HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY

The Medical
Biotechnology Sector

1THE MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SECTOR

Summary
Germany’s medical biotechnology industry
received a major boost because of the Covid-19
crisis. Biotech companies, specifically vaccine
developers but also diagnostics and equipment manufacturers, enjoyed enhanced public
reputations and achieved considerable financial
successes. Government support – at levels far
surpassing funding rates in previous years – hascontributed significantly to this development. In
addition, investor interest in this highly innovative field is on the rise. The Covid-19 pandemic
has demonstrated the need for versatile platforms and short development periods.

German companies were able to prove theircompetencies for developing new therapies anddiagnostic tools. BioNTech’s messenger RNA(mRNA) platform, used in the Pfizer/BioNTech
vaccine, is but one of many examples of recent
German biotechnological innovations. To ascribe
the vast investment and revenue increases solely
to Covid-19 would however be misguided. The
whole German biotech industry is growing – withever more cooperation and licensing deals confirming international recognition of German competencies in development and manufacturing.

EUR 6.7 bn

turnover generated by German
biotech companies

736

companies active in thebiotechnology sector

30%

of total pharmaceutical revenues frombiopharmaceuticals

657

biopharmaceutical drug candidates
in the clinical pipeline 1

1

all data from 2020

2

The Biotechnology Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

Market Data
Biotechnology is a key driver of pharmaceuticalindustry innovation. This is particularly true forthe invention of novel treatments and diagnostic
methods. New technologies and research tools
have paved the way to a better understandingof disorders and enabled strategies that combat
causes as well as symptoms. The personalized
medicine age is inconceivable without medical
biotechnology, with the healthcare industry verymuch reliant on developments in the sector.
This is best seen in the growing importance ofbiopharmaceuticals among new drugs approved.
According to the Boston Consulting Group andAssociation of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa) report, 25 of 56 new drugs
approved in Europe in 2020 were biopharmaceuticals. With 45 percent of new drug approvals,
this is the second-highest level since the firstbiopharmaceutical was approved. The growing
importance of biologics has seen medical biotechnology company turnover increase over the
past ten years. In Germany alone, sales of the339 approved biopharmaceuticals reached EUR
14.6 billion in 2020, compared to just under EUR
10 billion in 2016. This positive trend is reflected

Dedicated Biotechnology Companies
in Germany - Turnover and R&D Expenditure

Newly Approved Drugs in Germany and the EU
Biopharmaceuticals and other Drugs
65
24
45
13
10
22

2017

14
27

2018

Chemicals and other drugs  

56
16
33
12

9
31

3
18

2019

2020

Biosimilars  

Originals

Source: Biotech Report vfa (2021)

by a growing biotechnology sector in Germany.
According to the annual survey carried out by
BIOCOM, there are currently more than 730 dedicated biotechnology companies predominantly
active in biotechnology. The total turnover ofthese so-called dedicated biotechnology companies reached EUR 6.7 billion which is an almost
50 percent increase to 2018. Innovation plays
a major role, demonstrated by the fact that
research and development (R&D) spending ofdedicated biotechnology companies is at a very
high level and reached EUR 2.1 billion in 2020.

in EUR billion

6.71

4.51

4.11
3.54

2.14
1.10
2016

1.19

1.12
2017

R&D expenditure  

20182
TurnoverSource: BIOCOM / 23rd Guide to German

2020

The global scale of the international biotechnology industry necessitates collaborations withinternational partners from academia, clinics, andindustry. In recent years, German biotechnology
companies have proven very adept at forming
strategic R&D partnerships and securing major
pharma licensing deals. German expertise is also
becoming increasingly attractive for international
investors.
Several biotechnology companies have hit theheadlines with large investments or impressive
flotations. The financing situation in the R&D
sector has also improved steadily, with several
double-digit venture capital (VC) rounds and a
new record of EUR 2.2 billion in VC collected.

