Is Pharma Building the Right Facilities for Future Biologics?

As biologics portfolios expand and average product volumes fall, Miriam Monge asks whether today’s major manufacturing investments offer the flexibility tomorrow’s market will require

By
Miriam Monge
November 9, 2026
5 min

The Medicine Maker

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Biologics demand is shifting toward smaller volumes: 47% of commercial products require less than 100 kg annually, and the median marketed antibody requires about 48 kg.
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Patent expirations from 2026 to 2029 put about $236 billion in global sales at risk, while biosimilar competition can drive down prices and divide markets among manufacturers.
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Process intensification and single-use systems can support smaller-scale, flexible production; Sartorius estimates they can reduce cleanroom footprint by about 70%.
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Some companies are building continuous or digitally enabled facilities, but major investments in large stainless-steel plants and 20,000-L bioreactors continue.
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The article argues that future biologics facilities should prioritize adaptability through modular single-use infrastructure, intensification, automation, process analytics, and AI-enabled decisions.

Is Pharma Building the Right Facilities for Future Biologics?

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Original Source(s)

Is Pharma Building the Right Facilities for Future Biologics?

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