Therapeutic proteins are a growth area offering promise of countering diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, but protein drug formulation is challenging due to their structural complexity and instability. Susan Birks highlights some recent advances in this field.
The therapeutic proteins market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% between 2010 and 2017, to reach US$141.5bn in 2017, according to market research company GBI Research.1 There are currently hundreds of such proteins under development and many of the major pharmaceutical companies, such as Roche, Amgen and Johnson & Johnson, are expanding into this market. However, despite the progress made in this field over the past decade, overcoming some of the complexities surrounding protein therapies is still a challenge and a major area for research.
Scientists have long sought methods for designing antibodies to combat specific ailments. But the complexity of designing antibodies that attach only to a target molecule of interest has so far prevented them from realising this goal. Some researchers claim to have made advances recently, however, which could help to bring new, more effective therapies to market.
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