In 2021, biomedicines represented 400 billion euros, or around 33% of the global pharmaceutical market and one in two drugs in development is a biomedicine. In France, although the sector is developing and is accompanied by investments, the industry lacks workers. France still depends a lot on its imports since 95% of the biomedicines sold are imported. To encourage new vocations, the sector tries to appear attractive.
A biomedicine is a medicine whose active substance is produced from a biological source, from living organisms, such as mammalian cells, unlike synthetic medicines whose active ingredient is produced in the laboratory. Biomedicines enable medical advances, which attracts some students to this sector. This is the case of Lucas Le Hercy. At 28, he is training at the IMT in Évry-Courcouronnes in the Paris region to become a technician in the field of biomedicines. “ Gene therapies, which are developing very rapidly, offer new avenues for treating diseases that could not be treated until now, orphan diseases and rare diseases, explains the studentbut also to treat diseases that are already present, such as cancer, in new ways. “, he specifies. In this field, as a technician, he can work “ throughout the production chain, to ensure from A to Z that the product is manufactured “, For example.
To listen in The Health CouncilGene therapies: what prospects for researchers and patients?
Many professional opportunities
According to the drug lobby Leem, more than 10,000 positions will need to be filled by 2030 in biotechnology. Lucas Le Hercy is on a work-study program, which allows him to already have a foot in the world of work. “ There is room for engineers, to do research or to carry out processes, and there is also room for technicians, operators », he notes. All these job opportunities reassure him for his future.
The growing needs in the field of biomedicines require recruiting now. “ There is an inherent need and a cruel lack of people in this field, there is a lack of operational arms, brains too, innovation, deplores Christophe Lanneau, director of Genopole, a group of laboratories, companies and research centers. This is a need that is currently unmet. But it’s also difficult to find people who are interested in this field, because it’s a fairly specific field. »
The education sector lacks training
The field of biomedicines is growing, with rapidly evolving technologies, which can be difficult for faculty to keep up with. “ As part of the plan “ France 2030 »the BTS have been reformed and therefore we must teach new subjects with our initial training, explains Laure Garnier-Legrand, biotechnology teacher at the Galilée high school in Gennevilliers. As a teacher, these subjects did not exist and we do not necessarily have the skills all the time. » This is why some teachers want to strengthen the links between professionals and schools. “ I saw equipment today that I didn’t even know existed, confides Laure Garnier-Legrand who signed up for a tour of Genopole. Obviously, if I don’t see these machines, if I don’t know how they work, I can’t pass on this knowledge to my students. We need to have time to teach and then, afterwards, we also need to have time to train, to teach our students better. »
France is the 4th largest producer of biomedicines in Europe with 131 companies operating in this field.
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