unsuccessful drugs and clinical trials. In addition, it accounts for the capital and pre-clinical development costs of new medicines. Research on the cost of research in biopharmaceuticals is a valuable resource that can help evaluate the R&D productivity of the biopharmaceutical industry. However, it is important to understand that cost estimates are not a comprehensive measure of the research costs of new drugs.
There are a variety of different studies that estimate the cost of research in biopharmaceuticals. For instance, there are studies that use data derived from publicly available company financial statements, as well as studies that draw from studies conducted by consultancy agencies.
Data obtained by researchers can be used to calculate the total cost of a new drug, including out-of-pocket costs, post-marketing authorisation costs, and failed drugs. It is important to understand that these figures do not take into account public sector contributions. Furthermore, they do not reflect the deductibility of R&D expenditure for taxation purposes.
A third study uses the same method but excludes firms that do not have approved drugs. This resulted in an average cost of $0.9 billion per approved drug. While the overall number of approved drugs has increased substantially over the past few years, it has been tempered by the recession of 2008, when generic versions of the top selling drugs became available.
As the industry evolves, it is important to consider how costs are changing. One of the most important factors that affects the costs of developing new medicines is the broader industrial environment. Many potential drugs never reach the market because of the costs involved. Therefore, insights into the costs of researching new therapies can help inform discussions about prices.
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