Biologics emerge as dominating molecule type in solid tumor indication, says GlobalData

Traditionally, the pharmaceutical landscape has been dominated by small molecules. In contrast to this dominance, biologics have become the leading molecule type within the solid tumor indication, accounting for 64% of drugs.

This composition shift signifies that pharma companies are turning to new approaches to tackle cancer and overcome obstacles within this indication, and it showcases the new era of personalized medicine. Against this backdrop, biologics are poised to overtake innovative small molecules in terms of sales revenue by 2027, with forecast sales of $120 billion, according to sector analytics firm GlobalData.

Small molecules are simple compounds that are manufactured via chemical synthesis, can have diverse mechanisms of action, offer versatile administration routes alongside high oral bioavailability, and are cheap to manufacture. As such, small molecules have enjoyed historical predominance, with approximately 80% of all drugs being small molecules, according to GlobalData’s Drugs Database.