Pharmaceuticals: Going large

UK Only Article:  standard article Issue:  Workers on tap Fly Title:  Pharmaceuticals Rubric:  A wave of new medicines known as biologics will be good for drugmakers, but may not be so good for health budgets Location:  CHICAGO Main image:  20150103_WBD001_0.jpg IN PHARMACEUTICALS, the 20th century was the era of the small molecule. The industry thrived by identifying a steady stream of relatively simple compounds that treated lots of people, patenting them and making a fortune. In the early 21st century it has become harder for drugmakers to find new cures quickly enough to replace those on which the patents are expiring. Many drugmakers, both established ones and startups, have sought salvation in biotechnology—the adaptation or exploitation of processes found inside living organisms. As in other areas of drug research, there have been setbacks as well as successes. But steady progress is being made in creating “biologics”, drugs ...
Source: Biotechnology - Category: Biotechnology Source Type: news