Towards a more competitive and innovative bioproduction sector

Biomedicines, on the rise, are transforming the way we treat diseases and opening up unprecedented opportunities for conditions once considered incurable. But to ensure fair and equitable access to these innovations, France must accelerate, structure, and take decisive action. 

This is the very purpose of the "Sector Observatory," launched in 2025 by France BioLead: a unique tool based on exclusive data to decode the sector’s dynamics, provide an objective view of its key players, and identify the levers that must be activated — quickly and effectively — to position France as a European leader in the biomanufacturing of biomedicines. 

The ambition is clear: to make biomanufacturing a pillar of sovereignty, a driver of competitiveness, and a showcase for French innovation in healthcare.

The 2025 Sector Observatory

Biomedicines: a veritable revolution in the treatment of diseases that were incurable just a few years ago 


In France, over 10 million people are affected by cancer, autoimmune diseases or rare diseases. For them, biomedicines represent a major therapeutic hope. 
But developing and producing these innovative treatments remains a challenge: the processes involved are long, complex and costly. It's our collective responsibility to ensure that every patient has fair access to these therapeutic innovations.


> Rebuilding health sovereignty through the rise of bioproduction 

France has 47 biomedicines whose active ingredient is manufactured locally, facilitating access for French and European patients to innovative therapies that meet needs that are still insufficiently covered. This production is divided into 23 blood-derived biomedicines, 12 vaccines, 8 antibodies intended mainly for rare diseases, and 4 biomedicines derived from microbiota. 

 While the French industry is well positioned in mature technologies such as vaccines and blood derivatives, it still needs to strengthen its presence in more innovative segments, particularly antibodies and drugs derived from innovative therapies, where European competition is more advanced.

Transforming academic excellence into industrial success: a challenge for the industry



Among the top ten patent filers in bioproduction in Europe, four are French entities, mainly academic institutions. This concentration highlights the quality of French research teams and strong government support for innovation. It also reflects a well-connected ecosystem rich in opportunities for public-private partnerships and technology transfer. 

With nearly 6,000 active patent families, France ranks in the top 4 in Europe, behind Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The challenge now is to translate this excellence into industrial applications and large-scale local production, strengthening sovereignty and ensuring access to innovative biomedicines.

Strengthen biomanufacturing capacity through a sustained investment drive



Faced with the growing importance of biopharmaceuticals, which now account for 60% of all drugs under development worldwide, the French biomanufacturing sector has made major investments to boost its industrial capacity. A total of €6.3 billion has been invested over the past five years, mainly by major pharmaceutical groups such as Sanofi, Novo Nordisk and LFB. 

This momentum is complemented by the boom in innovation driven by start-ups, with ten young companies in the sector raising €150 million in venture capital by 2024. This massive funding reflects our determination to consolidate our healthcare sovereignty, accelerate the development of new biotherapies and foster the emergence of cutting-edge biomanufacturing technologies. 

> A new round of recruitment to support biomanufacturing needs

The development of biomanufacturing relies on a skilled workforce spread across the country, reflecting a solid industrial ecosystem. The sector currently employs 76,000 people, 30% of whom are dedicated to production. This dynamic trend is set to continue, with 3,200 new hires planned in the short and medium term, mainly for biomanufacturing technicians, pharmacist managers and bioprocess engineers. 

The attractiveness of the sector is based on the diversity of the jobs on offer, the skills development of the teams and the commitment of the players to support the growth of the sector, making biomanufacturing a structuring pillar of the French healthcare industry. 
On the occasion of the National Biomanufacturing Day 2025, Laurent Lafferrère, Managing Director of France BioLead, officially presented the Observatoire de la Filière at a dedicated press conference. 

In a personal article, he looks back at the genesis of this initiative and the collective dynamic uniting the industry around the issues of sovereignty, innovation and attractiveness revealed by the JNBB and supported by the Observatory.
Read Laurent Lafférrère's analysis of the industry's challenges and perspectives
> Read the article
National Biomanufacturing Day: a unique opportunity to learn more about innovations in biomedicines and meet the key players in French biomanufacturing: a dynamic industry with a promising future.

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