Biochip technology has revolutionised and added a new dimension to the field of drug discovery. Biochips employed in tandem, with improved bioinformatics techniques and high throughput screening has enabled a dramatic increase in sample throughput in target identification and target validation. They offer higher information content on a small surface of quartz wafers. Increasingly, larger volumes of compounds are being pushed through the drug discovery pipeline. This has created a vast consumer base for biochips in Europe including academic research units, industrial research bases and pharma and biotech companies.

This Frost & Sullivan research service analyses the potential that biochips hold to accelerate the drug discovery pathway at the European strata. The study segments the market by application into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) chips and protein chips and by geographical region into Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and Scandinavia (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway). The study also discusses the various trends and opportunities in each country while providing in-depth market share analysis, forecasts, drivers, restraints and revenue forecasts.

Multi-parameter Testing and Miniaturisation of Chip Technology Offer Promises of Reducing Drug Development Time

Miniaturisation and high throughput solutions have realised and added value to gene expression analysis, which can speed drug discovery by dramatically cutting down the attrition rate of drugs that do not pass clinical trials. Biochips have streamlined the identification and prioritization of the drug targets by corroborating many gene expressions in parallel. "With the aid of silicon micro-machining, lab automation devices and robust software packages to churn out data in a meaningful format, these developments are expected to advance the proliferation of biochips to unprecedented heights in drug discovery.", says the analyst of this research service.

Expression profiling with the use of biochips helps identify drug targets and pathways for complex disease mechanisms. To evaluate a drug target during drug design, the disease pathway of the particular drug is chosen before genome expression profiling influences different possible genes and analyses the effects on the pathway. After selective identification and validation of drug targets, the biochips are used to screen the collection of compounds to identify those targets that disrupt the expression of diseased genes.

Strategic Alliances Nurture the Growth of Biochip Use in Drug Discovery Process

Despite the intense rivalry in the biochip-driven drug discovery market, companies are forming a web of strong alliances intended at bringing together business expertise and key intellectual properties. Established chip companies are collaborating with firms that own great biocontent to increase their penetration rate. Smaller firms are gaining visibility and continuing to be competent in the dynamic market by affiliating themselves with the larger, well-recognised suppliers through licensing and distributorships. Strategic alliances between chip companies and pharmaceutical firms also represent a major factor generating growth in the market.

"Companies are striving to provide open platform technologies to attract all end users, especially the academic research base that forms a major part of the biochip community," says the analyst. The best approach for providing better value propositions includes understanding customers requirements and managing the technical aspects, budget issues, strategic regulatory issues and quality assurance related to the products. Although biochips have empowered researchers with the most innovative technology, only cost-effective solutions can make them a part of the routine product development process.

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive Summary: Industry Snapshot

2 GLOSSARY AND EXCHANGE RATES

Exchange Rates & Glossary: Glossary of Terms; Exchange Rate

3 TOTAL MARKET-BIOCHIPS

Biochip Market Overview: Market Overview and Definition
Segmentation: Market Segmentation
Market Engineering Measurements for Biochips Market -Drug Discovery Applications: Market Engineering Measurements
Biochip Market Drivers: Market Drivers
Biochip Market Restraints/Challenges: Market Restraints/Challenges
Total European Biochip Revenue Forecasts: Revenue Forecasts
Geographical Trends: Geographical Trends for the European Biochips Market; German Biochips Market; United Kingdom Biochips Market; French Biochips Market
Technology Trends: Technology Trends
Competitive Structure: Competitive Landscape
End-user Trends and Analysis: End-user Trends

4 DNA CHIPS

Introduction: Introduction and Market Overview; Market Engineering Measurements; Market Engineering Measurements for the DNA Chip segment
Market Revenue Forecasts: Revenue Forecasts
Competitive Landscape in the DNA Chip sector: Competition Structure

5 PROTEIN CHIPS

Introduction and Market Overview: Introduction
Market Engineering Measurements: Market Engineering Measurements for the European Protein Chip Market
Market Revenue Forecasts: Revenue Forecasts
Competitive Landscape in the Protein Chip Sector: Competitive Landscape - Protein Chips

6 FROST & SULLIVAN AWARDS

Frost & Sullivan Awards for the European Biochips Market: Frost & Sullivan Award Description
Product Line Strategy Award: Award Description
Competitive Strategy Leadership Award: Award Description
Entrepreneurial Company Award: Award Description

7 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

Strategic Recommendations: Possible Strategies

8 DSD FOR BIOCHIPS IN DRUG DISCOVERY APPLICATIONS

Biotech Companies and Number of Employess; Biotech Companies; Number of Employees in Biotech Companies; Government R&D Expenditure; Government R&D Expenditure
Private Investment in Biotechnology: Private Investment in Biotechnology
Pharmaceutical R&D Expenditure: Pharmaceutical R&D expenditure