Opportunities in the Pharma Sector
17 JUN, 2024
The pharmaceutical industry offers possibilities beyond anti-obesity drugs. Innovation and development in the pharmaceutical sector could drive the discovery and development of new drugs and therapies with global applications. Capital Group takes a look at where the industry stands and what opportunities exist.
Health innovation is driving advances beyond anti-obesity drugs
While anti-obesity drugs have garnered most of the attention, we are now in a golden age of innovation across the healthcare landscape. Companies are searching for therapies and technologies to treat (and possibly cure) major diseases and improve people's lives.
One of the most rapidly advancing fields is cell therapy, which involves modifying cells outside the body and then introducing them into patients' bodies. This approach has begun to be used for certain blood cancers that previously offered few treatment options. Companies are developing cell therapies for diabetes, liver disease and heart failure.
New gene therapies also offer opportunities for many pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, for example, is a pioneer in gene "silencing" techniques such as RNAi, which can selectively knock out genes associated with certain diseases. On the other hand, the advance of gene editing systems, such as CRISPR, is of particular interest. Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals achieved an important milestone by becoming the first company to receive approval for a CRISPR-based therapy for the treatment of sickle cell disease.
Strong product range could lead to a new era of drug discovery
World's leading pharmaceutical companies by number of R&D pipeline drugs
Widespread adoption of these technologies will still face significant hurdles, and not all innovations will be successful. But the future of the healthcare sector is exciting, and the potential for value creation over the next ten years looks very promising indeed.
