North America Viral Vector And Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market forecast

Breakthrough in Viral Vector Manufacturing for Gene Therapy and Vaccines

Viruses used in gene therapies and vaccines are breakthroughs in accelerating the manufacturing process. Innovation in these will help solve the capacity crunch for viral vectors, which are a vital part of manufacturing many advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and some pipeline Covid-19 vaccines. The North American viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing market is expected to expand at a sluggish CAGR of XX% during the forecast period (2022-2029). The significant incentives on offer through the Orphan Drugs Act (United States) have encouraged pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to consider the development of rare disease medicines as a potentially-profitable venture. 

The rising number of gene therapy patients is expected to drive the market growth 

An increasing number of patients opting for gene therapy to treat diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes, hemophilia, and AIDS is one of the major factors driving the growth of the market over the forecast period. The demand for plasmid DNA is growing owing to the increase in gene therapy development. Plasmid DNA is a prerequisite for producing AAV (adeno-associated virus), lentivirus, and other viral vector platforms. Adeno-associated AAV2 vectors carrying the therapeutic gene (RPE65) intra-retinal injection help in improving the vision of individuals suffering from Liber's Congenital Amaurosis. Gene therapy with viral vectors provides a complete cure to patients affected with genetic disorders and other life-threatening disorders, rather than easing symptoms with other treatments. The successful launch of viral vector gene therapies and a robust pipeline of such therapies are the key factors contributing to the growth of the global viral vector manufacturing market.

Increasing collaboration among companies and organizations for the development of viral vectors 

There is an increase in collaborations among companies and several organizations, research institutes, and non-profit organizations to develop and produce viral vectors and plasmid DNA. For instance, in May 2020, Dyno Therapeutics, a United States-based biotechnology company applying artificial intelligence (AI) to gene therapy, collaborated with Novartis to develop improved Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors for research, development, and commercialization of gene therapies for ocular diseases. The partnership will allow the parties to utilize Dyno's CapsidMap artificial intelligence platform along with Novartis's expertise in gene therapy development and global commercialization to deliver innovative gene therapies to patients with serious diseases of the eye. 

Many companies have been expanding their facilities and investing a significant amount of capital in the region. For instance, in April 2020, Merck KgaA and its subsidiary MilliporeSigma planned to spend USD 110 million to open a second viral vector facility at its Carlsbad, California facility. The projected expansion was expected to double the company’s gene therapy manufacturing capacity.

In June 2020, Aldevron collaborated with Ziopharm Oncology to help produce plasmid DNA for T cell therapy of solid tumors.

 

DataM Intelligence - There is an increasing number of clinical studies conducted on viral vector manufacturing, emphasizing the potential of gene therapy to address important medical needs. Major pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have developed COVID-19 viral vector-based vaccine in December 2020 and February 2021, respectively. Apart from these companies, several viral vector-based vaccines are currently in the development phase. This has accelerated the demand for viral vectors, thereby increasing revenue for viral vector manufacturers.