53 TWENTYFOURSEVENBIOPHARMA Issue 2 / June 2025 THERMO FISHER recently resumed) conferences of 2022, for instance, couldn’t get away from discussions of mRNA vaccines or the disruptions to the just-intime supply chain model. This year, the potential applications of GLP-1s, given the blockbuster success of products like Ozempic and Wegovy, was one such topic. “We continue to monitor GLP-1s. How is the market looking at large molecules and their applications into a variety of different indications beyond diabetes and obesity, like metabolic and neurological indications?” says Kane. “These are the areas which every publication and conference is talking about, and that’s of interest to the pharma industry — what is going to be the future in terms of molecules, the therapy, and how the patients benefit?” While Kane noted that GLP-1s, like any promising therapeutic, are on Thermo Fisher’s radar, it’s important not to lose focus of the broader picture. For instance, while GLP-1s have received an abundance of interest, other peptides outside of the diabetes-obesity market have shown promising results in fields as diverse as cancer, Crohn’s disease, and IBS, all of which are currently in publicly documented clinical trials. And, in that vein, our conversation pivoted to the ever-increasing emphasis on speed in the biopharma industry. “What’s fascinating about the biopharma industry is the application of science into bringing effective medicines to market faster, and these could certainly be targeted toward a specific condition, using a variety of different techniques and technologies,” says Kane. “How can the industry develop these medicines faster, get to clinical proof of efficacy faster, and bring treatments to patients faster?” However, the need for speed does bring its challenges. Kane pointed out that, traditionally, it would take an average 15-to-17 years for molecules to move from concept to approval. Shortened timelines place a premium on speed and efficiency, and these demands factor into the calculations of companies operating in the hotly contested CDMO space. And, for Thermo specifically, Kane believes that expertise is critical to their existing and continued success. “I think balancing the risks versus benefits is key,” says Kane. “At Thermo Fisher, when we speak about expertise, we’re talking about experts in drug substance, drug product, and clinical trials and everything else. How can we leverage that expertise? What are the risk mitigation strategies? How can we tackle certain steps with an agreement on risk-taking abilities while data is being generated? Can we speed up certain activities to shorten those timelines by not compromising quality? That is key.” Thermo Fisher spent approximately $25 billion to acquire the assets needed to begin developing the suite that, today, is Accelerator™ Drug Development, which certainly speaks to the premium the company places on efficiency-driven innovation. However, Kane says that the company must continue on this track. “We cannot compromise the quality of medications or safety of these medications,” says Kane. “But yet, how can we bring efficiency? How can we bring speed to doing the right things and bringing high-quality drug products to patients and treat those indications? That’s what we focus on.” References 1. Thermo Fisher Scientific Showcases Expanded Biopharma Services, Capabilities and Innovations at CPHI Milan 2024 https://newsroom.thermofisher.com/newsroom/ press-releases/press-release-details/2024/ Thermo-Fisher-Scientific-Showcases-ExpandedBiopharma-Services-Capabilities-andInnovations-at-CPHI-Milan-2024 2. Thermo Fisher Scientific Completes Acquisition of PPD, Inc. https://ir.thermofisher.com/investors/newsevents/news/news-details/2021/Thermo-FisherScientific-Completes-Acquisition-of-PPD-Inc 3. Thermo Fisher Scientific to Acquire Patheon, a Leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) https://ir.thermofisher.com/investors/ news-events/news/news-details/2017/ Thermo-Fisher-Scientific-to-AcquirePatheon-a-Leading-Contract-Developmentand-Manufacturing-OrganizationCDMO-2017-5-15/default.aspx GRANT PLAYTER Editor 24/7 BIOPHARMA
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjY2OTA4MA==