Competitive Landscape Of Single-use Bioprocessing Industry

Report Overview

The single-use bioprocessing industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing adoption of biologics, vaccines, and advanced therapies such as cell and gene therapies. Single-use technologies (SUTs) offer numerous advantages over traditional stainless-steel systems, including reduced risk of contamination, lower capital expenditure, and faster production turnaround. As the demand for biologics rises, pharmaceutical companies are turning to single-use systems to increase manufacturing flexibility and scalability. This shift has been further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the importance of rapid and flexible manufacturing processes, particularly for vaccine production.

Single-use bioprocessing companies often serve as integrators of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) components, combining specialized technologies like bioreactors, filters, and sensors from various suppliers into complete single-use systems. By leveraging OEM expertise, these companies deliver customizable, turnkey solutions tailored to specific biopharma needs, ensuring seamless integration across the production process. This approach allows biopharmaceutical firms to streamline operations while benefiting from the latest innovations in single-use technologies.

Moreover, the workflow of integrators and OEMs in the single-use bioprocessing industry typically revolves around close collaboration to deliver efficient and scalable solutions for biopharmaceutical production. OEMs provide the specialized components and equipment required, while integrators bring these together into a cohesive, automated system. This partnership enables streamlined production processes, improved scalability, and faster time-to-market, especially crucial for personalized medicine and smaller batch production. Such collaborations leverage automation and IT expertise to ensure better data insights, improved reproducibility, and compliance with bioprocessing standards.

Single-use technology has been in the market for over a decade but with the growing demand of biopharmaceuticals over past few years, adoption of single-use system in the bioprocessing market has also increased. With major pharmaceutical key players investing in their biotechnology portfolio, the global market for biologics such as MAbs, vaccines, recombinant protein, and even cell and gene therapy is expanding every year. Benefits pertaining to the use of single-use technology (SUT), such as significant cost reduction in capital, decreased time in operation and construction of a facility and environment sustainability have supported the implementation of single-use systems in the bioprocessing market. The current industry trend of perfusion and continuous cell culture in bioprocessing has enabled the use of single-use equipment hugely.

Increasing Demand for Personalized Medicine

The rising demand for personalized medicine is driving significant growth in the biopharmaceutical industry, particularly in areas like gene and cell therapies. These therapies require smaller, highly specialized production runs tailored to individual patients or specific patient groups. Single-use bioprocessing systems are ideally suited for this shift, offering the flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency needed for personalized treatments. Thus, by reducing contamination risks and speeding up production cycles, single-use technologies help biopharma companies meet the unique demands of personalized medicine while optimizing operational efficiency and reducing overhead costs, making them a critical component in this evolving healthcare landscape.

Competitive Landscape: Single-use Bioprocessing Integrator Report Coverage

The single-use bioprocessing industry is highly competitive due to the presence of major players like Thermo Fisher Scientific, Lonza Group, and Merck KGaA that offer a wide range of single-use bioprocessing. The report analyses the competitive landscape in this industry based on parameters mentioned below:

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Company Overview

• Headquarter: Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.

• Establishment Year: 1956

• Employee Strength (2023): 26,000+

• Business Overview: Thermo Fisher Scientific is a major player in the single-use bioprocessing industry, offering a wide range of customizable solutions including bioreactors, fluid management systems, and filtration technologies. By integrating OEM components with their proprietary technologies, the organization delivers flexible, scalable systems that reduce production costs and contamination risks. These systems are ideal for biopharmaceutical companies focused on biologics and gene therapies, enabling faster, more efficient production. The company’s end-to-end support-from R&D to commercial manufacturing-helps streamline operations and accelerate time-to-market for personalized medicines and other biopharmaceutical products. Known for its innovation and strong research capabilities, Thermo Fisher maintains a leading position in the global bioprocessing market through its comprehensive product offerings and strategic global presence.

Product Benchmarking

Financial Performance

Strategic Initiatives

Thermo Fisher Scientific is strengthening its position in the single-use bioprocessing industry through several key initiatives. The company is expanding its manufacturing facilities and upgrading its research and development capabilities to support both development and commercial production of single-use bioprocessing products.

