The History of Biopharmaceuticals  industry is full of revolutionary breakthroughs that have changed the lives of patients and society. These discoveries, from vaccines to cell and gene therapies, provide hope for the future of modern medicine. However, this history also illustrates the complexities of the pharma industry. As a complex network of interconnected companies, the business often requires nimble tactics for maintaining long-term success.

While apothecaries and pharmacies had been selling a wide range of cures for centuries, it took until the latter half of the nineteenth century for the modern pharma industry to take shape. The scientific revolution of the seventeenth century had spread ideas of rationalism and experimentation, while the industrial revolution had transformed production methods; it was only after these two concepts were married for the benefit of human health that the pharma industry emerged as a modern entity.

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Until the 1960s, most medicines were synthesized chemically. However, this practice lacked the desired therapeutic properties and was also linked to certain adverse side effects. As a result, the industry began to explore alternative methods for creating drugs.

In the 1970s, a number of breakthroughs radically changed the way the industry worked. First came Tagamet, an ulcer medication, which became the first blockbuster, earning its manufacturers over $1 billion per year and a Nobel Prize. Next was Prozac, the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which completely altered mental healthcare practice.

In the 1980s, another major shift occurred as a large number of new drugs were approved. The development of asymmetric synthesis allowed drug makers to alter the amino acid sequence of existing compounds. As a result, they could increase the speed of absorption and reduce the dosage required for a given effect.