Delivery of Biologics & Beyond

According to forecasting firm EvaluatePharma, six of the top ten drugs and half of the top 100 drugs in 2014 will be biologics. Predictions for biologic blockbusters include products from Roche, Wyeth, Amgen, Abbott, J&J and Schering Plough, with the top selling product being Roche’s anti-cancer antibody drug Avastin at $9.2 billion in annual sales. This analysis shows overwhelming evidence on how important biological drug development is to pharma pipelines. Pharmaceutical companies need faster and more efficient ways to formulate biologics and to further expand pipelines and competitive advantages with needle-free delivery.

Delivery of Biologics & Beyond, taking place September 23-25th in Boston, brings together senior-level scientists and technology/product developers to share the newest advances and address your most pressing challenges in formulating and delivering biologics and nucleic acids. Explore the latest case studies, discover the drug delivery technology advances for needle-free delivery of large molecules, and establish what technologies hold the most promise for advancing your biologics and RNAi pipelines.

If you'd like to network with other individuals in the space of Biologics, join our LinkedIn group here.

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Tough Economy Slows Down CRO Growth for now

According to this article in Clinical Trials Today recent layoffs in the pharmaceutical industry has slowed down CRO growth in short term, but in the long run improving efficiency and controlling costs will result in more opportunities for CROs.

Oncology is expected to become a huge focus in the future, so CROs with strong oncology franchises should reap the benefits from that trend soon. It is said that the oncology market will grow to approximately $80 billion in global sales by 2012. European CROs are also making headway as the two Italy-based CROs, Phidea and Marvin Research have completed their merger.

What are some other trends that can help boost CRO growth in the near future?

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Drug Delivery Partnerships Live from the Red Rock

It is with great pleasure that we launch IIR's Future of BioPharma blog live from the 13th Annual Drug Delivery Partnerships event at the Red Rock Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, NV.

The Executive Director, Tricia Carle opened DDP this morning and introduced the conference co-chair Dr. Peter Kramer, Executive Director of External Science & Technology, Strategic Transactions Group at Bristol Myers Squibb who remarked that we are at the cross roads of change and innovation in the Biopharmaceutical drug delivery industry. He then introduced Debra Bingham a partner at Valeo Partners who kicked us off with a Letterman style Top 10 list of the 2008 Events that will Impact in Drug Delivery in 2009.

10. Branded DD products go generic
9. Nektar sells inhalation business to Novartis for $115 million in October 2008
8. The dismantling of Alza - Acquired for $12 billion in 2001
7. Pfizer pulls Exubera from the market in 10/07 and Novo stops development
6. Pfizer reports lung cancer in study and Nektar discontinues Exubera partnering
5. 2008 Roche acquires Mirus for RNAi delivery for $125 million
4. Jan 27, 2006 inhaled insulin approved
3. Large restructuring of big pharma 2006- Present creating an entrepreneurial spirit
2. Mandate for healthcare policy change in U.S.
1. The current financial crisis

So what will the impact of these events be?

1. Regulatory pressures and changes (regulatory, pricing, generics, doctor relationship controls)
2. Increased financial pressure on CEOs and boards of emerging companies
3. Increased M& A activity
4. Pay and regulatory pressure to prove the benefit of rug delivery - What is the value proposition of our technology not just in extending patents but in increasing value for the end user and convincing third party payers that your product is worth reimbursing
5. Continued opportunity to enable delivery of difficult therapeutics

Stay tuned for more Drug Delivery updates live from the Red Rock! And be sure and sign up for our DDP LinkedIn group to continue networking with industry peers.

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