Biopharmaceutical Fill-and-Finish Contract Manufacturing Study Shows Market Growth and New Opportunities

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The market for biopharmaceutical contract fill-and-finish services reached $1.2 billion in 2012, an increase of 33% over the past two years. This growth results from the underlying growth in the biopharmaceutical market, expansion of services offered by fill-and-finish contract manufacturing organizations and the greater use of contract manufacturing organizations by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Contract manufacturing organizations with traditional aseptic, small-molecule filling capacity have expanded their capabilities to meet the unique filling challenges of temperature sensitive and fragile protein drugs. The biotechnology industry continues to use fill-and-finish contract manufacturers to provide expertise, filling capacity and lyophilization as they focus on drug development and API manufacturing.

“Biopharmaceutical products are becoming increasingly complex requiring special technologies and handling. Capacity utilization rates at contract manufacturing organizations have improved somewhat from two years ago”

HighTech Business Decisions recently published the results of its findings in “Biopharmaceutical Contract Fill-and-Finish: Best Practices Study 2013.” The long-term prospects for biopharmaceutical fill-and-finish contractors remain strong with growth opportunities in new presentations that offer improved convenience for both patients and healthcare providers. Other growth opportunities include new services associated with special handling of niche products and smaller dosage volumes. As a result of these growth opportunities, this study shows the worldwide market for biopharmaceutical fill-and-finish contract manufacturing will continue to expand through 2017, reaching $1.6 billion.

“Biopharmaceutical products are becoming increasingly complex requiring special technologies and handling. Capacity utilization rates at contract manufacturing organizations have improved somewhat from two years ago,” said William Downey, president of HighTech Business Decisions. “The investment in new fill capacity by contract manufacturing organizations will be modest over the coming years; thereby keeping industry utilization rates stable. New opportunities exist as the industry evolves to be more flexible with broader offerings and increased capabilities.”

The findings and analysis are in this 660-page industry report with over 200 summary data tables and charts gathered from extensive interviews and surveys with manufacturing directors of biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and fill-and-finish contract manufacturing organizations. This report provides an in-depth look at the factors affecting the industry, including current industry practices, manufacturing technologies, outsourcing plans, capacity and demand, pricing policies and practices, prices paid and charged, market size, and industry trends.