The global animal health market is a staggering $60bn industry, projected to reach $100bn by 2030. This phenomenal growth reflects a confluence of factors: rising pet ownership (especially companion animals), increasing protein demand, reducing gaseous emissions, and the ever-present threat of zoonotic diseases. However, as Elanco’s CEO, Jeff Simmons, highlights in a recent McKinsey interview, this growth is accompanied by significant challenges and untapped potential for innovation. Syngene International, a leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), stands at the forefront, poised to address these challenges and unlock the true potential of this transformative frontier.
Riding the Wave of Mega-Trends
The animal health landscape is being reshaped by powerful trends:
- One Health Approach: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical link between animal, human, and environmental health. Recognizing the importance of a coordinated global effort, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), constituting the Quadripartite, launched the One Health Joint Plan of Action 2022-2026. The five-year plan underscores the significance of collective effort, policy guidance, and technical support at multiple levels and prioritizes key areas such as strengthening One Health capacities, combating zoonotic diseases, ensuring food safety, and tackling antimicrobial resistance.
- Sustainability and Ethical Considerations: Growing consumer awareness of animal welfare and environmental impact is driving demand for sustainable and ethical practices in animal agriculture. There is increasing pressure to reduce the ecological impact of animal farming through eco-friendly therapeutics, feed additive solutions, and greener manufacturing processes. This includes a focus on antibiotic stewardship, reducing environmental footprint, and promoting animal well-being.
- Precision Medicine Revolution: Imagine a future where treatment plans are tailored to an animal’s unique genetic makeup. The industry is leaning towards wellness and prevention through advanced vaccination strategies tailored to specific animal needs.
Industry Pain Points: The Roadblocks to Innovation
While trends and advancements in the animal health sector are promising, significant pain points persist, such as:
- Emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance: The rise of antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to both animal and human health. Developing effective alternatives to antibiotics to combat rising resistance remains a critical challenge.
- Species-Specific Innovations: Creating tailored therapies and formulations requires significant investment and expertise. Developing a new medication can cost over $1bn, depending on the drug’s complexity and expenses accrued via unsuccessful studies.
- Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating complex regulatory landscapes and ensuring the timely and efficient approval of new products and technologies can be a significant obstacle. Streamlining drug development and approval processes across different regions is time-intensive and resource-heavy.
- Global Health Security: The increasing frequency and severity of zoonotic diseases highlight the need for robust surveillance systems and rapid response mechanisms to prevent and control outbreaks.
- Talent Acquisition and Development: Attracting and retaining skilled professionals with expertise in areas such as drug development, data science, genomics, and digital health is essential for driving innovation in the animal health sector.
These challenges are compounded by R&D costs and growing market competition. Insights from Axtria reveal a growing emphasis on analytics-driven decision-making and digital customer engagement strategies to improve operational efficiency and market responsiveness.
Adding to these complexities, the development of veterinary drugs involves unique hurdles. Some of these include species-specific pharmacology, variable dosages across breeds and sizes, and the need for tailored manufacturing and distribution strategies.
Syngene’s Innovative Integrated Approach: Transforming Ideas into Impactful Solutions
Syngene International addresses key challenges in animal health with comprehensive solutions across the entire product lifecycle. Its collaborative model and expertise enable animal health companies to effectively navigate innovation and market complexities.
- Innovation in Drug Discovery and Development: From identifying therapeutic targets to screening compounds, Syngene uses advanced technologies like NGS and high-throughput screening to accelerate early-stage innovation. With expertise spanning toxicology, pharmacokinetics, and regulatory support, Syngene ensures therapies are both safe and effective. Syngene’s species-specific formulations and innovative delivery systems, such as microencapsulation, highlight its commitment to addressing complex industry challenges. Notable projects include the development of multi-drug antiparasitic therapies for companion animals, which demonstrate its ability and extensive expertise in meeting VICH regulatory expectations, with its analytical team skilled in developing discriminatory dissolution methods, crucial for fixed-dose combinations.
- Scalability in Commercial Manufacturing: Syngene’s cGMP-compliant facilities support scalable production of APIs and drug products, ensuring quality and compliance with global standards. The flexibility to manage small- or large-scale production allows clients to adapt to market demands efficiently. Notable projects include the manufacturing of the drug substance for a first-in-class monoclonal antibody, to treat osteoarthritis in dogs, which demonstrate its ability to scale, Injectable fill-finish projects in Anaesthetic, Sedative and pain relief also including controlled substances Syngene has dedicated clean rooms for Animal Health Drug Substance API’s at two of its USFDA sites.
- Deep Regulatory Expertise: Syngene provide comprehensive support in navigating regulatory hurdles and ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety, including filing VDMF’s. Syngene’s regulatory services team formulates strategies that enable preclinical as well as all stages (phase I – IV) of drug development to conform with various local and global regulatory requirements and provides interdisciplinary strategic planning to arrive at the most effective and efficient pathway to achieve regulatory authorizations.
- Commitment to Sustainability: Syngene’s continuous focus on sustainability drives its efforts to refine processes, reduce environmental impact, and enhance efficiency, as recognized at the 2024 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards for its environmental initiatives. A prime example in animal health is the development of an eco-friendly synthesis process for a growth promoter drug, created for a US-based animal health company and currently in phase 1 clinical trials. This process achieved an 80% reduction in both the Environmental Factor (cE-factor) and Process Mass Intensity (cPMI) compared to the traditional workflow.
With extensive experience working with the Top Five Animal Health companies, Syngene manages diverse modalities such as small molecules, mAbs, and recombinant proteins. Its track record of 100+ successful projects highlights its ability to handle complex drug development and deliver precise, specialized results.
Shaping the Future of Animal Health
As highlighted by McKinsey in an interview with Jeff Simmons, CEO of Elanco, the animal health industry must adopt innovative approaches and leverage partnerships to stay ahead. Key strategies include integrating advanced data solutions and fostering cross-industry collaboration to drive innovation.
Market leaders like Zoetis, Elanco, Boehringer Animal Health, Merck Animal Health exemplify this strategy, with Zoetis’s blockbuster drug Simparica Trio achieving over $1bn in sales in 2022. These successes underscore the importance of agility, innovation, and partnerships in achieving market leadership. Syngene’s integrated approach and commitment to innovation position it as a trusted partner for animal health companies. Its ability to navigate regulatory complexities, develop cutting-edge therapies, and scale production ensures clients stay ahead in a dynamic market.
Conclusion
The animal health industry is poised for significant growth and transformation in the coming years. By embracing emerging technologies, addressing critical challenges, and fostering collaboration across the value chain, we can create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for animal health. Syngene, with its strong foundation in scientific excellence and a commitment to innovation, is well-positioned to play a vital role in shaping this exciting future.
For those seeking to transform ideas into impactful animal health solutions, Syngene provides the expertise and resources to succeed in this evolving landscape.
Discover how Syngene can help you advance animal health innovation.
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