According to a recent report by ResearchAndMarkets, the global biologics contract manufacturing market (also known as the biopharmaceutical CMO market) was valued at over $19 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~9% between 2023 and 2035 to $55.97 billion.
 
Drawing insights from various parameters, anticipated adoption trends, and validated through primary research, the report aims to offer an informed estimate of the market’s evolution throughout the forecast period from 2023 to 2035.

Growing Demand for Biologics

Biologics are highly sought after in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors because they offer targeted treatment with fewer side effects compared to conventional drugs.
 
Furthermore, the report claims that novel modalities like recombinant proteins, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies are gaining traction, positioning biologics to surpass small molecules in revenue.
 
Meanwhile, single-use technologies have revolutionized biopharmaceutical manufacturing, facilitating rapid process development, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
However, the complexity of biologics, as well as the integration of emerging technologies, offer challenges for current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) for biologics.

Challenges

Some of the key concerns of contemporary innovators include rate of attrition of pipeline drugs/therapies, long development timelines, current facility limitations, regulatory and compliance-related issues, and inconsistencies related to the quality attributes of the final product.
 
As a result, an increasing number of biopharmaceutical drug developers are relying on contract manufacturers that are well-equipped with expertise and advanced technologies for their GMP-based manufacturing requirements.
 
These service providers offer end-to-end solutions, including bioprocess development and optimization, to shorten operational timelines and reduce the high costs associated with the production of complex biologic drugs.
 
In addition, there are some manufacturers that particularly outsource various operations to tap into sophisticated facilities and know-how, particularly if contract manufacturing firms are utilizing cutting-edge technologies, such as software-driven robotics, to enhance manufacturing processes and mitigate the risks and constraints associated with manual methods.
 
With outsourcing becoming increasingly accepted as a viable and beneficial business model within this field, the global market for biologics contract manufacturing is expected to witness remarkable growth during the forecast period.