GlobalData, a research and consulting firm, in its report said that the combined spend on research and development (R&D) for the peer group of 35 mid-cap biotech companies increased by nearly $ 2 billion to reach a total of $9.7 billion in 2014, primarily thanks to top spenders Regeneron and Vertex.

The company’s report states that Regeneron led the way with R&D expenses of $ 860 million in 2013, with further analysis showing that Regeneron’s R&D expenses grew by 47.9 per cent year-to-year to $1.3 billion in 2014.

According to Adam Dion, GlobalData’s senior industry analyst, this expenditure was boosted by an increase in clinical trial expenses, due to additional costs for studies of dupilumab, and REGN-1033, the company’s antibody to myostatin (GDF8), which is in phase II trials for undisclosed musculoskeletal disorders.

Dion said “Regeneron’s R&D expenses also grew due to the fees for the regulatory submissions and marketing approvals for Eylea, which GlobalData forecasts to be the top-selling eye drug by 2016.

“However, Regeneron’s overall R&D cost burden was partly offset by the conclusion of the phase III trials of Eylea in wet age-related macular degeneration and macular edema following central retinal vein occlusion.”

The analyst added that Vertex had the second largest R&D outlay among the peer group, spending $ 855.5 million in 2014, representing a 3 per cent decrease from 2013. This resulted from the company completing the TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT clinical trials evaluating VX-809, a combination product of lumacaftor and ivacaftor for treating cystic fibrosis.

Despite this, unexpectedly sharp rise in spending from Jazz and Alnylam helped to drive R&D in 2014.

Dion said “Jazz’s 518 per cent spike in R&D spend was the result of a $197 million surge of in-process R&D (IPR&D) expenses, due to the asset purchases of Aerial BioPharma and Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals. These purchases gave Jazz the rights to two promising drugs, namely JZP-110 for potentially treating aspects of narcolepsy and sleep apnea, and defibrotide, to prevent severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease in bone marrow transplant patients.

“Meanwhile, Alnylam’s R&D expenses soared by 266% to $ 411 million in 2014, up from $ 112.3 million during 2013. This increase in R&D spend resulted primarily from a $221 million IPR&D charge in connection with Alnylam’s acquisition of Sirna Therapeutics’ RNAi assets from Merck,” the analyst concluded.