Biotech Companies (2022)
2

no data collected in 2019 due to Covid-19

3

NEW THERAPIES AND DIAGNOSTICS

Industry Trends
New Understanding of Disease andPersonalized Medicine
Novel technologies and the rapidly growing
toolbox of modern molecular biology – including genetic engineering, genome sequencing, andprotein analytics – allow researchers and clinicians
to identify and target the causes of many diseases
better than ever before. Decades of research inimmunology have also yielded a deeper understanding of the body’s defense system. Together,
these developments have paved the way for personalized medicine that is already beginning totransform the pharmaceutical industry and modern healthcare.
Pioneering Solutions for Current
Medical Issues
Germany is among the world’s leading targeted
diagnostics and therapy markets. German biotechnology companies are best known for theirexpertise and innovation potential in a broad
range of indications. The following list represents
only a small selection of current medical issues
that offer international parties numerous pointsof reference for collaboration and strategic partnerships.
• mRNA technologies and (corona-) vaccines:
Vaccines are designed to enable the patient’s
immune system to recognize viruses, otherpathogens, and cancer cells to subsequently
attack them. With Covid-19 being caused bycorona viruses, vaccine technologies were placedat the center of worldwide attention. German
biotechnology companies could once more provetheir innovative power and experience in thefield of vaccine development. With less thana year between the start of the program andauthorization, the first approved corona vaccine

PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR
The pharmaceuticalindustry is the largest
sector within the German healthcare industry. This publication
highlights its strengths
and international partnership opportunities.

HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY

The Pharmaceutical
Sector

1

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The Biotechnology Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

by BioNTech and Pfizer was not only quickly
available but also the first-ever approved
mRNA-based vaccine. Because mRNAs are by
their nature very unstable molecules, mRNA
vaccines were therefore not used before thepandemic. In comparison, alive, dead, and vector
vaccines have been less complicated until today.
The mRNA platform was originated by theGerman biotech company CureVac, which firststarted working on this approach in 1999. However, mRNA technologies have a much broader
field of usage than just viruses. BioNTech’s main
focus of development are vaccines and immunotherapy for cancer. Identifying typical antigens produced by the targeted type of cancer
enables the mRNA vaccine technology. Currently,
they have multiple candidates in phase I and
II trials. It allows the immune system to learn
how to recognize typical cancer cells. Anotherpromising innovation currently in phase II trials
are individualized immunotherapies. Individualized immunotherapy can be realized using apatient’s blood sample through on-demand RNA
manufacturing of predicted patient-focused
Tumor-Specific Antigens (TSAs). Several German companies follow pioneering approaches inusing mRNA platforms to treat a broad range of
diseases.
• Biosimilars: After a biopharmaceutical patent
expires, competitors can start marketing similar drugs if they show no relevant differences
to their reference product. Such biosimilars
have become very successful after the firstwas approved in 2006. In recent years, multiple
biosimilars have become available and theirrevenues have increased by around 65 percent
annually. Biosimilars available for more than one
year generated 52 percent of total revenue withthose agents in Germany. For specific types, suchas the autoimmune disease and cancer drug
Rituximab, up to 90 percent of prescribed doses
are from biosimilars.
• Recombinant antibodies: Most hybridoma-generated antibodies have an animal origin which
can cause reactions from the immune system.
For this reason, the animal DNA is switched forhuman DNA sequences. The final construct isthen transferred into a suitable cell structure
through recombinant DNA technology. Production of these agents can then happen completely in vitro, often with the help of

E. coli bacteria. This allows the improvement
not only of the quality of natural antibodies but
also the creation of completely new formats ofantibodies previously not available in nature. The
first antibodies of this sort were licensed in the
EU in 1998. Today there are already 107 recombinant antibody pharmaceuticals that have been
approved. This trend is likely to continue, with
65 percent of the biopharmaceutical pipeline
containing recombinant antibodies – mainly inthe fields of oncology and immunology. In 2020,
German companies produced 18 of the approved
antibodies making the country the second-highest
producer of different antibodies after the USA.
• Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products: As oneof the pioneering countries in the research ofadvanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs),
Germany is one of the world’s leading andEurope’s driving force in this area. Typically,
ATMPs are classified into three groups: genetherapy medicines, somatic-cell therapy medicines and tissue-engineered-medicines (TEPs)
but also include combinatory products using
these technologies. Their advantage compared
to conventional medicines shows specificallywith hereditary diseases. Regular medication
often includes lifelong administration whereas
ATMPs have to be administered once.
• For uncommon diseases, such as rare types ofcancer and in the field of regenerative medicine,
ATMPs are also taking the industry by storm.
The active ingredients in ATMPs are not conventional small molecules or proteins but nucleic
acids. Even complete cells or tissues enable themto affect the origins of diseases where previously only symptoms could be fought. According
to the vfa, as of July 2021, some 11 gene therapeutics, one cell therapeutic, and two TEPs havebeen approved within the EU. The Paul-EhrlichInstitut (PEI) in Germany can also approve additional ATMPs subject to certain restrictions. As aresult, almost 10 further TEPs are already in use
in the country as well as a cancer vaccine containing cytokine-induced killer cells. More ATMPs
are currently awaiting approval and thousandsof studies are being conducted.

