Here are 15 Biopharma research trends to watch in 2023; 1. Epitranscriptomics 2. mRNA vaccines and RNA therapies 3. Drug development using deep learning and large datasets 4. Neoantigens 5. Targeting RNA with small molecules 6. Theranostics 7. Exosomes 8. Synthetic Biology 9. Gene Editing 10. Antibiotics “anti-trend” 11. Nanotechnologies in Drug Delivery 12. Aging research 13. 3-D Bioprinting 14. Microbiome 15. Protein Degraders

1. Top 15 Biopharma Research Trends to
Watch in 2023
By The Lifesciences Magazine
The global healthcare industry learned the value of adaptability in 2020 and
early 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic united the globe in its battle against
the virus and spurred the creation of new biotechnologies, therapeutic
approaches, and drug discovery strategies.
Here are 15 Biopharma research
trends to watch in 2023;
1. Epitranscriptomics
While the word “epigenetics” is common to practically every expert in the
Life Sciences, “epitranscriptomics” is far less well-known in biopharma
research trends. Epitranscriptomics is based on a similar concept; it details
the many ways in which RNA may be altered, including methylation.
Protein expression may be regulated by a number of factors, including
those responsible for RNA alterations, making them promising therapeutic
targets.

2. Accent Therapeutics discovered that small-molecule medicines that inhibit
RNA-modifying proteins (RMPs) showed promise in treating many different
kinds of cancer. Accent creates treatments based on the discovery that
faulty RMP function is a common denominator in a wide range of cancers,
from leukemia to brain tumors. Round A funding for Accent totaled $40
million from three investors in 2018, while Round B funding was $63
million, indicating promising future development.
2. mRNA vaccines and RNA therapies
The biopharma research trends and effectiveness of RNA-based
therapeutics were recently shown by Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines
for Coronavirus illness. Different from proteins, RNAs may regulate
biological activities without being incorporated into DNA.
For our immune systems to remember the virus in the future, they must
produce antigens within our cells and set off the appropriate immunological
responses.
 Healthcare industry
 Biotechnology
3. Drug development using deep learning and
large datasets

3. Many pharmaceutical businesses now place a high priority on artificial
intelligence (AI), particularly in the areas of machine learning, deep
learning, and natural language processing (NLP). This is due in large part
to a spate of proof-of-concept studies in biopharma research trends.
Such as Insilico Medicine’s identification of a novel target and related
preclinical treatment candidate for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) by
use of their modular, powerful AI platforms PandaOmics and Chemistry42.
Getting from concept to a viable preclinical candidate took less than two
years at a reasonable cost, and from there to a Phase, I clinical trial was
another year.
4. Neoantigens
In recent years biopharma research trends, and personalized cancer
immunotherapies have gained traction, with a lot of focus on tumor-
associated antigen (TAA) and neoantigen treatments. Unfortunately, TAAs
are often found in both neoplasms and healthy tissues.
Which has contributed to their failure in late-stage clinical studies in recent
years. When antigens linked with tumors are injected, the body responds
aggressively. However, if the same antigens are present in healthy tissues,
this might have unintended consequences.
5. Targeting RNA with small molecules
Biopharma research trends utilizing tiny compounds to target RNA Direct
influence using small molecules is another method of addressing it, in
addition to changing the work of RNA regulators. Although RNA is famously
resistant to small-molecule inhibition, scientists have found ways to
overcome this obstacle.
It is feasible to analyze the RNA sequence and identify binding pockets and
forecast the kind of interaction that takes place there. Thus far, bioactive
compounds have been shown to stimulate small molecule targeted
degradation of RNA targets (ribonuclease-targeted chimeras, RIBOTACs),
and in some cases even direct cleavage of RNA, allowing for local
regulation of human transcriptome function.
Launched in 2016, Expansion Therapeutics has its roots in the San Diego
area. More than $135 million was invested in the firm so that it might
develop targets for small-molecule medications to combat illnesses caused
by RNA.
Already dubbed a “life science disruptor” by Xconomy, small molecule RNA
targeting pioneer Arrakis Therapeutics is poised for rapid expansion. It has

4. therapeutic candidates in development for the treatment of neurological
ailments, uncommon diseases, and malignancies.
6. Theranostics
A new class of cancer drugs called “theranostic” (from “therapy” and
“diagnostics”) is all the rage right now. The use of radioactive elements in
the construction of theranostics means that radiopharmaceuticals need just
a few injections before they begin to have an effect, in contrast to more
traditional therapies like chemotherapy.
Since investors see great promise in theranostics, companies like Telix
Pharmaceuticals of Australia have negotiated a $300 million contract with
China Grand Pharma, and AstraZeneca has partnered with Fusion Pharma
of the United States to create radiotherapies.
Biotech Progenics of biopharma research trends, which produces many
radiotherapies licensed by the Food and Drug Administration, was recently
bought by Lantheus Holdings. NanoMab, Precirix, and Vect-Horus are
other significant participants in this space.
7. Exosomes
For a long time, biopharma research trends and exosomes were a mystery;
nevertheless, studies in the past several decades have shown that they
may be effective in the treatment of a wide range of disorders. Scientists
are investigating the potential function of exosomes in cell-to-cell
communication, with the working hypothesis.

