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The BioEconomy By Dr J R Webster Executive Director: AfricaBio. The BioEconomy. Global biotechnology dynamics. Status in Africa. Where are we in South Africa? Will we have a BioEconomy?. CURRENT TRENDS IN THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY. the biotechnology century. Current trends.
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The BioEconomy By Dr J R Webster Executive Director: AfricaBio
The BioEconomy • Global biotechnology dynamics. • Status in Africa. • Where are we in South Africa? • Will we have a BioEconomy?
CURRENT TRENDS IN THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY the biotechnology century Current trends • In 2000,biotech companies raised US$37.2 billion through public and private financing, US $10 billion in 2001 • The completion of the “rough” draft of the sequence of the human genome signals a new era in the biotech industry. • This means that the biotech industry has its best years ahead of it. • 4,254 biotech companies globally in 25 nations
CONTINUATION OF CURRENT TRENDS IN THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY • Biotech companies develop more than half of the approved medicines in the US • Biotech companies fall into one of two categories: • Product development e.g. Genetech, MedImmune, Qiagen • Service Companies e.g. Celera,Incyte,Evotec
Current Trends contd. • 622 public biotech companies generated $35 billion • Spent $16 billion in R&D • Employed 188,000 in 2001 • 72% of revenues generated by US companies
Biotechnology companies are currently listed on the: • Neuer Market • EASDAQ • Swiss New Market • NASDAQ
Alliances • Pharmaceutical industry has recognised the value delivered by biotechnology to the drug development process. • Biotech-pharma alliances for drug discovery have been increasing steadily from 101 alliances between 1988 to1993 to 145 alliances in 1997 and 1998 alone. More than 480 pharm – biotech collaborations and 550 biotech – biotech partnerships globally in 2001. • Alliances in other areas – drug delivery, vaccines etc have been increasing at a similar rate.
Measurements of Success in Biotechnology • Financial- What happened to the Nasdaq Biotech Index • The Nasdaq represents the most actively traded biotech stocks. The index is a capitalisation-weighted index. • The Nasdaq Biotech index(NBI) has increased 437% since its inception on Nov. 1 1993. • In 2000, The NBI increased 23% out-performing all other Nasdaq indices.
Biotech Product development(drug development) • Matured since 1982 when r-insulin was developed. • Now over 120 approved biotech drugs available. • Now over 300 in last phase of clinical development in the USA alone. • Biotech products now account for half of all newly approved medicines in the USA- this will increase. • Companies not using biotech will pay double the costs to produce a new medicine.
What will increase biotech product development? • Genomics • Currently 500 disease targets are used to develop new medicines. • In 5-10 years genomics will deliver 5,000-10,000 disease targets
g g c c g g g g g c g c g g g c g g g c t c g g c Advanced Genomics Will Accelerate Discovery of Next Generation Products Genome Gene map Gene sequence Gene expression Ag traits Pharma traits c Yield t Alzheimers Drought Breast Cancer a t t Disease Arthritis Stress t t t Stress a a t t Stress CV Disease a a t Aging Oil quality a a t t t Disease Obesity Vision Yield Aging Maturity a t t Arthritis Herbicide tolerance • Solving unmet needs in human health and food production
How does policy affect biotech business and policy development? • Key growth factor in USA pharmaceutical industry has been the Orphan Drug Act 1983. • To overcome lack of investment into drugs to treat small numbers of patients- US granted 7yr exclusivity and other incentives to companies for orphan drugs. • Now 900 orphan drugs developed with 200 approved. • Biotech companies file 85% of applications for new orphan drugs. • This approach has now been adopted in the EU.
Predictions • 2010: Predictions tests for 25 genetic conditions will be possible along with interventions to reduce risk of their onset • 2020: Designer drugs for diabetes, hypertension, cancer and other major illnesses will be developed and prescribed for patients based on genetic profile, making medicines more effective • 2030: Genes involved in ageing will be fully characterised and clinical trials of drugs to extend normal human life will be underway • 2040: Comprehensive genomics-based health care will be the norm
NOVEL APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECH • Spider silk-harvested from protein in goats milk (bullet proof vest, medical applications) • Plants as factories for pharmaceuticals and industrial products, (biopolymers, new oils or fibres) as biosensors, salt tolerant crops (grow in sea water) virtual plants • Flowers with different patterns, miniturized and longer shelf life
WHAT ABOUT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES? • Technology divide will continue unless governments invest (see World Bank-Health Genomics Divide report) • New African Initiative could be extended to genomics • Cuba has 400 biotech patents (exporting biotech vaccines) • Brazil has rapidly developing genomics and biotech industry • India increasing investment in genomics and biotech ($85 million on genomics in next 5 years) • Nigeria and South Africa investing
GM Crops World-wide • Over 30 GM Crops. • Including the following: maize, wheat, soya beans, papaya, raspberries, tomatoes, canola, potatoes, peppers, cabbage, cucumber, squash, cotton, grapes, carrots and chicory. • Trees, turf, flowers
GLOBAL AREA OF GM CROPS 30 FOLD INCREASE SINCE 1996 Source: Clive James, ISAAA
Where are we with GM crops world wide? • GM crop planting globally increased by 11% in 2000 and >10% in 2001. It has slowed down due to slow development of new markets and lack of products with consumer benefit • More developing countries are commericalising and investing in crop biotech • China wants to be the Asian centre of excellence • Between 1997 and 1999 China approved 26 applications for commercialisation of GMOs, 59 for environmental releases and 73 for field trials
Status of R&D in sub-Saharan Africa • Primarily second generation biotechnology e.g. plant tissue culture (Ghana: cassava, yam, pineapple, cocoa,banana,etc; Nigeria:cassava,yam,banana,cowpea etc). • Genetic engineering projects aimed at pest and disease resistant crops. • Crops include: sweet potato, banana, sugar cane, cassava, sorghum and maize. • Other projects include development of molecular markers and probes.
