LONDON (October 18, 2004) – With expansion of biopharmaceuticals expected to be driven by reduced efficacy of existing drugs and a lack of treatments for new diseases, an international market consultancy has called for increased emphasis on downstream processing.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, “World Strategic Analysis of Downstream Processing in Biopharmaceuticals Production,” shows that the contract manufacturing revenue in this market totaled US $3.8 billion in 2004 and is projected to reach $9.2 billion in 2010.

Downstream processing has been a long-standing time-scale and technology bottleneck in an otherwise efficient manufacturing process, the consultants said.

Limited investment and lack of innovation in downstream processing accounts for 40 per cent of biopharmaceutical production expenses and result in costly delays, Frost & Sullivan said.

The group claims that historically there has been a lack of interest in downstream processing in comparison to upstream technologies. However, they add that these issues are now being addressed through the development of innovative technologies by new investors and the existing multinationals.

“Trends include a move toward high-throughput membrane chromatographysystems and the provision of integrated technology solutions,” says Frost &Sullivan research analyst Phil Webster. “Participants are investing inincreased volumetric throughput of apparatus and automated systems toincrease production efficiency.”

The cost of installing or developing in-house downstream systems andstaying abreast of technology developments is encouraging drug discoveryfirms to outsource different stages of manufacturing of their procedures, according to Frost & Sullivan. As a result, contract manufacturing organizations are gaining prominence.

Another market driver is the growing competition for benchmark apparatusand consumables in the biopharmaceuticals market. This is compellingcompanies to develop original technologies to out-perform existingsystems.