• BioIT innovations: The combination of biotechnology and information technology has thepotential to cause fundamental innovations anddisruptions in various aspects of life and industry. Traditional players in health, agriculture,
forestry, and the food industry as well as theenvironment sector are expanding their services.
• A growing number of non-classical actors, especially from the digital economy – such as Alphabet and Apple – are also entering these markets.
At the intersection of biology and technology,
for example in electronics and robotics, radical
new products are emerging that will enable significant bioeconomic advancements. Substantial
R&D investments and new biotech enterprises
are on the horizon for the next 15-20 years. The
focus of smart medicine is on increasing theeffectiveness of treatments, especially for cancer, immune and cardiovascular diseases. These
are all diseases that are responsible for a large
proportion of premature deaths in industrializedcountries.

Medical Indications with a High Proportion of Biopharmaceuticals
Share of German Pharmaceutical Market Turnover in 2020 in percent

Immunology

81

Metabolism

45

Sensory
Organ
Diseases

45

Infectious
Diseases

21

Hematology

20

Source: Biotech Report vfa (2021)

5

HIGH POTENTIAL FOR COOPERATION

Sector Structure
Three Major Activity Fields
The medical biotechnology sector in Germany can
be classified into three major fields of activity:• Drug development• Diagnostics• Contract service provision
Drug discovery companies are mostly looking forand optimizing biological molecules to cure orstop diseases including cancer and Alzheimer’s
disease as well as rare diseases like cystic fibrosis. Vaccine developers also belong to this group.
The core is built by biopharmaceutical companies
that already have clinical-stage drug candidates.
Germany’s biotechnology sector enjoys growing
maturity, with the clinical pipeline bigger thanever before. According to the vfa, the 700-plus
active companies in Germany had a total of 657
drug candidates in the clinical biopharmaceuticalpipeline in 2020.

Biopharmaceutical Drug Development Pipeline
Number of Drug Candidates according to Medical
Indication in 2020

Oncology

286
+3%
120

Infectious
Diseases
Immunology

Metabolism

CNS

+30%
99
-7%
44
+13%
42
+8%

New Agents in the pipeline
Change to 2019 in percent
Source: Biotech Report vfa (2021)

Diagnostics is mainly concerned with the development of molecular biological test systems (forexample, SARS-CoV-2), companion diagnostics fortherapies or prenatal tests.

manufacture active ingredients in small and large
quantities on behalf of other companies.

Therapeutic Proteins and Vaccines
Of the class of therapeutic agents, 429 are recombinant antibodies, 111 represent vaccines, 73 otherforms of recombinant proteins, and 44 belong to
the class of gene therapeutic agents in the pipeline. It is noteworthy that 16 percent of all therapeutic agents in clinical phase III are biosimilars.
This underlines the high level of expertise andthe growing activity in the field of biosimilars in
Dedicated Biotech Companies: Main Areas of Activity
Germany. In terms of the medical indications thatare targeted, oncology continuously dominates
Non-specificMed. Biotechnology/ the biopharmaceutical pipeline with 286 subservices
Therapeutics
stances in clinical development. Other major areasof R&D activity are infectious diseases (which
achieved the highest level of increase, most likely
28%
connected to the Covid-19 pandemic) and immu25%
nology. These three indications already cover 68
percent of all drug candidates in the pipeline.
Contract service providers offer services related tothe development and manufacturing of therapeutics. For example, they conduct research into or

Agrobiotechnology
Bioinformatics

3%
6%
14%
10%

Industrial
Biotechnology

14%Med. Biotechnology/Diagnostics
Med. Biotechnology/
Services

Source: BIO Deutschland (2021)

