Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Commentary
  • Published:

Benchmarking biotech and pharmaceutical product development

Nature Biotechnology volume 32, pages 621–625 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

The biotech sector's record in originating high-priority medicines exceeds that of the pharmaceutical industry, its costs are lower and its products have comparable revenues.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. US Food and Drug Administration. Manual of Policies and Procedures. Review Designation Policy; Priority and Standard http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/ OfficeofMedicalProductsandTobacco/CDER/ManualofPoliciesProcedures/ucm082000.pdf (FDA, Washington, DC, 2013).

  2. US Congressional Budget Office. Research and Development within the Pharmaceutical Industry http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/ftpdocs/76xx/doc7615/10–02-drugr-d.pdf (CBO, Washington, DC, 2006).

  3. US Food and Drug Administration. Guidance for Industry, Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions– Drugs and Biologics http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM358301.pdf (FDA, Washington, DC, 2014).

  4. Trusheim, M. Aitken, M.L. & Berndt, E.R. Characterizing Markets for Biopharmaceutical Innovations: Do Biologics Differ from Small Molecules? NBER Working Papers 01/2010 (National Bureau of Economic Research, Washington, DC, 2010).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Ernst & Young. Beyond Borders: Matter of Evidence http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Beyond_borders/$FILE/Beyond_borders.pdf (E&Y, London, 2013).

  6. Kneller, R. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 9, 867–882 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Munos, B. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 8, 959–968 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ernst & Young. Beyond Borders. Global Biotechnology Industry Report (E&Y, London, 2013).

  9. Editors. Top 500 prescription drugs. PharmaLive, 5–14 (UBM Canon, Los Angeles, California, 2005).

  10. Editors. Top 500 prescription medicines. PharmaLive, 5–17 (UBM Canon, Los Angeles, California, 2006).

  11. Editors. Top 500 prescription medicines. PharmaLive, 5–16 (UBM Canon, Los Angeles, California, 2007).

  12. Editors. Top 500 prescription medicines. PharmaLive, 5–27 (UBM Canon, Los Angeles, California, 2008).

  13. Editors. Top 500 prescription medicines. PharmaLive, 5–40 (UBM Canon, Los Angeles, California, 2010).

  14. Editors. Top 500 prescription medicines. PharmaLive, 6–40 (UBM Canon, Los Angeles, California, 2011).

  15. Sellers, L.J. Top 50 Pharmaceutical Companies of 1999. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 63–76 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2000).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Brichacek, A. Top 50 Pharmaceutical Companies of 2000. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2001), 63–82.

  17. Sellers, L.J., Feighan, C. & Kelley, G. Top 50 Pharmaceutical Companies of 2001. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 61–80 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Sellers, L.J. Fourth Annual Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 43–52 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2003).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sellers, L.J. Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 61–70 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2004).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pharm Exec Staff. Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 85–95 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2005).

  21. Pharm Exec Staff. Our 7th annual report on the world's top 50 pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 80–88 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2006).

  22. Pharm Exec Staff. Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 100–110 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2007).

  23. Pharm Exec Staff. Pharm Exec Top 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 75–84 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2008).

  24. Pharm Exec Staff. The Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 69–78 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2009).

  25. Clinton, P. and Mozeson, M. Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 70–80 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2010).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Cacciotti, J. and Clinton, P. Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 42–56 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2011).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Clinton, P. and Cacciotti, J. Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 26–32 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2012).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Noor, W. and Kleinrock, M. Pharm Exec 50. Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, 20–29 (Advanstar Communications, New York, NY, 2013).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Donald L. Drakeman is at the University of Cambridge Centre for Health Leadership & Enterprise, Judge Business School, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, UK, and Advent Venture Partners in London, UK.,

    Donald L Drakeman

Authors
  1. Donald L Drakeman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donald L Drakeman.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author has financial interests in numerous biotechnology companies.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Drakeman, D. Benchmarking biotech and pharmaceutical product development. Nat Biotechnol 32, 621–625 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.2947

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.2947

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research