Sectors > Pharmaceuticals and biotechnologies

Turn scientific breakthroughs into the treatments of tomorrow.

Turn Scientific Breakthroughs into the Treatments of Tomorrow

Pharmaceuticals and biotechnologies are among the most research intensive industries in the world. The global pharmaceutical market exceeds $1.7 trillion in 2025, and biotechnology, spanning gene and cell therapies, biologics and precision medicine, continues to grow at double digit rates as breakthroughs move from laboratory to patient faster than ever.

 

This momentum concentrates around a handful of global hubs.

  • Ireland is the world’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturing hub, hosting 19 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies, with medicinal products now accounting for over half of the country’s goods exports.
  • The United States remains the largest pharmaceutical and biotech market, anchoring the majority of global R&D investment in cell and gene therapy, oncology and precision medicine.
  • France ranks as the world’s fourth largest exporter of medicines and the second largest pharmaceutical market in Europe, generating €67.5 billion in industry revenue.

 

Wherever they operate, pharmaceutical and biotech companies face the same challenge: turning scientific discovery into approved, accessible treatments fast enough to justify years of costly research. This is exactly where ABGi operates, helping companies across drug discovery, clinical development and biomanufacturing secure R&D tax credits and innovation funding.

    Pharmaceuticals et biotechnologies | ABGi

    Key Strategic and Operational Challenges for the Sector

    DRUG DISCOVERY AND R&D PRODUCTIVITY

    Accelerating target identification and reducing attrition rates through AI driven drug design, genomics and computational biology.

    DATA INTEGRITY, IP PROTECTION AND CYBERSECURITY

    Safeguarding clinical trial data, patient information and proprietary research against growing intellectual property and cyber risks.

    REGULATORY COMPLEXITY AND MARKET ACCESS

    Navigating lengthy approval pathways, pricing negotiations and reimbursement frameworks that vary widely across regions.

    MANUFACTURING SCALE UP AND SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE

    Scaling biomanufacturing capacity for biologics, cell and gene therapies while securing critical raw materials and active ingredients.

    RISING R&D COSTS AND PRICING PRESSURE

    Sustaining heavy, long cycle clinical development investment amid growing cost containment measures from payers and governments.

    TALENT SCARCITY AND GLOBAL COMPETITION

    Attracting and retaining specialised scientific talent amid intensifying competition from emerging biotech hubs worldwide.

    Key figures for the sector 

    $1.7T

    Global pharmaceutical market size in 2025

    $484B

    Global biopharmaceutical market size in 2025

    19/20

    Of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies with manufacturing operations in Ireland

    42%

    Share of the global pharmaceutical market generated in North America

    Focus on the 4 Strategic Levers

    Innovation

    • Research and development of novel therapeutic modalities, including cell and gene therapies, mRNA platforms and monoclonal antibodies.
    • Application of AI and machine learning to accelerate target identification, molecular design and clinical trial optimisation.
    • Development of companion diagnostics and biomarkers to support precision and personalised medicine.

    Operations & Performance

    • Scaling biomanufacturing capacity while maintaining strict GMP compliance across complex, multi step production processes.
    • Reducing clinical development timelines through adaptive trial design and real world evidence generation.
    • Strengthening supply chain resilience for active pharmaceutical ingredients and critical raw materials.

    Technology

    • Digital twins and process simulation to optimise bioprocessing, formulation and manufacturing yield.
    • Automation and robotics in high throughput screening, cell culture and sterile fill finish operations.
    • Blockchain and digital traceability to secure clinical trial data integrity and product authentication across global supply chains.

    ESG & Sustainability

    • Reducing the environmental footprint of energy intensive biomanufacturing and cold chain logistics.
    • Advancing green chemistry principles to limit solvent use and hazardous waste in drug synthesis.
    • Improving equitable access to innovative treatments across both developed and emerging healthcare markets.