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The Biotechnology Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

Diagnostic Field
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of diagnostics. Last year a record numberof 110 companies were working in the diagnostics field. This reflects the increasing demand forearly disease detection, for example, in infection
diagnostics and the relevance of companion diagnostics for therapeutic treatments including personalized medicine in cancer treatment. In 2020,

diagnostic companies alone achieved sales of EUR
2.8 billion. Diagnostics are also of growing importance for investors.
Strong Service Businesses
Germany has a long tradition in bioengineering and bioprocessing. Building on this, a large
number of biotechnology and pharmaceuticalcompanies act as service providers for research
and manufacturing. They profit from an ongoingoutsourcing trend – making Germany the number
two location worldwide in terms of production of
EU-approved biopharmaceuticals and the number one in Europe. The country also has a strong
network of contract research organizations (CROs)
covering services relevant for the life sciences suchas target validation, lead optimization (including delivery technologies), toxicological studies, bioanalytics, and clinical trial management.
The majority of CROs in Germany are small andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As they speed
up drug development, the versatility and strengthof the German CRO landscape is a solid reference
point for collaboration at the international level.

The HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY initiative provides
a free online database of German healthcare companies for potential international partners and customers. More than 3,500 German manufacturers arelisted with company profiles, product portfolios, andcontact information.
A listing of German contract researchers that disseminates information, connects partners and opens thepath for German expertise to serve people all over
the world.

Guide to Contract Research in Germany
www.health-made-in-germany.com
A directory of biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing organizations, created to make it easier forinternational clients to find firms in Germany thatare best-suited for their projects.
German Biomanufacturing Guide
www.health-made-in-germany.com

Main Areas of Activity of Contract Research Organizations (CROs) in Germany
Relative Proportion of the Entire Service Spectrum (multiple entries possible)

45

Clinical Research
Bioanalytics

41

Analysis &Characterization

32

Cell Culture
Technology

26

Pharmaco
dynamics,-kinetics

26

Screening

25

Diagnostic
Services

25

Synthesis

15

Medicinal
Chemistry12

Bio-/Cheminformatics
Galenics &Delivery11
4

Source: Guide to Contract Research in Germany, HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY (2020)

7FOCUS ON INNOVATIONThe Biotech Landscapein Germany
Germany’s excellent R&D environment and comprehensive funding options have contributed to ahigh level of R&D activity in the biotech sector. In
2020, total annual R&D spending passed theEUR 2 billion mark. Every year companies participate in thousands of research projects withpartners from industry and scientific institutes,
reinforcing Germany’s reputation as one of thebest environments for biotechnology worldwide.
The country is renowned for its outstanding

capabilities, resources and infrastructure along
the entire value chain: from R&D through scale-up
and production to sales, marketing and after-sales
services.
Innovation Environment
German biotechnology companies are anchoredin a unique life-science innovation environmentthat is made up of universities, non-academic
research institutes belonging to research organi-

Biotechnology Clusters (“BioRegions”) and their Headquarters in Germany

Industrielle Biotechnologie Nord
Life Science Nord
3 BioCon Valley
4 BioNord
5 BioRegioN
6 HealthCapital Cluster Gesundheitswirtschaft in Berlin
7 Gesellschaft für Bioanalytik Münster
8 BioIndustry
9 BIO.NRW
10 BioRiver – Life Science in the Rheinland
11 BioCologne
12 MedLife e.V
13 bioanalytik-muenster
14 Technologieland Hessen
15 cc-NanoBioNet e.V.
16 BioRN - Life Science Cluster Rhine-Main-Neckar
17 Technologiepark Heidelberg
18 IGZ- Innovation and Start-up Centre Würzburg
19 BIOPRO
20 BioRegio Stern Management GmbH
21 BioPark Regensburg
22 BioRegio Freiburg – BioValley
23 BioPharma Cluster South Germany
24 BioM - Munich Biotech Cluster
25 Cluster Offensive Bayern
26 BMD Life Sciences Agency
27 InfectoGnostics Forschungscampus Jena
28 Medways
29 Bio City Leipzig
30 biosaxony
31 BioLAGO – the Health Network
32 Technologiepark Weinberg Campus
33 BioRegio Regensburg
34 Cluster für Individualisierte ImmunIntervention e.V.
(Ci3)
1

