The key facts about the biomanufacturing sector

👉 A new cluster to promote gene and cell therapies

Promised by the President of the Republic in 2023, the GenoTher biocluster is now fully operational with the establishment of its board of directors, its €70 million budget over five years, its 30 or so members (companies, public bodies, and investment funds), and its first summit dedicated to gene therapies. Held on June 11, the summit brought together 400 professionals to take stock of the challenges facing France in the development of gene and cell therapies. Alexandre Lemoalle, vice president of Genother, believes that France has “extremely favorable conditions” thanks to its scientific talent. He emphasizes that, beyond financing and clinical trials, bioproduction is also a key issue. This time, the challenge is primarily to reduce costs. “We have the capacity in France, sometimes even the largest in Europe,” says Frédéric Revah, CEO of Généthon and president of Genother. 

👉 Pharmaceutical companies are turning away from France 

In its 2025 barometer of France's attractiveness to the pharmaceutical industry, conducted by PwC, Leem warns of the deterioration of the French environment. Among the industry leaders surveyed, only 8% considered France attractive in 2024, compared to 15% in 2023. The reasons cited were “crushing” taxation and drug prices, which are around 10% lower in France than the European average for patented products and 16% lower for others. Ahead of parliamentary discussions on the next budget, the union is calling for “a virtuous circle to be re-established for the healthcare system and patients in France.” The report also highlights the growing share of biopharmaceuticals on the French market: among the 62 companies surveyed, 53% mainly produce biological drugs. Leem also praises the key role of bioclusters such as PSCC, BioMap, Genother, BCF2I, and MIB, which focus on innovative therapies and biotechnologies. 

👉 Relocation and green energy to reduce the carbon footprint of biopharmaceuticals

In its final report, “Decarbonizing the Pharmaceutical Industry,” The Shift Project reviews the annual emissions associated with the entire value chain, including R&D and corporate activities. “Every step in this chain is dependent on fossil fuels,” says Baptiste Verneuil, project manager and medical device industry leader at The Shift Project. “Decarbonization is a real resilience challenge for these industries.” The report highlights in particular that certain active ingredients derived from biotechnology, such as monoclonal antibodies (biologics), have a carbon intensity (21,000 kgCO₂e/kg) much higher than that of chemical active ingredients, such as paracetamol (20 kgCO₂e/kg). To reduce the sector's footprint, the report emphasizes the relocation and decarbonization of electricity, as well as the optimization of energy efficiency.