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Data Insights Innovation in pharma: deuterated drug synthesis

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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

80+ innovations will shape the pharmaceutical industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the pharmaceutical industry using innovation intensity models built on over 730,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, engineered multi-specific antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and mutant DNA polymerases are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Peptide pharmacophores, antibody-drug conjugates, and neuroprotective drugs are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are amyloid precursor targeted therapies and modified vector HIV-1 vaccines, which are now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for the pharmaceutical industry

Deuterated drug synthesis is a key innovation area in the pharmaceutical industry

Deuterated drug synthesis refers to the process of incorporating deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen, into drug molecules during the drug development process. Deuterium incorporation can lead to increased stability, improved pharmacokinetics, and reduced toxicity of the resulting drugs.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 440 companies, spanning technology vendors, established pharmaceutical companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of deuterated drug synthesis.

Key players in deuterated drug synthesis – a disruptive innovation in the pharmaceutical industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to deuterated drug synthesis

Bristol-Myers Squibb is one of the leading patent filers in deuterated drug synthesis. It has filed several patents for deuterium-based compounds and is currently working to develop and formulate these drugs.

In terms of application diversity, Hodogaya Chemical leads the pack, while Deuteria Beverages and E. Merck stood in the second and third positions, respectively.

By means of geographic reach, Kura Oncology held the top position, followed by Incyte and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the pharmaceutical industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Pharmaceutical.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. 

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.