This week in pharma… 11th November

In this week’s news: the global biotech and pharma services outsourcing market is set for significant growth, Andelyn Biosciences have opened their gene-therapy manufacturing facility, tattoo-based vaccination research and more.

The global biotechnology and pharmaceutical services outsourcing market is forecast to grow significantly over the coming years. Valued at $63.1 billion in 2020, it is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% between now and 2030 to reach $105.4 billion (1). A number of drivers are behind this rapid growth, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of biotech start-ups. At the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, pharmaceutical companies were globally involved in the campaign to develop effective and scalable COVID-19 vaccines.

Andelyn Biosciences, a CDMO of cell and gene therapies, opened a new 200,0000-square-foot GMP clinical-scale and commercial-scale gene-therapy manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. The facility can support gene-therapy viral vector production using various modalities, including adherent and suspension platform capacity of up to 8 X 2,000 L.

Also in the news

Researchers have investigated the potential of tattoo-based vaccination in the context of DNA vaccines because DNA vaccines delivered via the skin generally induce a stronger immune response than vaccines injected into the muscle.

Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez wants to take the edge off traumatic memories by manipulating how they’re processed in the brain. His work explores how optogenetic manipulation in mice can restore memories that were stored incorrectly due to sleep deprivation. 

Biomedical engineer John Rogers is researching nerve manipulation to relieve pain without drugs. Rogers noticed that ‘poor pain management options’ was a major problem affecting society and wondered if his unique materials could offer a solution. By harnessing concepts from air conditioning to ultrasound, scientists hope to provide better solutions for both acute postoperative pain and chronic pain disorders.

CDMO trends

Global Healthcare Opportunities, (GHO Capital Partners LLP), and The Vistria Group, have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Alcami Corporation, a pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), from funds affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP) and Ampersand Capital Partners.

Samsung Biologics CEO, John Rim, says mRNA Vaccine Production and Biosimilars are a top priority. Rim is focused on sustainable growth with their expansion, as well as its recent full acquisition of Samsung Bioepis, a biosimilars company that had previously been operated as a joint venture with Biogen.