The biopharma industry is no stranger to technological innovation. It’s at the very core of the sector, so it’s no surprise that pharmaceuticals are undergoing significant change in today’s rapidly advancing, tech-driven environment. New biopharmaceutical technology is revolutionizing patient care, medical accessibility and more.
By Emily Newton
Pharma manufacturers must stay abreast of these changes to remain competitive and better serve public health. With that in mind, here are five ways technology is reshaping the biopharmaceutical industry.
1. AI Drug Discovery
Artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting many industries today, and the pharma sector is no exception. Automated drug discovery is one of its most promising use cases for biopharma companies.
AI can simulate interactions between different chemicals or genetic materials to highlight potential drug candidates. Moderna used this technology to simulate 1,000 mRNA sequences per month when manual alternatives would’ve only produced 30. This rapid testing is part of what led to the remarkable release timelines of COVID-19 vaccines.
In addition to being fast, AI is often more accurate than humans at spotting trends in data. Consequently, AI-assisted drug discovery may lead to more effective medicines. This combination of efficacy and short R&D periods has massive marketability potential for pharma producers.
2. Gene Editing Possibilities
New biopharmaceutical technology also opens new opportunities in gene editing. While techniques like CRISPR have been around for decades, they’ve only recently received approval for use in human patients. Genome editing technology can also help craft more effective pharmaceutical products.
Genetic engineering lets pharma companies hone in on natural materials’ pharmaceutical benefits to synthesize new, more targeted and effective remedies. This process typically involves long, complex R&D, but AI can accelerate it by simulating possible solutions and outcomes.
Gene editing becomes increasingly valuable as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) become increasingly difficult and costly to source. Genetic engineering could help derive treatments from more widely available resources to lower drug production costs and enable faster expansion.
3. Streamlined Biopharma Manufacturing
Cutting-edge technology has promising applications on the manufacturing side of the biopharma industry. Recent innovations focus on enabling faster production timelines without sacrificing quality or safety. In addition to lowering manufacturing costs, these improvements make drugs more accessible to the public.
Pharma manufacturers can use acoustic resonance mixing to combine materials in a few minutes when conventional methods would take hours. Newer perfusion techniques and equipment overcome reliability issues to enable continuous bioprocessing. Using this technology instead of batch processing can dramatically lower lead times and related costs.
More generalized manufacturing technology can also help. Digital twins provide virtual recreations of production lines. AI can then analyze them to highlight inefficiencies and suggest workflow changes for continuous improvement. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors can provide timely warnings of equipment failures and other disruptions to minimize downtime.
4. Personalized Medicine
As in many other industries, new tech is pushing biopharmaceuticals toward personalization. Medical organizations can now tailor treatments to the individual for better health outcomes with fewer side effects.
Personalized pharmaceuticals are only possible with rapid manufacturing processes. Biological 3D printing, AI discovery and extensive automation make this efficiency possible. Modular manufacturing equipment and collaborative robots (cobots) help further by improving flexibility and enabling quick changeovers to meet different needs.
This level of personalization also relies on machine learning. Predictive AI models make it possible by analyzing patients’ medical history to predict how they’ll respond to different treatments. Medical professionals can then find the best course of action faster.
5. Sustainable Biopharmaceuticals
Biopharmaceutical technology can also help the sector become more sustainable. The pharmaceutical industry’s high energy consumption and reliance on difficult-to-obtain materials for APIs significantly contribute to climate change. Thankfully, technology provides a solution.
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar can lead to a 45% reduction in carbon emissions in drug manufacturing workflows. As this technology improves, renewables will become increasingly reliable and commercially viable. Similarly, large-scale electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common, helping pharma companies reduce their supply chain emissions.
Pharma-specific technologies can also help. AI drug discovery can help craft climate-friendly treatments by looking for alternatives with more naturally abundant APIs. Newer synthetic chemistry equipment can synthesize APIs with less waste, further reducing the sector’s energy and resource consumption.
Biopharmaceutical Technology Is Reshaping the Sector
In most industries, technological innovation boosts efficiency and reduces costs. In the biopharmaceutical sector, it can save lives. Pharma companies can also reap the same monetary benefits from tech adoption, but their unique role makes innovation imperative. Embracing advancements isn’t just good for business but essential for people’s health.
These five use cases for biopharmaceutical technology are just a sample of how new tech can reshape the industry. As more organizations embrace this change, the sector will become faster and more sustainable, flexible and effective at treating unique needs. These improvements will have significant ripple effects worldwide. It all starts with learning what new technology can do.
Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)
Pharmaceutical modeling and simulation play a crucial role in drug development, offering a cost-effective and efficient approach to understanding the complex interactions between drugs and biological systems.
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