Nanotechnology is relatively new to the scientific world but already has the potential to significantly alter healthcare. By working with near atom-sized particles, scientists and doctors can deliver drugs more effectively and target specific organs, diagnose diseases more rapidly and with greater sensitivity, and deliver vaccines through aerosols and transdermal patches.

The physical and chemical properties of materials in the nanoscale are radically different. They have different strengths, conductivity, and reactivity, and it is these properties that are being utilized in biomedical research. Increased activity is causing expansion in the market: BCC Research expects the global nanoparticles in biotechnology, drug development, and drug delivery systems market to reach $156.8 billion by 2028 up from $102.7 billion in 2023. The market will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8% for the forecast period of 2023 to 2028.

The top companies in the nanoparticles industry

BCC Research has identified these ten companies as being the top presences in the nanotechnology landscape:

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company and a key player in the nanoparticle space. The company discovers, develops, manufactures, and distributes pharmaceutical and other healthcare products, and has a strong portfolio across oncology, cardiovascular, immunoscience, and virology products. The company has a leading market position in the pharmaceutical and healthcare market. 2019 was a transformative year for Bristol-Myers Squibb, as it acquired Celgene in one of the largest mergers ever in its sector.

Camurus

Camurus AB is a research-oriented pharmaceutical and biotechnology company located in Lund, Sweden. The company develops drugs to address serious unmet medical needs. These drugs cover a range of therapeutic areas, including cancer, endocrinology, pain, metabolic disease, and drug addiction. Camurus has developed two novel platforms for the delivery of nanoparticle and nanocrystal drugs. The firm’s R&D pipeline is strong and includes drugs for the treatment of opioid dependence, pain, rare diseases, endocrine diseases, and cancer. Camurus’ strategy is to continue developing drugs to meet the needs of its target disease category areas.

Ceramisphere Health

Ceramisphere Health is a privately owned Australian company that focuses on commercializing patented technology for the encapsulation, transport, delivery, and controlled release of molecules based on sub-micron ceramic (e.g., silica) microspheres. The company is a leader in the field of sol-gel chemistry. It is currently working on the application of this technology to a range of commercial opportunities. In its state-of-the-art R&D facilities in Sydney, it undertakes product development and also scale-up, production, and testing of its novel encapsulated products.

Nanoparticles in Biotechnology, Drug Development and Drug Delivery Systems

The nanoparticles market is witnessing significant investment opportunities. There’s no doubt that nanoparticles serve as revolutionary and beneficial technology, particularly for targeted drug delivery therapies for the treatment of various types of cancer. BCC Research’s latest report dives into the evolving industry, evaluating the competitive landscape and providing precise five-year forecasting across sectors and regions.

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4. CytImmune Sciences

CytImmune Sciences is a U.S.-based clinical-stage nanomedicine company whose primary focus is on the discovery, development, and commercialization of multifunctional, tumor-targeted therapies. The company has harnessed the unique properties of gold nanoparticles to develop a pipeline of proprietary drug candidates that bind to potent anti-cancer agents. These agents have toxicity profiles that prevent or severely limit clinical use. The combinations with gold nanoparticles reduce the toxicity and have led to its patented colloidal gold tumor-targeting nanotechnology.

5. Gilead Sciences

Headquartered in California and established in 1987, Gilead Sciences is a leading biopharmaceutical company with a focus on developing and commercializing innovative medicines for unmet medical needs. The company’s product portfolio and pipeline drugs are targeted toward the treatment of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, influenza, respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, cancer, inflammation, and COVID-19 among others. As of 2021, the company has employed 14,400 people across its different locations spanning countries in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. In December 2021, Gilead marked a significant milestone by delivering the 100 millionth vial of its anti-fungal medication AmBisome (amphotericin B liposome for injection).

6. GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline is a global healthcare company that undertakes the development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and consumer health-related products. The company operates through three segments: pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and consumer healthcare. The pharmaceutical division covers a range of acute and chronic diseases. The vaccines produced by the company are for all age groups, from babies to older people, and consumer healthcare is further segmented into wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health.

7. Hofmann-La Roche

Hofmann-La Roche is the leading manufacturer and provider of in vitro diagnostics and pharmaceutical products. It has a presence in over 100 countries and employed 96,000 people worldwide as of December 2019. It operates in two business divisions, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostics. The pharmaceutical division offers advanced therapeutic products for therapy segments such as oncology, immunology, infectious disease, ophthalmology, and diseases of the central nervous system.

8. Merck & Co

Merck & Co. is a healthcare company providing health solutions through prescription medicines, vaccines, biological therapies, and animal health products. Founded in 1970, the company is headquartered in New Jersey and has approximately 68,000 employees worldwide, with 26,500 employed in the United States, including Puerto Rico as of December 2021. The company provides healthcare solutions through four operating segments: pharmaceutical, animal health, healthcare services, and alliances segments. Merck follows global standards of good clinical practices and partners with other companies and institutes to expand its R&D units to address unmet medical needs and needs in emerging markets.

9. Nanocarrier Co.

NanoCarrier Co. is a 12-year-old biotechnology company that is developing and manufacturing anti-cancer drugs using micelle nanoparticle technology. The technology employs nanoparticles that are constructed from biocompatible block polymers. These are combinations of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hydrophobic polyamino acids. NanoCarrier and its partners filed investigational new drug (IND) applications for four clinical trials that were subsequently launched after receiving approval.

10. Novartis

Novartis AG is the fourth-largest pharmaceutical company in the world and is a Swiss pharmaceutical company established in 1996 by the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz. It has a product profile that includes prescription and generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and consumer health products. It is a global leader in the industry. Novartis is also focusing on potential applications of nanotechnology, mainly in nanomedicine. The company will pursue in-house R&D and also acquires licenses and companies that it determines fit into its overall plan for this market segment.

Learn about the landscape for nanoparticles

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