BioPharma By the Numbers: Rise of Bioprocessing Automation

Welcome to the new BioPharma By the Numbers infographic series, where we take a data-driven look at key sectors, trends, and topics in the biopharma industry. All data are pulled from the BioPlan Associates 22^nd Annual Report (1).

Biopharmaceutical manufacturing has matured over the past 25, years and the need for automation in bioprocessing has become more critical. The original equipment and tools used in biomanufacturing were often modified from adjacent industries, such as industrial fermentation, medical devices, and even blood bags. They were refined to fit-for-use over time with incremental innovative technologies. Today, bioprocessing works well but remains labor-intensive. The highly complex processes require hands-on skills and regulatory knowledge. The risks of failure often come from human error, which greater automation can potentially mitigate.

Why is automation in bioprocessing important?

Automation in bioprocessing is seen as vital to improving quality and consistency while reducing operational errors, resulting in more cost-effective, reliable production. Advances in automation can remove error-prone and labor-intensive steps, speed the process, and improve the overall product quality in a highly regulated environment.

Demand for automation is being driven by shortages of experienced staff combined with capacity constraints and the need for improved productivity and quality. The number of biopharmaceutical products currently in clinical development (and those expected to be in commercial manufacturing within the coming years) will exacerbate demand.

Let’s take a look at the numbers!

Future of Automation in Biopharma

Automation offers a direct solution to one of the industry’s most persistent bottlenecks: the shortage of experienced staff. By reducing reliance on highly specialized manual tasks and minimizing operator errors, one of the leading causes of batch failures at both clinical and commercial scales, automated systems can increase reliability and throughput even in facilities that are struggling to hire or retain talent.

Biopharmaceutical manufacturing is undergoing technological advancements, motivated the need for efficiency, reduced costs, and accelerated drug development.Automation is considered a potential solution for manufacturing bottlenecks and capacity constraints. The challenge is that actual implementation of automation in biomanufacturing requires a complex matrix of new equipment, software, control equipment, sensors, equipment standardization, integration, operator expertise, etc. While some of this is available, a full suite of equipment to implement true process automation is still being developed by suppliers.

Reference
1. www.bioplanassociates.com/22nd