Biologics are set to overtake small molecules when it comes to sales revenue, according to GlobalData. Describing them as “primary engines of value creation”, Quentin Horgan, Managing Analyst for the Drugs Database at the leading data and analytics company, expects that the trend of biologics use will continue, and the drug type will come to dominate the sales of both large-cap and mega-cap bio/pharma companies.

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Future of Pharma—Looking Ahead to 2022’, biologics are forecast to significantly overtake innovative small molecules by sales over the next five years, with biologics forecast to have $120 billion greater sales than small molecules by 2027.

Horgan comments: “This huge sales growth emphasizes a continuing trend towards the dominance of biologics. The whole sector is pivoting towards them, including new drug approvals and manufacturing. Nearly all biologics subtypes tracked by GlobalData are expected to grow significantly in sales revenue and will account for 55% of all innovative drug sales by 2027.”

Biologics sales are currently driven by monoclonal antibodies such as Opdivo by Ono Pharmaceuticals, Dupixent by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Keytruda by Merck, which are forecast to account for 46% in 2027.

Horgan continues: “Monoclonal antibodies will dominate biologics sales in 2027. Keytruda alone, which is marketed for oncology indications such as non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma, is forecast to make up 4% of all biologics sales in 2027.”

While monoclonal antibodies will dominate, gene therapies and gene-modified cell therapies will display the greatest growth, with a forecast increase of over 1,000% for both molecule types between 2022 and 2027.

Horgan continues: “Unlike monoclonal antibodies, gene therapy sales are being driven by currently unapproved pipeline therapies such as RPA-501 by Rocket Pharmaceuticals, which is currently only in Phase I.”

Information for this press release was taken from GlobalData’s report, ‘Future of Pharma—Looking Ahead to 2022’, and webinar ‘Trends in New Drug Approvals and Manufacturing’.