The reduced efficacy of existing drugs and a lack of treatments for many new diseases are expected to drive expansion in the biopharmaceuticals market.
To benefit from this opportunity, participants must focus on improving the competence of downstream processing, which has been a long-standing time-scale and technology bottleneck in an otherwise efficient manufacturing process.
Limited investment and lack of innovation in downstream processing accounts for 40 per cent of biopharmaceutical production expenses and result in costly delays.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, World Strategic Analysis of Downstream Processing in Biopharmaceuticals Production, reveals that the contract manufacturing revenue in this market totalled US$ 3.8 billion in 2004 and is projected to reach US$ 9.2 billion in 2010.
Historically, there has been a lack of interest in downstream processing in comparison to upstream technologies. However, these issues are now being addressed through the development of innovative technologies by new investors and the existing multinationals. The cost of installing or developing in-house downstream systems and staying abreast of technology developments is encouraging drug discovery firms to outsource different stages of manufacturing of their procedures. As a result, contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs) are gaining prominence.
CMOs, in turn, are developing their own infrastructure to offer improved facilities for gaining a foothold in an increasingly competitive market. Due to this, investment in R&D is also expected to increase.
Another market driver is the growing competition for benchmark apparatus and consumables in the biopharmaceuticals market.
For more information, visit www.biotech.frost.com
