Cell Culture Market Fueled by Biologics and Stem Cell Research

Cell culture is becoming the next big thing in pharma research, as laboratories rush to meet demand for stem cell and biologics.

A new report published by healthcare market research company GBI Research (New York, NY, USA) examined cell cultures, which entails the isolation of plant or animal cells, for their growth in an artificial environment where conditions such as temperature and pressure are all controlled.

Manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals involves cell culture methods, and the growing trend for biologics will drive the demand for cell culture processing. Biopharmaceuticals are target-specific molecules that are less toxic and more effective than small molecular compounds, and are in high demand for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, and diabetes, attracting the focus of many major pharmaceutical companies.

Because of the novel method of development, biopharmaceutical products are not easy to be synthesized by generic forms. R&D in the sector is principally focused on developing innovative processes of action, and increasing availability to newer treatments to produce potential cures and improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from various disorders. This focus helps in generating better treatment alternatives and earning larger profits for pharmaceutical and biotechnologic companies. The development and manufacturing of these biologic products is directly related to the growing demand for cell culture.

Stem cell research also has tremendous possibilities for cell culture applications. Cell culture techniques offer standardized production and propagation of highly purified stem cells and their differentiated progeny. Traditional therapies manage the disease symptoms, whereas stem cell therapies treat the root of the disorder, and from a commercial standpoint, this lack of effective treatments in established therapies makes stem cell research a potential goldmine. In the past few years, stem cell research has gained more clout in the cancer research arena, although the technique still faces many unresolved risks including the transmission of infectious agents and the uncontrolled proliferation of transplanted cells.

The cell culture market has more than 90% of its products manufactured by a small number of players, including Sigma-Aldrich Corp., EMD Millipore, Life Technologies Corp., and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. A considerable number of small players are also entering into the market, particularly in emerging countries. However, rigid industry regulations restrict the pace at which these companies can advance. The cell culture process requires meticulous handling, with any changes affecting the safety and effectiveness of the final product. Consequently, the processes utilized for cell culturing are constrained by strict controls, which slow down development and act as a bottleneck to progression in cell culture processing techniques.

The global cell culture market was worth USD 3.4 billion in 2011, and it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3% between 2011 and 2018 to reach USD 6.3 billion in 2018.

GBI Research is a provider of business intelligence reports, providing data and forecasts based on the insights of key industry leaders.

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