Biologic therapeutics include viruses, therapeutic serums, toxins, allergenic products, antitoxins, blood or blood components or derivatives, vaccines, and proteins used for the prevention, treatment, or cure of a disease or condition.
Biologics differ from small molecules in molecular weight, structure, synthesis, and immunogenicity. They are generally characterized by a high molecular weight and complex structure, and are usually derived from living entities.
According to a new report from Technavio, the global biologic therapeutics market is expected to post a CAGR of 8.26% from 2014-2019.
Biologic therapeutics market segmentation by molecule
Proteins
Proteins are biological macromolecules composed of amino acid residues. Protein therapeutics are by far the largest segment of the biologic therapeutics market, and are expected to see revenue growth of more than $50 billion by 2019, reaching a market value of $192.67 billion.
Vaccines
Vaccines are composed of weakened form of disease-causing agents. They work by stimulating the host’s immune system to mount a response against these agents.
Market size and forecast
Despite recent (absolutely false) allegations that childhood vaccinations lead to autism (they don’t) and the ensuing (ridiculous) controversy surrounding pediatric vaccinations, the global vaccines market is expected to reach a value of nearly $60 billion by 2019. Part of this growth can be chalked up to serious gains in the pediatric vaccines segment, which is expected to post a CAGR of 10.39% from 2014-2019.
It should be noted that under the US FDA, pediatrics range from birth to 21 years of age, while the European Medicines Agency (EMA) classifies pediatrics from birth to 18 years of age.
Cell therapy
The smallest segment of the biologic therapeutics market—it was only valued at $3.96 billion in 2014—is also one of the most interesting. Cell therapy, including stem cell therapy, involves the administration of live cells into the body and has huge applications in fields like cancer treatment, in utero treatments and regenerative medicine.
The field is still in its early days, but a large number of research dollars are being put towards development in this area, which will lead to big gains over the forecast period. Despite its small revenue in relation to the other segments in the market, the cell therapy market is expected to grow aggressively through 2019, posting a CAGR of 20.04%.
