commercial opportunity

The growing acceptance of monoclonal antibodies as a class of drug and their continued increase in sales as therapeutic products (>$10Bn in 2004) has had a phenomenal impact on the biotechnology industry. Not only are antibody product blockbusters on the increase, but companies developing innovative technologies as a source of next generation protein therapeutics are achieving significant successes. Pieris is one such company, exploiting its expertise in protein engineering to create a unique, novel class of product not only for the treatment of human diseases but also for their more effective detection and diagnosis.

Although projected to serve a market of potentially $30Bn by 2010, monoclonal antibodies have certain shortcomings as products which present considerable opportunities for Pieris’ Anticalin® platform. Manufacturing costs, limitations in formulation and delivery and pharmacoeconomic issues compounded by royalty stacking are all factors that continue to impact the antibody market. Pieris believes that next generation technologies such as Anticalins® are central to addressing these challenges and anticipates an increasing share in the commercial success of novel protein-based products.