Abstract
Genomics and Proteomics-led Drug Discovery Spurs Demand
The high throughput screening (HTS) market is set for greater growth owing to
the recent advances in genomic and proteomic research that have increased the
number of potential drug targets requiring HTS. Effective tools such as DNA
microarrays and protein arrays are being increasingly employed in research,
leading to the identification of more drug candidates for evaluation and a
greater number of targets to be screened. Since only one in 1,000 compounds that
enter pre-clinical testing will reach the human testing phase and only one out
of five drugs tested on humans will be finally approved for sale, it is
imperative for drug discovery majors to utilize a highly effective screening
process. Pharmaceutical companies pressured by investors to bring more drugs to
market increasingly prefer to use HTS to rapidly screen available compounds
against the latest targets.
This new research service from Frost & Sullivan provides a strategic
assessment of HTS with specific focus on the Asia Pacific life sciences market.
It gives the reader a clear idea of the high throughput screening process and
delineates its role in the modern drug discovery value chain. It discusses in
detail the major technological trends in HTS, and the market factors driving
these trends. It also provides growth strategies for established industry
participants and new entrants.
Patent Protection and Increased Research Activity Aids Growth of the
Market
Increased patent protection by the countries in the Asia Pacific region has
lead to pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the area focusing more on drug
discovery, thus paving the way for growth of the HTS market. The ensuing rise in
screening activity promises healthy demand for HTS over the forecast period.
"With improved patent protection, there is also expected to be an increase
in contract research in the region, which would augur well for HTS industry
participants," says the analyst of this research service.
With most Asian countries becoming WTO signatories, lack of patent protection
has ceased to be a deterrent, and this factor, along with the mushrooming of
biotech companies in the region is expected to improve the market. "HTS
providers planning to enter the Asia Pacific market or expand operations in the
region should focus on the research institutes and government labs of the
region, since this increases the probability of sales," notes the analyst.
Natural Product-based Drug Discovery Prevalent in the Region Encourages
Usage of HTS
The abundant biodiversity found in the Asia-Pacific region has resulted in
unique alternative systems of medicine based on natural products. Currently,
efforts are underway to discover novel drug candidates from these natural
substances using modern biotechnology such as HTS. For example, in China and
Taiwan, the Government as well as private companies are focusing on the
screening of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for drug molecules.
"Drug discovery companies in the Asia Pacific region need to capitalize
on this strategic advantage and utilize the indigenous medicine practices of
their countries to build libraries of natural compounds, which can be screened
for activity," adds the analyst.
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