Oct 31, 2020

We conducted an analysis of 1.745 emerging solutions & present the top 10 pharma industry trends that will impact the sector in 2020 & beyond. In this report, you will discover impactful industry trends, promising startups & scaleups, and our Global Startup Heat Map! The pharmaceutical industry is witnessing a massive revamp. Traditionally slow in the adoption of technology, the industry is now undergoing rapid changes due to the development of several technologies. The prominent pharma industry trends include artificial intelligence (AI), additive manufacturing, blockchain, and other Industry 4.0 technologies. The increasing investments, growth of technology startups, and the expiry of several key patents, as well as increasing inter-organizational collaborations and a favorable regulatory environment, are spurring innovation in the pharma industry. Innovation Map: Top 10 Pharma Industry Trends Covering more than 1.379.000 startups & scaleups, we use our proprietary StartUs Insights Discovery Platform to identify innovative applications and solutions that will impact pharma in 2020 and beyond. Our Innovation Analysts conducted exhaustive data-driven research to identify the various innovation trends emerging in the pharma sector. For this report, we analyzed 1.745 startups and scaleups and present the top 10 pharma trends, as well as 20 highly relevant solutions for each of them. The Innovation Map below visualizes the major trends that impact the materials sector and showcases two hand-picked startups for each. Click to download Tree Map: The Impact Of Industry Trends On The Pharma Sector The Tree Map below illustrates the top 10 pharma industry trends that will impact companies in 2020 and beyond. From drug discovery and development to medical imaging and patient engagement, artificial intelligence occupies a prominent position in the industry. Along with big data and analytics, more than a third of pharma startups are working on software solutions for the industry. There is still a lack of access to basic medicines in many regions of the world, prompting demand for flexible pharmaceutical manufacturing. The use of real-world data to collect accurate patient experiences, blockchain to securely transact and manage patient records, and augmented, virtual, and mixed reality (AR, VR & MR) solutions also find a place in the top 10 pharma industry trends. However, these trends cover only a small fraction of the breadth of innovation in the industry. Based on your specific criteria, your top trends can look quite different. Click to download The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is accelerating the drug discovery and development processes. Startups are exploring the use of these technologies to address the various challenges in the pharma industry, such as automation and optimization of the manufacturing processes, as well as designing effective marketing and post-launch strategies. Patient identification is a crucial step in the drug discovery and development process, especially for conducting clinical trials. AI simplifies the identification of eligibility criteria and the inclusion of patients and also makes the cohort identification process faster and cheaper. Pangaea Data – Patient Cohort Identification Pangaea Data is a British startup that uses unsupervised AI algorithms to identify patient cohorts for drug discovery, clinical trials, and real-world evidence (RWE) studies. The machine learning-based software scans through electronic health records (EHR) and unstructured doctors’ notes to find the right patients based on phenotypes. The startup also develops a library of AI models for different disease areas. InVivo AI – Drug Discovery Canadian startup Invivo AI develops novel algorithms for drug discovery. The startup uses different machine learning approaches, such as few-shot learning, reinforcement learning, active learning, and representation learning, to aid the drug discovery process. The deep learning solution uses small and noisy datasets to predict and optimize potential drug candidates, further eliminating the need for large datasets. 2. Big Data & Analytics The large volumes of data available throughout the drug discovery and development process require high-performance systems to properly analyze data and derive value from it. Pharmaceutical companies are looking to open up their critical data to third parties, thus making data management a crucial area of focus. The advancement in analytical techniques is also turning historical and real-time data available with pharmaceutical companies into valuable assets for predictive, diagnostic, prescriptive, and descriptive analytics. Moreover, these analytics techniques are used on almost all types of medical data from patient records, medical imaging, and hospital data, to name a few. Pryml – Secure Data Collaboration Belgian startup Pryml develops a platform that allows data scientists to build applications on confidential or sensitive data of organizations. Pryml creates a synthetic version of the confidential data available with pharmaceutical companies. This enables the restricted sharing of this data with third-party companies for business applications or research collaborations. Pryml’s solutions integrate within the customers’ data architecture for the development of solutions such as predictive models for drug recommendations. Pomicell – In-Silico Modeling Israeli startup  Pomicell offers software tools for big data analytics in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D). The startup utilizes machine learning techniques to analyze and aid in the development of in-silico models. The startup further builds customized drug development road-maps by augmenting the available data, analysis, and insights through matching and in-silico modeling. 