As this issue goes to press the industry is getting ready for BIO 2018 June 4-7 in Boston. In fact some of you might be picking up this issue for the first time on the show floor. The BIO event truly is a reflection of the biopharma industry as a whole. It keeps growing and growing and growing.

The expansive exhibition is packed with the latest trends, technology, companies, and breakthrough ideas in biotech and pharma. There are over 1,800 exhibiting companies and delegations from 74 countries all helping to fuel the next big breakthrough.

More than 16,000 attendees from more than 5,000 companies will be on hand including the leading biotech and pharma companies, top 20 CROs and CMOs, more than 300 academic institutions including major research labs and government agencies, as well as leading consultants and service companies.

Various factors are spurring the growth of the biopharma industry. For one, pharma companies have fallen under greater economic pressures to increase their outputs. As a result they have embraced biopharmaceuticals to keep their pipelines robust.

It’s a tricky situation though because while the market has witnessed hundreds of biopharmaceuticals gain approval, with many in late stages of clinical development, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s, “Global Biopharmaceutical Market Report & Forecast (2018-2023),” out of every ten drugs that enter the clinical phases, only three manage to gain market approval.

To cover the market for this issue we called on the Biopharma experts at BioPlan Associates to offer up their analysis. Click here where Eric Langer and Ronald Rader explain why biopharmaceutical products continue to expand globally. According to BioPlan’s research, total product sales for biopharmaceuticals has been growing steadily at more than 12% annually since the initial market launches of recombinant proteins three decades ago.

Current global biopharmaceutical revenue stands at roughly $275 billion per year against the world market for all pharmaceuticals, which stands at $1.1 trillion. 

With biopharmaceuticals today representing an estimated 40% of all pharmaceutical R&D expenditures and products in the pipeline it’s easy to see why many leading pharma companies have now become dependent on these products for their pipeline and revenue.

All this positive growth has also trickled down to related bioprocessing supplies and services markets. Based on BioPlan’s analysis the authors say the market for bioprocessing tools, materials and services continues to grow at between 12 and 14% annually and is worth about $22 billion, or 8% of current biopharma revenue.

We’re looking forward to seeing all BIO 2018 has to offer as I’m sure you are. Stop by Contract Pharma’s booth 778 and say hi!


Tim Wright, Editor
twright@rodmanmedia.com