Marine Industries Global Market Analysis - Marine Institute

MARINE INDUSTRIES GLOBAL MARKET ANALYSIS
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23 Marine Biotechnology
1999–03 2004 2005–09
Irish market €M – – –
UK market €M – – –
Europe market €M – – –
World market €M 11,350 2,190 11,848
Definition – the value of biotechnology products based on the use of marine organisms.
23.1 INTRODUCTION
80% of living organisms are found only in aquatic ecosystems, yet little is known
about their biochemical characteristics.The marine biotechnology sector is in the
early stages of its development with considerable interest being shown by the US,
Japan, the UK and others. (It is arguable that at this stage in its development the
Marine Biotechnology sector should be regarded as part of the R&D sector.)
Marine biotechnology offers considerable long-term potential which is mainly
outside the timeframe of this report.
However, there have been some initial successes – the US Sea Grant has reported
that with small investments five drugs have been developed “with market potential
of $2bn p.a.”
It is likely that the future marine biotechnology market should segment along similar
lines to the established ‘conventional’ biotechnology market which is dominated by
US companies (76% of global revenues followed by Europe 22%). However, the
UK report referenced below implies that this may not be the case and that much
more may be open to non-US companies.
A recent report commissioned by the UK’s Foresight Marine Panel stated “With a
global market valued at $2.4 billion in 2002, and a predicted growth rate exceeding
10% per annum over the next three years, there is no doubting that marine
biotechnology represents one of the most exciting emerging technology sectors”. 76
The UK Foresight Report also stated:“Marine biotechnology is unlike other areas
of biotechnology in that it is defined in terms of its source material, rather than the
market it serves. It is anticipated that it will eventually contribute to nearly every
industry sector, from healthcare to bioremediation and from cosmetics to
nutraceuticals.The time to invest in the underpinning science, knowledge networks,
and public understanding of this major biotechnology field has now arrived”.
Examples of marine biotechnology are quoted in the UK report as follows:
• The potential for marine natural products as pharmaceuticals was first developed
in the 1950s which led to two marine-derived pharmaceuticals that are still in use
today. Ara-C is an anti-cancer drug (used against acute myelocytic leukemia and
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and Ara-A used as an antiviral drug for treating herpes.
Both these drugs were derived from natural compounds found in sponges off the
Note: Being an early-stage development
there is insufficient information on which
to base a regional segmentation.
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http://www.dti.gov.uk/marine_biotechnology_report.html