3. Flexible Production The pharma industry is exploring new ways of manufacturing due to the changing market dynamics, such as small batches for precision medicine. Single-use technology is gaining popularity as it reduces downtime and increases productivity by eliminating complex steps like cleaning and validation between separate production stages. New types of bioreactor systems and continuous manufacturing processes address the increasing focus on biopharmaceuticals. In addition to eliminating downtime, continuous manufacturing has low energy needs, achieves high productivity, and minimizes the amount of waste. Cellexus is a Scottish startup that makes single-use airlift bioreactor systems. The startup’s patented airlift technology uses bubbles instead of mechanical mixing to move cells and nutrients. The reactor comes with disposable bioreactor bags, an integrated heater, and offers precise regulation of biochemical parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. The single-use system can be used for a variety of cell cultures and fermentation and the startups have achieved growth of bacteria, yeast, microalgae, and bacteriophage amplification. Secoya Technologies – Continuous Manufacturing Optimisation Belgian startup Secoya Technologies offers novel technologies for production processes by tailoring the continuous manufacturing process equipment down to the ideal scale. Microstructured elements such as microfluidic droplet generators are used for optimizing manufacturing processes. The startup’s solutions find use in intensified chemical synthesis, crystallization, pervaporation, and micro-encapsulation. 4. Precision Medicine Precision medicine comes from the idea of treating each patient as a unique individual. Advancements in omic and data analysis are providing new insights into how the human body responds to drugs. This knowledge, along with advanced manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing, is making personalized medicine a reality. Drug exposure models determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drugs for arriving at the right dosage for drugs based on age, sex, comorbidities, and other clinical parameters. ExactCure – Drug Exposure Model ExactCure , a French startup, offers a software solution for simulating the effects of drugs in a patient’s body based on personal characteristics. The startup makes use of population pharmacokinetics, as well as scientific literature data, for real-time prediction of efficacy and drug interaction, on each individual. ExactCure is developing drug-specific exposure models for drugs under investigation for the treatment of COVID-19 . Tepthera – Individualized Cancer Vaccine Swiss startup Tepthera offers platform technologies for the identification of T cell antigens. The MEDi platform helps in the rapid identification of tumor-specific antigens from patient human leukocyte antigens. After the selection of antigens, the solution identifies tumor-specific epitopes and then monitors antigen-specific T cells. The platform provides patients with individualized therapeutic vaccines for treating their condition. The need for precision medicine is also making pharmaceutical companies rethink the manufacturing process. A lot of research is underway for making advanced 3D printers that print tissues or cells . 3D printing of human tissues has great applications in drug development, organ engineering , and regenerative medicine. This allows the development of age or physiology-dependent medical formulations, as well as precision pills. Bioprinters also help in pushing innovation in bioinks, tissue engineering , and  microfluidics . FabRx – Printed Pill FabRx is a British startup that manufactures M3DIMAKER, a 3D printer for making personalized pills. M3DIMAKER uses proprietary technology for direct powder extrusion. The single-step printing process uses a single screw extruder for the extrusion of powdered material. It manufactures pills with properties such as sustained or delayed dose, and multidrug combination pills (polypills). The printer also enables small batch production for clinical trials and precise personalized dosage forms for individuals. Frontier Bio – Tissue Bioprinter The US-based startup Frontier Bio offers FLUX-1, a 3D bioprinter for making human tissues. The startup prints tissues as an effective way to test new pharmaceuticals. Frontier Bio addresses the limitations in making tissues having desirable structure and features with a good cell survival rate. FLUX-1 employs the electro-hydrodynamic printing (EHDP) technique to deliver tissues with micro and nano-scale features, as well as higher cell survival rates. Looking for specific pharma startups and technologies? Blockchain technology is very significant for the pharmaceutical industry in every stage of production and distribution of drugs. The stakeholders in the pharma industry are, in general, extremely secretive about their data due to the sensitive nature of the data. Blockchain technology is also being explored to tackle the use of counterfeit medicines and substandard drugs that enter into the pharmaceutical supply chain and kill thousands of patients every year. The digitalization of transactions makes blockchain a promising solution for tracking and securing the pharma transaction ecosystem. PharmaTrace – Smart Contracts PharmaTrace , a German startup offers a blockchain-based ecosystem to secure data and deploy smart contracts in the pharmaceutical industry. The ecosystem provides a secure system for sharing crucial and sensitive information between stakeholders in the pharmaceutical marketplace. PharmaTrace uses smart contracts implemented in Hyperledger Fabric to address this trust deficit. Moreover, the network provides precise control and security over the information being shared. Veratrak  is a British startup offering a blockchain-based document collaboration and workflow management platform for the pharmaceutical supply chain. The platform enables secure document sharing across supply chain partners with immutable audit logs. Good automated manufacturing practice 5 (GAMP 5)-compliant cloud-based software further lets stakeholders, within and outside organizations, collaborate at various stages of the pharma supply chain. 