2

SchleswigHolstein1
Bremen4

3
MecklenburgVorpommern

2

Hamburg
BerlinNiedersachsen

65Brandenburg

7

13

Saxony-Anhalt

8North Rhine-Westphalia

26 32

9 10 11
12

Thuringia

29 Saxony

30

27 28
Hessen14
RheinlandPfalz

34

18

Saarland

15

16 17

21 33
Bavaria

19 20
22

BadenWürttemberg

23
24 25

31

Source: Germany Trade & Invest (2021)

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The Biotechnology Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

zations (Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society,Helmholtz Association, and Leibniz Association),and industry. Clusters, in which the expertise ofdiverse partners from science and industry isbundled along the value chain, are major driversof innovation. The German Federal Governmenthas been providing targeted financial support
for several clusters and related infrastructure, forexample, by establishing the German Centers of
Health Research.
Life Science Clusters in Germany
The country’s “BioRegions” are regional clusters
for the advancement of modern life sciences inGermany. Over the past three decades, these biotechnology networks have established themselves
as Europe’s leading R&D hubs. Each region specializes in specific areas and facilitates collaboration
between universities, R&D institutes and private
sector companies. Most clusters are located in
the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavariaand Baden-Württemberg, but biotechnology hot
spots are spread across the entire country. Smaller
regional clusters in particular have developed
strong cooperations with other industrial sectors
and international partnerships.
Around 30 BioRegions are active members of the“AK Bioregio” taskforce that is the “Council of
German BioRegions” (www.biodeutschland.org).
The council’s goal is to advance the German biotechnology sector by coordinating and promoting
local activities. It was also involved in managing
the Covid-19 reactions of the bio-clusters. International companies in particular can benefit fromthe BioRegions, enjoying easy access to local networks and research project funding.

Start-ups on the Rise
Life-science cluster collaboration and available
incentives have proved invaluable to the establishment of new companies in the sector. Start-up
dynamism has increased in recent years. With 42
start-ups in 2019, the number of new companies
doubled compared to the previous year (20 in2018) – most likely accelerated by the Covid-19
pandemic. In 2020 there were 25 new enterprises
recorded. Most of the newcomers are active in the
medical biotherapeutics field.
Several federal funding initiatives support theestablishment of young companies. These include
the Central Innovation Program (Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand – ZIM) which provides
funding for SMEs with business operations in Germany and promotes cooperation between research
institutions and the private sector. The German
government and several companies have set up theHigh-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) as a public-private
partnership. This investment instrument provides
technology start-ups with seed capital and laterstage financing.
Clinical Trials
Germany offers excellent expertise for clinical trials. There are currently 1,543 active, non-recruiting
studies in Germany. The country was the world’s
fifth-leading clinical trial location in 2019. Geographically located at the heart of the EU withexcellent access to other European countries, Germany’s competencies in this field are highly appreciated by international pharmaceutical companies.
German clinicians enjoy a reputation as credibleand serious partners for the provision of highquality data.

9

INDUSTRY VOICESGerman Expertise
German medical biotechnology companies apply
cutting-edge technologies and use their considerable experience to develop innovative products
and platforms for the medicine of the future.
Whether active in drug discovery, diagnostics, ordrug development – many of these companies are
considered pioneers in their respective fields.
Here, leading representatives of three German
biotechnology companies report on what makes
their expertise so interesting for international
partners, why global alliances and strategic partnerships are the key to successful business development and what they have learned from thecorona pandemic.
MorphoSys AG works to discover, develop andcommercialize innovative therapies for people
living with cancer and autoimmune diseases. The
company has more than three decades of experience in antibody technology. Being able to provide patients with the best treatment available isdriving its more than 750 employees across Germany and the United States.
BioSpring Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH is
a leading industry expert in oligonucleotide science and technology, delivering products at all
production scales that meet the highest quality
standards for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. BioSpring is a privately-owned company
with over 400 employees. Headquartered inFrankfurt, Germany, BioSpring is an international
player with a subsidiary in the United States anda local presence in Japan.
Rentschler Biopharma SE is a leading global
Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). The family-owned company
with around 1,000 employees is situated with
its headquarters in Laupheim, Germany, and itssite in Milford, USA. Rentschler Biopharma offers
end-to-end solutions including biopharmaceuticalprocess development and manufacturing as well
as related consulting, such as project management
and regulatory support.

