The Quiet Revolution Brewing in Biologics

Thermo Fisher and 21st Bio fuel a transatlantic fermentation surge reshaping global biologics

10 Nov 2025

Fermentation, long a background process in pharmaceuticals, is emerging as a central force in reshaping global biologics production. Across the US and Europe, companies are investing billions of dollars to expand fermentation capacity, viewing microbes as key to innovation and more resilient supply chains.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has taken a leading role with its $4.1bn acquisition of Solventum’s Purification & Filtration business. The deal strengthens its position across critical stages of biologics manufacturing, allowing it to act as a full-service partner for fermentation-based production and giving it more control over global supply security.

Other companies are using fermentation to move beyond traditional drug applications. Danish-American biotech 21st Bio is developing engineered microbial strains to produce bovine alpha-lactalbumin, a milk protein used in nutrition and health products. The initiative reflects how precision fermentation is combining sustainability with scalability, extending biotechnology’s reach into new consumer markets.

Analysts view these developments as signs of a structural shift in the industry. Over the next decade, they say, competitive advantage in biologics will rely less on company size and more on the ability to master fermentation processes, including speed, quality, and process control. The US microbial fermentation market, valued at several billion dollars, is projected to grow further as biologics and biosimilars gain traction.

The trend also stems from lessons learned during recent global supply disruptions. Manufacturers are investing in regional fermentation facilities to reduce reliance on distant suppliers and strengthen domestic resilience.

Still, scaling fermentation capacity presents challenges. Facilities require high upfront costs and long construction timelines, which can be prohibitive for smaller firms. Yet advances in automation, synthetic biology, and microbial engineering are helping to improve efficiency and reduce barriers to entry.

Fermentation, once seen as a specialised tool, is now central to modern biologics manufacturing, an evolving platform driving both industrial capacity and scientific innovation.