Wednesday 26 July 2017

Biologics Market Driven by Demand to Treat Autoimmune Disorders

Biologics are medicines derived from living cells to treat and prevent chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Their structure is smaller than regular drugs but is far more effective at tackling such diseases. These medicines include monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), recombinant proteins, vaccines, and fusion proteins. Recombinant DNA technology is utilized to remove or add specific genes to a drug to increase its potency. The aging populace which is susceptible to autoimmune disorders is expected to drive the global biologics market. 


Biosimilars and biobetters are preferred alternatives to biologics due to their low production cost. Although they share similar traits to biologics, they are considered to be safer and effective drugs. Major companies like Amgen are investing in this market to increase their reach. Additional factors influencing this move are patent expiry of major drugs such as Humira and Herceptin as well as acceptance of biosimilars by various federal agencies like the US Food & Drug Administration. But the setup of better delivery models to meet growing consumer demands can influence market growth. 

Companies are turning to contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) to expedite their production process. CMOs are adapting new expression systems and single-use technologies to reduce production costs. This would also lower the prices of biopharmaceuticals, making it affordable for the consumer. This move would allow the companies to expand their R&D expertise. Other trends include the outsourcing of production to China and India due to their mature technical expertise.

The worldwide biologics market is anticipated at nearly USD 400 billion by 2025. It is expected to expand at a CAGR nearing 4% over the forecast period (2014 - 2025). It is driven by surging demand of targeted therapies and personalized medicines to treat autoimmune disorders and various cancers.
Microbial systems were the preferred source of biologics in recent years. It is being used to produce granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and recombinant proteins. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) had dominated the global market, on revenue basis, due to being used in production of various medicines. Prominent market players are Pfizer Inc.; Eli Lilly & Company; Merck & Co. Inc.; and AbbVie Inc.

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