Dr. Jean-Paul Kress
CEO, MorphoSys AG,
Planegg
What distinguishes Biotech made Germany
in international comparison?
In Germany we have excellent conditions: welltrained scientists and outstanding academic
research institutions that drive innovation andhave led to exciting spin-offs. This became evident in the nearly 30-year history of MorphoSys
and other examples.
What can international partners expect fromcollaborating with MorphoSys?
MorphoSys has evolved into an international
company. We forged R&D partnerships with leading global pharma and biotech companies, andwe have a very diverse team with employees
from 40 different nationalities. We now focus
on proprietary drug development and have built
a significant presence in Boston. Through collaborations with international partners we havegenerated a deep knowledge of the US healthcare
market and offer a lot of expertise in innovative
drug development.
What are your most important “lessons
learned” from the corona crisis for international business?
In July 2020, the FDA granted accelerated approvalof our first own Oncology medicine, an immunotherapy for a very aggressive form of bloodcancer. Hence, we needed to build our commercial
team and launch our product in the middle ofthe pandemic. We quickly pivoted with our sales
activities, focused on virtual engagements andnew digital marketing tools. We will certainly
benefit from the agility and digital focus of ourorganization.
www.morphosys.com

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The Biotechnology Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

Dr. Sylvia Wojczewski
CEO, BioSpring Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH,
Frankfurt am Main

Frank Mathias
CEO, Rentschler Biopharma SE,
Laupheim

What distinguishes biotechnology “made inGermany” in international comparison?
The biotech sector is characterized by very specialized and service-oriented companies. Additionally,
German companies have been focused on international business for a long time, understand customers’ needs and have responded to them in an
adaptable and flexible way. They have excellently
trained employees at all levels.

What distinguishes biotechnology “made inGermany” in international comparison?
Germany offers outstanding research facilities,
entrepreneurial spirit and highly qualified professionals. The ability of German companies to
respond quickly to evolving industry and clientneeds is also a major strength. Germany should see
these conditions as an opportunity and continue toinvest, so that we can fully exploit our potential inbiotechnology and continue to play a leading roleinternationally.

What can international partners expect fromcollaborating with BioSpring?
As absolute experts in the field of therapeutic
oligonucleotides, we perfectly understand thetechnical requirements and the demands of ourinternational partners. We are completely internationally oriented. Trust, meeting deadlines,
reliability, flexibility and fast communication are
essentials. Our experts – in all parts of the company– allow us to collaborate with customers according
to their individual needs. We work in state-of-theart facilities with excellent logistic conditions
What are your most important “lessons
learned” from the corona crisis for international business?
The last months have shown: We live in a completely global world. Our customer and supplier
relationships are totally internationalized. It has
paid off to have a secured and diversified supply chain that balances (out) our procurement
processes. At the same time, we have successfully
intensified our customer and supplier communications across all channels. It was helpful here that
we have close and trusting partnerships with ourcustomers.
www.biospring.de/about

What can international partners expect fromcollaborating with Rentschler Biopharma?
Rentschler Biopharma offers process development
and production of highly complex biopharmaceuticals for clinical as well as for commercial supply. We
support our clients with flexible business models
from three locations across the globe. We also offer
consulting services – from cell line selection toregulatory processes – based on decades of experience. This is enabled by our excellent and highly
motivated team that works in trusting and close
collaboration with our clients.
What are your most important “lessons learned”
from the corona crisis for international business?
In my view, the pandemic has demonstrated how
much we can achieve in a short time when we all
join forces. At Rentschler Biopharma, we always
believed in strong alliances: We seek allianceswith expert strategic partners and thereby offer
our clients the best possible range of high-quality
services across the biopharmaceutical value chain.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure the reliable supply of
essential medications to critically ill patients.
www.rentschler-biopharma.com

