Informagen, Inc.
Biotechnology Information Resource
info@Informagen.com

375 Little Bay Road, Newington NH 03801


[ Home | Addresses | Directories | Research Reports | Help ]

Resource Informagen™ - Definition of Biotech


Resource Informagen is a compilation of information relevant to the biotech industry. This includes information on true "biotech" companies, as well as information on their corporate or pharmaceutical partners.

Historically, "biotech" was defined according to a newly discovered "genetic engineering" technology, which was first spawned in Universities and new startup "biotech" companies. Classic Big Pharma companies joined the biotech arena through licensing, sponsored research and corporate agreement relationships.

As smaller companies researched technology using genetic engineering procedures, both research reagent, diagnostic and therapeutic products were developed. Hence, the definition of "biotech" expanded to include companies that previously would have been classified according to "diagnostic", "reagent / assay", or "pharmaceutical". These designations further overlapped into the previous classifications of agriculture ("agbio"), environmental ("bioremediation") and veterinary ("animal health"). As different scientific disciplines began using genetic engineering techniques, "biotech" next expanded to include companies involved in neuroscience, genome initiatives, genetic data management and mining ("bioinformatics"), and service organizations such as Contract Research or Clinical Trial Service companies. In order to supply reagents, enzymes, vectors, plasmids, expression systems, kits, assays, etc. to these companies, many supplier - vendor companies joined the biotech arena.

A company which produces catheters, lasers or needles, at first glance, may have no obvious relation to biotech. At close examination, though, these companies may be working to develop reagents, for example, to coat catheters which may have a "biotech" basis.


Copyright ©1998 Informagen, Inc. All rights reserved.