Biological-based medicines will be the focus of scientists

Scientists are set to have a greater focus on biological-based medicines in the near future, according to an expert.

Professor Gino Martini, a pharmacist and senior director at GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development, said that many pharmaceutical companies are struggling to replenish pipelines as many patents are coming to an end.

For this reason, scientists are turning towards diversifying business models, he explained.

"So [they are] looking at consumers, over-the-counter medicines, nutrition, medical device companies - they're looking to invest in divisions that are linked to pharmacy but not quite pharmacy," Professor Martini.

He suggested that many firms are developing biological-based medicines, such as monochrome antibodies and vaccines.

China and India are also set to become major players in global pharmaceutical research and development, he predicted.

Meanwhile, researchers from Queen Mary, University of London, have identified a molecule which is essential to the resetting of biological body clocks in fruit flies.