11

SPECIAL TOPIC

German Biotechnology and Covid-19
The Covid-19 crisis has been rendered tolerable thanks to the biotechnology industry. Morethan 70 German biotech companies are actively
involved in the fight against the pandemic.
The continual evolution of the virus, which has
resulted in new variants, created huge challenges
for scientific study. However, three successful variables allowed the crisis to be kept undercontrol: Rapid tests, medication for infectedpatients and vaccines. As of January 2022, morethan 150 million vaccine doses have already been
administered in Germany; worldwide it has been
more than 8.5 billion vaccines (December 2021).
The WHO has registered 300 vaccine projects,
with around 100 of them currently in clinical trials and involving German firms and institutes.
The extremely short development cycle is a
result of previous experience with vaccinations

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The Biotechnology Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

against related SARS and MERS viruses andunprecedented collaboration between companies,
research institutions, clinics, and authorities.
Germany developed the world’s first coronavirus
test, as well as the first licensed mRNA-based
Covid-vaccine. German biotech companies are pioneers in the field of mRNA innovation. Althoughvaccinations are important, so is proper treatment for individuals already infected. Around
600 active ingredients are currently being tested
to whether they contribute to a faster recovery
from Covid-19. Virus-binding molecules are also indevelopment, including those that differ structurally from classical antibodies. Biotech businesses
and research institutes have produced aptamers,
nanobodies, sybodies, and DARPins, which are
now or will soon be clinically tested in collaboration with larger partners.

OUR PARTNERS

Industry Associations
The German medical biotechnology sector is represented by a number of industry associations
that lobby for improvements for their member
companies. HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY works
closely together with them to provide support
for international companies seeking collaborationand partnerships with German companies activein the digital health sector. To further enhance
sector visibility, we facilitate the presence ofGerman players at relevant industry events andprovide a platform for connecting with international partners.

Biotechnologie-Industrie-Organisation
Deutschland
The Biotechnologie-Industrie-Organisation
Deutschland (BIO Deutschland) is an independentassociation for the German biotechnology industry and has set itself the objective of supportingand promoting the development of an innovative
economic sector based on modern biosciences.
The Berlin-based association currently has over
360 members. It is run by a board of ten members
consisting of CEOs and managing directors of biotechnology companies and their investors. Using awide range of political initiatives, BIO Deutschland
lobbies for improvements to the legal parameters
for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. BIO Deutschland represents Germany’s
biotechnology sector at the Federation of German Industries (BDI), at the European association(EuropaBio) in Brussels and at the US-American
BIO in Washington. BIO Deutschland is also founding member of the International Council of Biotechnology Association (ICBA). The association isvery active in a broad range of events with theaim of providing biotechnology with a platform
for discussion and interaction.
www.biodeutschland.org/en

Deutsche Industrievereinigung Biotechnologie
The German Association of Biotechnology Industries (DIB) is the biotechnology branch of the
Association of the German Chemical Industry(VCI), the VCI sector groups and the VCI sector
associations. DIB represents the political-economic
interests of companies which use biotechnologicalmethods and, in this manner, strengthen sustainable growth and the international competitiveness of biotechnology in Germany. 10 associations
are also members of DIB. Thus, the DIB members
stand for over 90 percent of the German market
for biotechnology products such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, fine and specialty chemicals,
enzymes, personal care products, animal healthproducts, polymers, renewables and derived
products. DIB is member of the European biotechnology association EuropaBio and appoints one
member to the Board.
www.vci.de/dib

Vereinigung deutscher BiotechnologieUnternehmen
The Association of German Biotechnology Companies (VBU) links companies operating in biotechnology and related sectors. Its members are active
in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, bioinformatics, diagnostics, medical products and laboratory
technology. The VBU is a platform for cooperation,communication and information. It forms an interdisciplinary network and supports its members inthe search for partners from all areas of the life
sciences in Germany and abroad. The VBU presents attractive international markets in webinars
and on site events. It also organizes topical andcountry specific brokerage events, as well as tradedelegation trips and shared stands at trade shows.
www.v-b-u.org/vbu/en/

