Genentech: Understanding Manufacturing

Biologics are a class of medicines produced in living organisms, which poses an interesting paradox. On one hand, we have the ability to tap into nature's toolbox to make highly sophisticated medicines. But on the other, we have to constantly deal with the awesome power of nature and its inherent variability.

It is this paradox that makes manufacturing biologic medicines such a fascinating, complex, and often underappreciated modern marvel of science. Advances in the manufacturing process now allow us to produce biologics at a scale that was, at one time, impossible to imagine.

It's Complicated

If making small molecule drugs is like building a bicycle, making a biologic drug is like building a jet¹

Going the Distance

Given the complex challenges inherent to manufacturing, our work starts at the very beginning of a medicine's journey towards regulatory approval

Pre-Clinical Experiments

We help select and analyze cell lines with Genentech Research and Early Development

Clinical Trials

We supply the right amount of investigational medicine for each phase

After FDA Approval

We monitor the evolving demand around the world and scale accordingly to ensure consistent supply

From Grams to Tons

Our ability to create high-quality biologics has increased exponentially over the last 30 years

1980s

In the 1980s, the industry struggled to produce even grams of antibody per year

2015

We now produce 10 metric tons of biologics annually²

From DNA to IND

We've been able to cut down the time it takes to go from the genetic engineering stage (DNA) to filing for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application²