Protein Production Start-Ups

Should a disruptive protein production technology emerge, the current interest in developing large-molecule therapeutics assures there would be many takers.

The problems associated with producing proteins using current fermentation methods are well documented: Unlike chemicals, protein drugs are expensive to make. They are often used therapeutically in large doses, further putting a premium on manufacturing efficiency. Capital investment in facilities runs into several hundred million dollars—historically (at least until recently) deterring many large pharma companies from pursuing protein drug development programs. And now that proteins--antibodies in particular--are proving to be some of the most important new drugs, the increasing numbers of approved biopharmaceuticals have created shortages in protein manufacturing capacity, which is controlled largely by less than a dozen firms. Space at a commercial contractor has to be reserved years in advance, with the contractors locking in their profits up front.

Biogen Inc. and Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp. merged (forming the merger-of-equals, Biogen Idec Inc. ) partly to combine their protein...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from R&D

Compass Pathways’ Antidepressant Advances In An Increasingly Tough Psychedelic Market

 
• By 

Psychedelics appear to be in vogue after years of being relegated to alternative medicine. But investor pushback after the highly anticipated release of Phase III trial data by Compass Pathways reveals an increasingly high bar for development.

BioMarin’s Roctavian Continues to Shine In Hemophilia A Despite Commercial Woes

 

Roctavian shows durable bleed control and safety over five years, but high costs and access hurdles limit its commercial outlook.

Dizal’s Zegfrovy Wins US NSCLC Approval, At Lower Dose Than In China

 

Dizal's EGFR inhibitor Zegfrovy approved in US as new once-daily oral option for second-line NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, at lower dose than in China.

Novartis’s Cosentyx Suffers Rare Phase III Fail

 
• By 

Multi-blockbuster falls short in a giant cell arteritis study.

More from Scrip

Novartis’s Cosentyx Suffers Rare Phase III Fail

 
• By 

Multi-blockbuster falls short in a giant cell arteritis study.

Executives On The Move: New CEOs At Sun Pharma And TME Pharma

Recent moves in the industry include C-suite changes at Abvance Therapeutics, plus Galapagos gets new chief financial officer from Horizon Therapeutics.

In Brief: Organon To Pull Plug On OG-6219 Program After Phase II Endometriosis Trial Failure

 

Once hailed as a potential game changer, OG-6219 gets the axe after failing in a Phase II endometriosis-related pain trial.