Healthy prognosis for biologics

Arguably, one of the most promising areas in the healthcare sector is biologics. Biologics-based products and combination products appeal to some pharmaceutical firms not just for their treatment potential, but for their financial prospects, and for their ability to extend patent protection. "There is a lot more patent protection around these [biologics] molecules," says Robert Smith, a director at Genzyme in the U.K. "Proteins and biologics are larger molecules than typical drugs."