• In June 2024, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is advancing sustainability in biologics therapy manufacturing by using plant-based materials to create lower-carbon films for its single-use bioprocessing containers (BPCs). These new biobased films enhance the existing Aegis and CX film products, which are well-validated by customers.

• In August 2022, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. opened its largest single-use technology manufacturing site in Greater Nashville. The USD 105 million, 400,000-square-foot facility will help meet the growing demand for bioprocessing materials used in vaccines and innovative cancer therapies. This site is part of a USD 650 million investment to expand Thermo Fisher’s bioprocessing production capabilities.

• In September 2021, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has announced plans to build a manufacturing facility in Nashville for single-use technologies (SUT) products. This investment follows a previous expansion to meet the growing demand in the bioprocessing market.

• In September 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced an update to its HyPerforma DynaDrive single-use bioreactor (SUB) range, allowing biomanufacturers to access disposable bioreactors with volumes more than double the current limit.

Business Verticals

Thermo Fisher Scientific operates through four key business verticals that drive in the life sciences, healthcare, and industrial markets, that is, life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products & biopharma services.

Thermo Fisher Scientific's Life Sciences Bioprocessing division is a prominent provider of solutions for the development and manufacturing of biologics, including vaccines and cell therapies. With a comprehensive portfolio that includes single-use bioreactors, mixing systems, and filtration devices, the division enhances efficiency while minimizing contamination risks. Their focus on integrated systems facilitates seamless transitions between various bioprocessing stages, accommodating both small-scale research and large-scale production demands.

As the biopharmaceutical industry increasingly shifts toward biologics and personalized medicine, Thermo Fisher is well-positioned to support rapid development in this area. The division emphasizes sustainability, aiming to reduce environmental impact through efficient technologies. Additionally, Thermo Fisher offers extensive technical support and training programs, collaborating with biopharma companies and research institutions to drive innovation. Adhering to stringent regulatory standards, the division ensures that its products meet the necessary quality and safety requirements, reinforcing its status as a key player in the bioprocessing industry.

Furthermore, Thermo Fisher Scientific integrates various OEM components, like bioreactors and filters, into complete single-use systems. By combining their own technologies with those from other suppliers, they provide customized, ready-to-use solutions that help biopharma companies streamline production and scale efficiently.

SWOT Analysis

List of 20 single-use bioprocessing integrator companies:

• Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Sartorius Stedim Biotech

• Merck KGaA

• Danaher

• Corning Incorporated

• Eppendorf

• Saint-Gobain Life Sciences

• Meissner Filtration Products

• Avantor

• Repligen Corporation

• PBS Biotech

• Entegris

• Colder Products Company (CPC)

• Flexan

• TBL Performance Plastics

• Nordson Medical

• Foxx Life Sciences

• Tosoh Bioscience

• W. L. Gore & Associates 

Competitive Landscape: Single-use Bioprocessing OEM Report Coverage

The single-use bioprocessing industry is highly competitive due to the presence of several OEM offering wide range of single-use assemblies for the single-use bioprocess integrated systems:

Qosina

Company Overview

• Headquarter: U.S.

• Establishment Year: 1980

• Qosina is a supplier of OEM components and assemblies for the medical device industry. The company specializes in providing a wide range of products, including tubing, connectors, and other disposable medical device components. Qosina is known for its extensive inventory, quick turnaround times, and ability to support clients from prototyping through to full-scale production. Their offerings cater to various medical applications, including cardiology, urology, and respiratory care. Qosina emphasizes quality and compliance with industry standards, ensuring that their products meet rigorous regulatory requirements. Additionally, they provide customization services to help clients develop specific solutions tailored to their needs. 

Product Benchmarking

List of 10 single-use bioprocessing OEM companies:

• BioPulse Solutions

• Entegris

• Colder Products Company

• Qosina

• METTLER TOLEDO

• Sentinel Process Systems Inc

• Hamilton Company

• Single Use Support (Novo Holdings)

• Liquidyne Process Technologies, Inc

• CellBios