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.

  • Feature
  • Published:

What's fueling the biotech engine—2009–2010

Last year, the biologics sector managed single-digit growth in the United States, driven mainly by products indicated for oncology, diabetes and autoimmune disorders. Lurking on the horizon, though, are challenges, such as pricing, competition and follow-on molecules.

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

Access options

Buy this article

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

Figure 1: Growth trends in the US biotech market for biologic drugs (2005–2009).
Figure 2: Top companies that comprise the majority of sales of biologic drugs in 2009.
Figure 3: Top nine categories of biologic drugs in terms of US sales in 2009.
Figure 4: Trends in US sales of mAbs.
Figure 5: Trends in US sales of growth factors.
Figure 6: Trends in US sales of recombinant hormones.
Figure 7: US sales of cytokines and therapeutic enzymes ($ billions).
Figure 8: US sales of recombinant vaccines, blood factors and anticoagulants in ($ billions).

References

  1. Aggarwal, S. Nat. Biotechnol. 27, 987–993 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Aggarwal, S. Nat. Biotechnol. 26, 1227–1233 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Aggarwal, S. Nat. Biotechnol. 25, 1097–1104 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Aggarwal, S. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 9, 427–428 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pollack, A. FDA extends Avastin's use to breast cancer. New York Times 23 February 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/business/23drug.html>

    Google Scholar 

  6. Peterson, M. & Doherty, D. Roche may lose $1 billion a year on Avastin change. Bloomberg Businessweek 21 July 2010 <http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010–07–21/roche-may-lose-1-billion-a-year-on-avastinchange.html>

    Google Scholar 

  7. Anonymous. Pink sheet–FDA will revisit appropriate use of PFS endpoints at advisory committee. Friends of Cancer Research Newsletter, 2008 <http://www.focr.org/pink-sheet-fda-will-revisit-appropriate-use-of-pfs-endpoints-at-advisory-committee.html>

  8. Krilov, L.R. et al. Pediatrics 124, 1682–1684 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lowry, F. FDA panel nixes licensing request for motavizumab. Medscape Medical News (2010). <http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/722903>; June 3, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lowy, I. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 362, 197–205 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. FDA approves a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) to ensure the safe use of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs). US Department of Health & Human Services, US Food and Drug Administration 16 February 2010 <http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/CDER/ucm200847.htm>

  12. Unger, E.F., Thompson, A.M., Blank, M.J. & Temple, R. N. Engl. J. Med. 362, 189–192 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. <http://www.cms.gov/ESRDPayment/>

  14. Information for Health care Professionals: Exantide (marketed as Byetta) 8.2008 update <http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm124713.htm>.

  15. Parks, M. & Rosebraugh, C. N. Engl. J. Med. 362, 774–777 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Genovese, M.C. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 353, 1114–1123 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Vincenti, F. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 353, 770–781 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Cohen, J.A. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 362, 402–415 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. McHutchison, J.G. et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 1827–1838 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Anonymous. In pivotal phase 3 studies, Merck's investigational medicine boceprevir helped majority of patients with chronic Hepatitis C genotype 1 infection achieve sustained virologic response, the primary endpoint of the studies. Merck Newsroom 4 August 2010 <http://www.merck.com/newsroom/news-release-archive/research-and-development/2010_0804.html>

  21. Colvin, H.C. & Mitchell, A.E. (eds.) Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C (The National Academies Press, 2010).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kim, J.J. & Goldie, S.J. BMJ 339, b3884 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Peres, J. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 102, 838–840 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kelley, R.K. & Venook, A.P. N. Engl. J. Med. 363, 596–598 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saurabh Aggarwal.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author declares no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aggarwal, S. What's fueling the biotech engine—2009–2010. Nat Biotechnol 28, 1165–1171 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1110-1165

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1110-1165

This article is cited by

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