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OUR SERVICESHEALTH MADE IN GERMANY
Germany is one of the world’s most important
providers and exporters of healthcare products
and services. The country’s innovative medical
products set international standards for quality,
safety and reliability. German manufacturers andservice providers in all health and life sciences
segments attract overseas customers and partners
and deliver leadership in healthcare innovation.
HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY is the export initiative
for the German healthcare industry. It supports
international companies and organizations that areinterested in establishing contact with potential
German partners and suppliers. Set up by theGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs andClimate Action (BMWK), the initiative bundles
expert market intelligence for easy industry access.
One of the initiative’s main goals is to promote theGerman healthcare sector through international
networking activities for the mutual benefit ofinternational partners and German companies alike.
HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY does this by providing proactive support (including market andregulatory insight), introductory services, andnetworking platforms including trade events athome and abroad. The initiative serves four majorindustries active in the international medical market: pharmaceuticals, medical technology, medical
biotechnology, and digital health care.
HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY also works closelywith 16 major German industry associations andis part of the BMWK’s MITTELSTAND GLOBAL
umbrella program for small and medium-sized enterprises. The initiative is ideally placed to provide
access to German healthcare market informationand to help overseas businesses identify potential
German partners.
The HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY initiative is
implemented by Germany Trade & Invest, theeconomic development agency of the Federal
Republic of Germany, on behalf of the BMWK.

For more information:www.health-made-in-germany.com

Our support for your business:
We publish market briefs, in-depth market
studies and company directories of theGerman healthcare industry and its different sectors.
Our calendar is regularly updated withthe latest industry events in Germany
and overseas.
We take part in leading healthcare
trade fairs all over the world, organize
networking events and enjoy ongoing
dialogue and exchange with international
health policymakers.

14

The Biotechnology Sector | health-made-in-germany.com

We provide free access to 3,500+ German
healthcare companies with our online database. Detailed company profiles and directcontact information help international
businesses to identify potential suppliers
and partners in Germany.
Visit www.health-made-in-germany.com
for more information about the German
healthcare industry and all HEALTH MADE
IN GERMANY activities.

CONTACT

Expert Advice

Imprint
Publisher
Germany Trade and Invest
Gesellschaft für Außenwirtschaft
und Standortmarketing mbH
Friedrichstraße 60
10117 Berlin
Germany
Executive Board
Dr. Jürgen Friedrich, Chairman/CEO
Dr. Robert Hermann, CEO
EditorWilliam MacDougall, Germany Trade & Invest, Berlin

Axel Lohse is the manager responsible for the
medical biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries at HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY. He is yourpoint of contact for expert advice in those fields
and looks forward to receiving your inquiries andrequests.

Author
CONOSCOPE GmbH, Leipzig

Get in touch with us to learn more about what
HEALTH MADE IN GERMANY can do for you.

Notes
All rights reserved.
© Germany Trade & Invest, February 2022
Reproduction, in whole or in part, only permissible
with express prior authorization. All market data
provided is based on the most current market
information available at the time of publication.
­Germany Trade & Invest accepts no liability forthe actuality, accuracy, or completeness of theinformation provided.

Axel Lohse
Deputy Director and Manager,
Medical Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals
T +49 30 200 099-254
Axel.Lohse@gtai.com
www.health-made-in-germany.com
www.gtai.com

Print
Kern GmbH, 66450 Bexbach
www.kerndruck.de

Order Number
20995-2
Picture Credits
Front page: scyther5/istockphoto.com; page 10:@MorphoSys; page 11: @BioSpring GmbH 2022,
Rentschler Biopharma; page 12: BIO 2013; page 15:
Illing & VossbeckFotografie

15

About Us
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the economic development agencyof the Federal Republic of Germany. The company helps create andsecure extra employment opportunities, strengthening Germany as
a business location. With more than 50 offices in Germany and abroad
and its network of partners throughout the world, GTAI supports
German companies setting up in foreign markets, promotes Germany as
a business location and assists foreign companies setting up in Germany.
All investment services and related publications are free of charge.

Germany Trade & Invest
Headquarters
Friedrichstraße 60
10117 Berlin
Germany
T +49 30 200 099-0
F +49 30 200 099-111
invest@gtai.com
www.gtai.com

Germany Trade & Invest
Bonn Office
Villemombler Straße 76
53123 Bonn
Germany
T +49 228 249 93-0
F +49 228 249 93-212
info@gtai.de
www.gtai.de