5. That exosomes may fuse with and release their contents into cells far
removed from their cell of origin, therefore influencing processes in the
receiving cell. Their inherent specificity for targeting certain cell types
makes them ideal carriers for gene treatments and RNA medicines.
8. Synthetic Biology
The Emergence of Synthetic Biology in biopharma research trends
overarching goal of synthetic biology, or synbio, is to build biologics and
creatures for the benefit of medicine, agriculture, and renewable energy.
The treatment based on Clostridium bacteria, a bacterium prevalent in the
human gut microbiome, developed by CHAIN Biotechnology is an unusual
“synbio medication”.

6. Several different metabolites and proteins are stored inside these bacteria,
making them effective in the treatment of diseases including inflammatory
bowel disease. Another CHAIN is using microbial treatment to help with
ulcerative colitis.
9. Gene Editing
Several clinical experiments conducted by the biopharma research trends
firm Prokarium demonstrate the viability of using engineered bacteria as
efficient vaccine delivery vehicles. The use of genetically engineered
microorganisms in targeted immunotherapy against solid tumors is the
latest marketable offshoot of the company’s research. In order to develop
this concept further, Prokarium has received funding of around $48 million
from two investors.
The development of synthetic DNA to improve gene treatments is yet
another remarkable use of synthetic biology. To prevent the introduction of
unwanted genes during DNA synthesis, Touchlight Genetics is developing
a method that does not rely on bacteria. As yet another example, we have
Zentraxa, a company that makes adhesive synbio products that speed up
wound recovery.
10. Antibiotics “anti-trend”

7. An examination of the antibiotic business by the FDA in 2020 illustrated the
hopelessness with which the profession has been grappling for decades.
Biopharma research trends and the development of new antibiotics have
shifted from being conducted mostly by big pharma to being conducted
virtually entirely by biotech. Approvals for new antibiotics have dropped
drastically during the last two decades (with a modest increase in recent
years).
Insufficient research funding and a weak economy during the 1990s have
both contributed to this trend. And it’s important to figure out why
conventional drug development has received so much more funding than
the discovery of antibiotics.
It might take years for antibiotics to be prescribed by doctors, in contrast to
the cancer industry where substantial revenues are made usually shortly
after clearance. Half as much progress was made in winning over the
market. But what are the current tendencies in the antibiotics market?
11. Nanotechnologies in Drug Delivery
Many immunocompromised individuals cannot tolerate the viral vectors
used in conventional cancer gene therapy of biopharma research trends.
Johns Hopkins scientists have created a novel technique of medication
administration using poly(beta-amino ester) nanoparticles PBAEs that
reduces the likelihood of adverse effects in sensitive individuals.
To make cancer cells more vulnerable to other treatments, PBAEs may
readily join with nucleic acids such as apoptosis genes, and transport them
to the affected cells. PBAEs have shown non-immunotoxicity and may
adjust to the delivery of a single gene or many genes. Now, the study team
at Johns Hopkins is putting this theory to the test on a small sample of
children who have been diagnosed with brain tumours.

8. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna won the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry in 2020 for their work on CRISPR/Cas9, a revolutionary tool for
gene editing. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats
(CRISPR) use Cas9 and guide RNA to cut DNA.
This method is based on the way a bacterium’s immune system recognizes
and destroys plasmids and viruses that have invaded its territory. Cas9 is
an endonuclease that is directed by a guide RNA molecule that is
complementary to the sequence of targeted DNA.
12. Aging research
There are now biopharma research trends just over a hundred startups
working on anti-aging medication research, and most of them are in the
preclinical phase of development. Although there is not yet a single
medication licensed by the FDA to particularly halt or reverse aging, many
candidates have advanced to Phase 3 clinical studies.
Investment from venture capitalists into firms working to extend human life
expectancy has been on the rise in recent years and is expected to
continue rising until the tipping point of the first anti-aging treatment being
licensed for sale.
When that tipping point is reached, investment and merger & acquisition
activity in the longevity business will skyrocket. Some firms with a focus on

9. increasing human lifespan have already attracted impressive capital and
been valued at the billion-dollar level.
13. 3-D Bioprinting
Bioprinting of human tissues and organs is an exciting and fast-expanding
field with enormous potential in healthcare. The bioprinting sector is just
getting off the ground; in 2019, it was projected to be worth $820 million,
but experts predict it will grow to $4.7 billion over the next seven years.
14. Micro biome
Gut bacteria investigations and micro biome business development
remained active in 2020 and 2021 despite a change in attention to combat
COVID-19; these Biopharma research trends are expected to continue into
2022. Microbiome medication SER-287, developed by Seres Therapeutics,
is now in a Phase III clinical study for the treatment of recurrent bacterial
infections (a collaboration with Nestle Health Science).
Clostridium difficile, the leading cause of diarrhea and potentially fatal colon
inflammation, has been successfully targeted by new anti-infective
therapies. Finch Therapeutics, a startup biotech company, has shown that
its experimental microbiome medicine is effective in curing 75% of patients.
15. Protein Degraders
Attaching a small-molecule inhibitor to an abnormal protein is the typical
method of preventing its activity in practically every therapeutic context.
Instead of destroying their targets, small-molecule inhibitors locate and are
strongly attached to a particular location on proteins, thereby silencing
them.
Alternatively, in Biopharma research trends, protein degraders (PDs) may
entice components of the Ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to a target,
which has been identified using highly selective methods and then divert
the complex to the intracellular degradation route. Existing PDs have
mostly focused on cancer targets because of the aberrant proteins that
transformed cells create that aren’t found in healthy tissues, but they have
been used in other settings as well.