Stage II of Polpharma Biologics construction completed
Polpharma completed the second phase of construction of the Polpharma Biologics R&D centre located in the Gdańsk Science and Technology Park. The company uses this facility – the most modern biotechnology laboratory in Poland – to conduct research on biosimilar medicines in order to ensure better access to effective therapies for patients suffering from serious diseases.
The Polpharma Centre with an area of 2,600 m2 houses R&D laboratories and plants for the production of biopharmaceuticals in accordance with the standards of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice). It already employs 40 highly qualified specialists and still develops intensively.Biological medicines – in contrast to the drugs obtained by chemical synthesis – contain substances produced by living organisms (e.g. bacteria, yeasts, mammalian cells). Their greatest advantages are: a ground-breaking mechanism of action, favourable safety profile and high efficiency, particularly in the case of serious diseases such as neoplasms or autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, etc.). The main obstacle to a widespread use is their high price (up to 25 times higher than in the case of chemical drugs). For this reason, biologic drug therapy remains unavailable to many patients.
The field of biologics is considered to be the future of medicine and it undoubtedly will grow dynamically. We have decided to work on biologics starting from biosimilar medicines. We have been already working on three products of this kind. In this way – with a lower price – we will be able to offer access to modern therapy to a larger number of patients – explains Jerzy Starak, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Polpharma.
The development of biosimilars, however, is a long, complicated and expensive process. It takes from 7 to 9 years and the costs of the work amount from EUR 50 million to EUR 80 million. Therefore, a strategic partnership with the German pharmaceutical group belonging to Thomas Strüngmann, one of the greatest entrepreneurs in the pharmaceutical industry in Europe, is an opportunity to increase the capacity of Polpharma in the development and commercialization of biosimilar medicines and in the future innovative projects.
Additional development capabilities are offered by close collaboration of business and the academic community. For years, Polpharma has been an example of successful cooperation with the Gdańsk scientific community. The company intends to co-create, with the support of EU funds, the scientific consortia and biotechnology hubs, which will contribute to the development of Pomerania’s innovativeness and the region’s economy based on knowledge.
The Polpharma Centre with an area of 2,600 m2 houses R&D laboratories and plants for the production of biopharmaceuticals in accordance with the standards of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice). It already employs 40 highly qualified specialists and still develops intensively.Biological medicines – in contrast to the drugs obtained by chemical synthesis – contain substances produced by living organisms (e.g. bacteria, yeasts, mammalian cells). Their greatest advantages are: a ground-breaking mechanism of action, favourable safety profile and high efficiency, particularly in the case of serious diseases such as neoplasms or autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, etc.). The main obstacle to a widespread use is their high price (up to 25 times higher than in the case of chemical drugs). For this reason, biologic drug therapy remains unavailable to many patients.
The field of biologics is considered to be the future of medicine and it undoubtedly will grow dynamically. We have decided to work on biologics starting from biosimilar medicines. We have been already working on three products of this kind. In this way – with a lower price – we will be able to offer access to modern therapy to a larger number of patients – explains Jerzy Starak, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Polpharma.
The development of biosimilars, however, is a long, complicated and expensive process. It takes from 7 to 9 years and the costs of the work amount from EUR 50 million to EUR 80 million. Therefore, a strategic partnership with the German pharmaceutical group belonging to Thomas Strüngmann, one of the greatest entrepreneurs in the pharmaceutical industry in Europe, is an opportunity to increase the capacity of Polpharma in the development and commercialization of biosimilar medicines and in the future innovative projects.
Additional development capabilities are offered by close collaboration of business and the academic community. For years, Polpharma has been an example of successful cooperation with the Gdańsk scientific community. The company intends to co-create, with the support of EU funds, the scientific consortia and biotechnology hubs, which will contribute to the development of Pomerania’s innovativeness and the region’s economy based on knowledge.
