Demand for viral vectors was already high pre-pandemic, with an increasing number of gene and cell therapies. Now recombinant vector COVID-19 vaccines – such as AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines – have put a second and more immediate stress on the viral vector supply chain.
If it is to meet the near-future need for viral vectors, the industry will need several billion liters of annual bioreactor capacity. This capacity simply does not exist at the moment – in fact, it’s currently at less than 1% of what will be required, according to analysis from data, analytics and insights firm GlobalData.
Why is demand so high?
There are currently 14 gene therapies, gene-modified cell therapies, and recombinant vector vaccines approved and marketed in the EU, Japan, US and UK, according to figures from GlobalData. But this is set to rise dramatically.
“We predict that this number will soar in the near future. We anticipate that over 100 more gene therapies and gene-modified cell therapies will be approved over approximately the next six years. These therapies will all need viral vectors and will exacerbate the manufacturing shortage,” notes GlobalData in its 2021 report The Outlook for Viral Vector Contract Manufacturing.
Added to that is the demand from vaccines. Over the last year, the emergence of viral vector vaccines has increased pressure on viral vector supply: creating a sizeable and more pressing demand. Following the development of viral vector vaccines from AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Johnson & Johnson, more are in the pipeline for COVID-19 alone: with 55 vaccines of this type under evaluation, according to the WHO’s tracker.