Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40146752›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Assessing concentration in the monoclonal antibody innovation market: A patent-based study.

André Soares Motta-Santos, Leonardo Costa Ribeiro, Jeff Gow, Khorshed Alam, Kenya Valéria Micaela de Souza Noronha, Mônica Viegas Andrade

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. The Market for Monoclonal Antibodies: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities.BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

André Soares Motta-SantosCenter for Development and Regional Planning (CEDEPLAR), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-2856-7100
Leonardo Costa RibeiroCenter for Development and Regional Planning (CEDEPLAR), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Jeff GowSchool of Business, University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
Khorshed AlamSchool of Business, University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2232-0745
Kenya Valéria Micaela de Souza NoronhaCenter for Development and Regional Planning (CEDEPLAR), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Mônica Viegas AndradeCenter for Development and Regional Planning (CEDEPLAR), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMonoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are revolutionizing healthcare treatments due to their high efficacy and relative safety, despite their cost. Since they first appeared in the late 1980s, a rapidly growing market has developed.

objectiveThis study aims to analyze concentration levels in the market for mAb innovations through a quantitative patent analysis. Data were analyzed using traditional concentration indicators such as the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index and Concentration Ratio, as well as linear regression and kernel density graphs to evaluate innovation and global technology dissemination strategies. The starting point was patents associated with mAbs registered by the FDA and identified in the IQVIA database up until 2019, and supplemented by data from The Antibody Society, Purple Book, Orange Book, and FDA.

resultsOur findings indicate that the market for mAb innovations is moderately concentrated for general patents and unconcentrated for priority patents. However, it is significantly more concentrated than the market for chemical drug innovations. The mAb patent families tend to generate more progeny patents, although they are deposited in fewer countries. Chemical drug patents spread faster. Some companies seem to be central to the development of mAbs worldwide, including Roche, PDL, City of Hope, and Celltech. Other important players in the mAb innovation market are AbbVie, Amgen, Novartis, GSK, Biogen, BMS, Regeneron, J&J, and AstraZeneca. The most relevant patents in the analysis are associated with methods and procedures to obtain mAbs, not with molecules themselves.

conclusionThe concentration in the mAb innovation market is higher than the concentration in the market for chemical drugs innovations. Our findings also indicate that expertise in mAbs development and production is concentrated in a few countries. Additionally, our study identified that a few key players from high-income countries are driving innovation in the mAb market.

Indexed as

Antibodies, MonoclonalDrug IndustryPatents as TopicHumansInventionsUnited StatesAntibodies, Monoclonal

Identifiers

PMID40146752
PMCPMC11949330

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