Biologics Production Growing

Nov. 5, 2012
The biggest challenge life sciences—which includes biologics, biotechnology and, generally, large-molecule therapeutics—faces now includes rapid growth, exclusivity around products and the ability to command much more substantial margins, says Jamie Hintlian, vice president for pharmaceuticals at Aspen Technology Inc. (www.aspentech.com), Burlington, Mass.

“With biologics, research and development (R&D) and production has never been greater,” Hintlian says. Overall, “biologics are facing tremendous growth,” he adds.

Strategically, biologics make a lot of sense, Hintlian believes. “Some of the newest and most important remedies are biologics-based; for example, in oncology.” The goal of such biologics-based cancer-treatment medicines, he notes, is to maintain and extend human life.

Tbo-filgrastim is one such example of a recently U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved biologic used in treating cancer. Manufactured by Vilnius, Lithuania-based Sicor Biotech UAB—part of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd., Petah Tikva, Israel—the biologic received FDA approval at the end of August.

According to Teva, tbo-filgrastim represents the first new granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to be approved in the U.S. in more than 10 years. The medicine reduces the duration of severe neutropenia in patients with certain types of cancer (non-myeloid malignancies) who receive chemotherapy that affects the bone marrow, Teva says. The American Cancer Society says non-myeloid cancers include all types of carcinoma, all types of sarcoma, melanoma, lymphomas, lymphocytic leukemias and multiple myeloma.

The FDA explains that severe neutropenia is a decrease in infection-fighting white blood cells called neutrophils. That decrease leaves patients more susceptible to potentially life-threatening bacterial infections, Teva adds.

C. Kenna Amos, [email protected], is an Automation World Contributing Editor. 

Companies in this Article

Sponsored Recommendations

1 Pole B-Trip DLS8 Series: Manual Motor Controller

Tailored to meet various requirements, this series offers B Trip Characteristics for two distinct rated current ranges - 1A to 10A and 13A to 60A. This ensures reliable and customized...

Versatile 2-Pole Solution for Precise Automation

Altech Corp proudly presents the 2 Pole B-Trip DLS8 Series - UL508 Manual Motor Controller, a robust and reliable solution for precise motor control in your automation and control...

Advanced 4 Pole B-Trip Manual Motor Controller by Altech Corp

Discover superior motor control with the DLS8 Series - UL508 Manual Motor Controller, now available in a 4 Pole B-Trip configuration. As your trusted source for automation and...

Reliable and Efficient 1 Pole B-Trip Supplementary Protector by Altech Corp

Introducing the cutting-edge DLS7 Series - UL1077 Supplementary Protector with B Trip Characteristics, engineered for precise protection in diverse industrial applications. Altech...