Field Trials in Africa-What’s the Reality? • Virus resistant sweet potato in Kenya, expect insect resistant maize soon and possibly fungal resistant banana. • Being or to be tested in Egypt is GM squash, melon, cantalope, tomato, potato, sugarcane, maize, cucumber and wheat. • Insect resistant cotton in Zimbabwe. • Few GM crop field trials in Africa and South Africa is the only country with commercial GM crop but GM commodities are ready for export to Africa.
Status of Biotechnology in South Africa* • Over 500 biotechnology projects spread over seven sectors. • Medical and pharmaceutical sector attracts the most funding; plant sector second largest. • Few local products are developed, imported technology is driving commercialisation & industrial growth. • Half biotechnology funding is spent on genetic modification projects. • Consumer awareness is critical. *Taken from report for CSIR 1998 (Webster & Koch)
South Africa as a Case Study • R&D for 20 years • Plant trials for 10 years (using existing policy) • New GMO policy implemented in *1999 • Only 4 commercial approvals by end 2001 • About 110 plant biotech groups (academic and research) • Over 160 plant biotech projects • About 45 companies using biotechnology in food, feed and fibre • Public not informed; Anti-activists making an impact
Changes in SA status • National Strategy • Labeling Legislation • Venture capital • Bioincubator • Consumer perceptions
Successful Application of Biotech provides positive perceptions
Change in Approach of EU • Purvis report has a lot of support • Want to be the knowledge based center of excellence and highlighted biotechnology • Purvis report opposes that medical biotech provides opportunity and agbiotech provides risks • Regrets moratorium for GM which was not based on scientific evidence • EU has not licensed new GM crops since Oct. 1998 • New regulations mean lifting of moratorium,GM crops will be planted in spring 2002 in Europe
Future prospects in EU • New biotech strategy for EU is being developed- AfricaBio had input into this in Sept 2001 • Commercialization of GM crops will proceed but will be slow • Different approach to public awareness-statements by EU e.g 15yrs of GM safety research has been carried out with 81 projects and 400 teams from different disciplines-GM crops just as safe as conventional foods
What lies ahead for biotech companies? • Biotech business still at the beginning of the growth phase • Biotech is still seen as high risk • Estimate that success rate for biotech business is 13% • Biotech companies founded in the next 5 yrs have a chance to do as well or better than their predecessors • Biotech acquisitions will continue • Partnering was Pharm/Biotech will be more Biotech/Biotech
What is the Bio-Based Economy? Fossil C energy Product Non-renewable resources Conventional Process Waste Landfill or incinerate Renewable energy Bio-product Renewable bio-resource Bio-Based Bio-process Byproduct Recycle into bio-resource Dr. J.F.Jaworski
Role of Biotechnology in the Bio-Based Economy(OECD) • One of several key enabling technologies • Biotechnology is converging with info-technology, chemistry, physics, materials and nano-technology • Bioprocesses: biotech can increase eco-efficiency • Bio-resources: biotech can increase productivity & sustainability of supply • GMOs: essential to maximize efficiency & productivity to achieve sustainability; BUT this has to be proven Dr. J.F.Jaworski
Messages to business from OECD study on the application of biotechnology to industrial sustainability • Why adopt biotechnology? To improve costs and be environmentally friendly • Be aware of change, find yourself an R & D partner • Have a champion, assemble arguments to convince doubters • Build your own in–house biotech skill base • Companies – work with government and biotech stakeholders Dr. M. Griffiths
What should the pharmaceutical industry do? • Develop a clear understanding of the role of biotech in medical & pharmaceutical sectors. • Develop clear messages/statements about modern biotechnology • Inform your clients and stakeholders on biotechnology • Work with AfricaBio