7. Extended Reality (XR) Mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) is enabling visualizations like never before. Pharma startups are exploring the possibilities of these technologies in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing spheres. Extended reality tools enable data-rich and meaningful real-time location-agonistic interaction among research teams. Startups are making human augmentation in pharma a reality through extended reality wearables and tools. Nanome – VR Collaboration Tool Nanome , a US-based startup, offers VR collaboration tools for atomic, molecular, and protein visualization. The VR-based molecular visualization tool by Nanome imports molecular data from public databases or custom inputs. It lets researchers design proteins, iterate 3D structures, and also work in a virtual workspace with global team members. Goodly Innovations – AR Suite German startup Goodly Innovations develops an OptiworX, an AR suite for pharma and biopharma manufacturing. The solution enables technicians and line operators to increase their productivity and efficiency by prompting various tasks in real-time, in an AR environment. The startup’s modular design allows for both standalone and connected systems, enabling two-way data flow. Additionally, this suite supports all shop floor processes like manufacturing, filling, primary packaging, and secondary packaging. 8. Real-World Data Real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) are transforming innovations in the pharmaceutical industry. RWD includes patient health status, treatment data, and health reports collected routinely. The pharmaceutical industry, owing to its research-intensive nature, has to make sure that the data they use is reliable and of real value. The availability of real-world data enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, and wearables is restructuring the way the pharma industry is functioning. Graticule – Unstructured Patient Data The US-based startup Graticule creates structured data sets from unstructured RWD sources. The startup offers data subscriptions and on-demand data collaborations to pharma clients for uncovering value in RWD. Graticule makes use of clinical notes, free text, and images, as well as non-clinical data for data completeness. OncoChain – Oncological Data Romanian startup OncoChain offers a research platform based on a de-identified real-world oncological patient database. The startup’s solution enables the early detection and timely intervention for cancer detection, treatment, and cure. The OncoChain Analytics tool also provides real-world evidence insights for regulatory decision-making, clinical trial design, and multi-center studies. Digital therapeutics deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions using software to prevent, manage, or treat physical, mental, and behavioral conditions. These non-pharmacological, tech-driven solutions are either stand-alone or used along with medications, devices, or therapies. Digital therapeutics let each individual have greater control over their health and outcomes. Cognivive – Neuro-Rehabilitation Cognivive , a US-based startup, offers evidence-based digital therapeutics for the treatment of neurocognitive and neuromotor impairments. The neurorehabilitation treatment uses a medical device to help patients recover from a stroke. CogniviveVR, the startup’s VR headset, further immerses individuals in a virtual resort world. Consequently, the brain develops new brain circuits, helping in the recovery of brain-body control. With the help of proprietary algorithms, the solution modifies the challenges for patients based on improvements in their cognitive functioning. Dopavision – Eye Treatment German startup Dopavision is making a smartphone-based digital therapeutic for myopia. The startup’s solution aims to slow down the progression of myopia in the young population, especially children. The solution achieves the activation of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in eye growth regulation. Dopavision is currently undertaking pre-clinical trials of the digital therapeutic. 10. Curative Therapies There is a paradigm shift happening in the area of treating illnesses from managing diseases to curing diseases altogether. Curative therapies such as cell and gene therapies are changing the way we deal with chronic diseases or difficult to treat conditions by eliminating the need for long-term treatments. In gene therapy, genetic material is introduced into the cells to compensate for abnormal genes or to make a beneficial protein. Genetically engineered viruses are the most common vectors used for gene therapy. The US-based Lacerta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage gene therapy startup working on cures for the central nervous system and lysosomal storage diseases. The startup’s proprietary adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector technology platform develops novel AAV vectors with improved transduction, tissue- or cell subtype-selectivity, and immune escape profiles. Lacerta further offers novel capsid variants and a scalable vector manufacturing platform with limited production components. What Does This Mean For Pharma Companies? The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all companies to rethink many aspects of their business, including manufacturing and supply chains and the same holds true for pharma companies. The pandemic also highlights the need for improving the speed and accuracy of finding and mass-producing novel drugs, treatment methods, and vaccines to respond to such large-scale and high-pressure demand. Further, startups and scaleups working in the intersection of life sciences research, biotech, and pharma are discovering new properties of cells and molecules to deliver potentially game-changing solutions for the industry, as well as for the larger public. Moreover, these 20 pharma startups are only a small part of the 1.745 solutions we analyzed for this report. Get in touch to find out the top trends specific to your criteria!