Life Sciences have a broad definition of “the study of living organisms and life processes”(ncbiotech.org). A more specific definition found on the web defines life sciences as:
“a study about the life processes of living beings such as animals, plants, and humans. It is a wide and broader life discipline that examines the living things on the earth. It further refers to the study of all living beings such as microbes, human beings, agricultural science plants, animal sciences, genomics, proteomics, and also engineering of living organisms with multiple other disciplines of scientific study”(lifesciencetranslation.com).
The Life Science industry is broken into 4 overarching fields, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMO). Without getting into the more recent fields of study such as DNA, cryogenics, etc.
These overarching fields use two specific sections of manufacturing for life science companies, Discrete Manufacturing (ISO 13485:2016), which deals with medical devices, and Process Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33) which deals with the making of pharmaceutical drugs.
Let’s break down the four categories listed above and how manufacturing plays a significant role in each field.
Pharmaceuticals
The pharmaceutical industry helps develop and produce medications for patients to treat and prevent diseases. It’s considered a life science because these medications “aid the health of living things”. One might take medication to prevent or lower the risk of heart disease that runs in their family, or one might take medication for depression. Process Manufacturing helps develop and make pharmaceutical drugs whether ointments, powders, or tablets.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the most distinguished field mentioned out of the four. Biotechnology is what we use to create new products in simple terms. As we break down Biotech, we can look into how these biological systems and living organisms help create these new products. An example to familiarize one’s self is baking bread. The yeast, which is a microscopic fungus is an active ingredient that helps the dough rise when baking. Manufacturing helps create the devices and machines used to make new products in biotechnology.
Medical Devices
Medical device companies such as our own, Stone Medical, manufacture parts for medical implants, surgical instruments, electronic medical equipment, and micromachining. Manufacturing these parts can be used to prevent, diagnose, monitor, or treat medical conditions. Medical device manufacturers also develop prototypes for medical companies.
CRO/CMO
Contract Research Organization (CRO) provides research and development resources for pharmaceutical and biotechnology. CROs run the clinical trials and medical testing of pharmaceutical drugs before they can be brought to the market to be used by citizens. These companies then reach out to contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) to manufacture the formulation of the drug after the trials and testing.
Are you a manufacturer for one of the four life sciences fields listed above? Leave a comment down below.
https://www.ncbiotech.org/transforming-life-sciences/what-are-life-sciences
Life Sciences Manufacturing Companies Are at Home with Us (ssgnet.com)