Cambridge, Leiden, Heidelberg or Paris - many European countries have biotechnology clusters in which scientific expertise meets a well-developed infrastructure, committed entrepreneurship and attractive financing opportunities. A subjective look at the best.
Technological developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry are reflected in increased funding, higher R&D productivity and more product launches. However, the general conditions remain challenging. Incremental change won’t be enough to deliver the results that the market and patients demand, warn industry experts.
With their triumphant advance, biosimilars are also setting in motion the usual market mechanisms. Biopharma interest groups warn against the automatic substitution of originator drugs.
SK Biopharmaceuticals, a South Korean-based biotech, has announced its new strategy to propel the company towards becoming a global “big biotech.”
After acquiring the two Catalonian sites in Barberà del Vallès and El Masnou about two years ago, Siegfried is now significantly expanding its expertise in the production of complex Drug Products containing Highly-Potent APIs (HPAPIs). In addition, the company has opened a new development center for oral solid dosage forms with active ingredients and HPAPIs as well as for ophthalmic sterile products. This not only strengthens Siegfried's position in the area of drug products, but also its global network and international competitiveness.
The market for APIs is expanding significantly. Experts predict annual growth rates between 4.5 and 7.6 percent by 2029. There are plenty of good reasons for this: Chronic diseases are on the rise - and with them the need for medicines and active ingredients. In addition, the economic upswing in several emerging countries means that more people can afford novel medicines. APIs are also benefiting from the trend toward personalized medicine and the growing understanding of diseases. Meanwhile, API developers and manufacturers are working on increasingly sophisticated methods to better handle these delicate substances.
