Bioproduction has taken a remarkable journey over the last several decades. In recent years, the demand for specific and powerful biologic therapies has continued to increase, underpinned by the ongoing development of monoclonal antibodies therapies (mAbs) and augmented by new platforms such as Cell and Gene Therapy and also nucleic acid drugs and vaccines. The market continues to grow rapidly, and rising demand for treatments and therapies also reflects how biologics are expanding into new therapeutic areas, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. This demand is being sustained by global and growing geographic reach, label extensions, and the development of biosimilars.
Developments in molecular biology and clinical insight have also required emerging modalities, such as cell and gene therapies, nucleic acid–based medicines, and new workflows in engineered vaccines such as mRNA technology. In this new era of precision medicine, cell and gene therapies will continue to provide novel ways to address chronic conditions and diseases. Most recently, the importance of agile systems in bioproduction like single-use technologies as well as the need for high quality raw materials have been required to support solutions to the diseases of the future. These advancements are byproducts of a scientific renaissance that has developed a steady pipeline of new breakthroughs and innovations.
In today’s environment, we know COVID-19 is still impacting the biopharma industry now and into the future. The effect of raw materials shortages and constrained logistics assets has opened the eyes of all involved, and improvements will require even stronger relationships between bio manufacturers and their suppliers to develop solutions together and assure business continuity through improvements in supply chains. There is no stronger environment for these kinds of collaborations to flourish than in New Jersey. And as the scientific community looks ahead to a future that will bring not only more treatments but also more challenges and more requirements for novel solutions, biomanufacturers and suppliers will need to continue to work in continued collaboration. Biomanufacturers obtain better yields, get better development results and increase the speed to market when they work with suppliers who understand their goals and are creative and innovative in their approach. Science is counting on companies in New Jersey to work together – so are the patients we all ultimately serve.
Dr. Ger Brophy is Avantor’s Executive Vice President of Biopharma Production. He leads the growth and development of Avantor’s Biopharma Production business to support the current and future needs of biopharma customers. Before Avantor, Dr. Brophy held various R&D, strategy, and business development positions with GE Healthcare Life Sciences, GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics and Amersham and has his doctorate in molecular biology from Dublin City University in Ireland.
