2011 Biotechnology Research Review

The global market for sample preparation reagents and products used in life science research was $2.9 billion in 2010 and is expected to increase to $3.6 billion by 2011. The market is forecast to reach $8.4 billion by 2016, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.8%. The global biobanking market was $141 billion in 2010 and is projected to expand by 30% between 2010 and 2015, increasing at a CAGR of 5.4%. The global RNAi drug delivery market was worth $7 billion in 2010 and is expected to grow to nearly $24.1 billion by 2015, increasing at a five-year CAGR of 27.9%.

Additional Information

FOREWORD

During 2011 we witnessed the segmentation of the biotechnology industry as had long been forseen, drawn farther afield from its initial drug focus into areas such as “cleantech” and chemical manufacturing.

While American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds helped foster drug research and development, we noticed surprising emphasis on low-possibility-of-success (POS) areas such as antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents, contrasting with smaller sums being sent into higher POS fields, such as acute diseases or dermatology. This somewhat swinging-for-the-fences mentality has a rationale in that if successful these products have much lower post launch competition. But if uncoupled to creative thinking at the R&D stage, one wonders what the ultimate ROI will be for taking this risk, and if patent expiration desperation is fueling this trend. Perhaps significantly, the sports world has names and faces of major league pitchers who have gone ahead with stem cell treatments, with the hopes of resurrecting lucrative careers. Mainstream acceptance of the risk involved in immature therapeutics surely paves the way for more clinical trials and regulatory urgency.

Regarding segmentation, we see many patents and venture capital dollars flowing into synthetic biology applications and “plants engineered to replace oil” efforts, such as algae biofuels and synthetic photosynthesis. The term “Biobrick” has come into common usage and will certainly not fade anytime soon.