Biotechnology market analysis in Poland
According to Statistics Poland (GUS), 246 companies carried out biotechnology activities in Poland in 2024, 26.2% more than a year earlier. Companies, universities and institutes spent PLN 1,842.8 m on biotechnology R&D. This brief brings together the latest data on the number of firms and their spending, the largest companies, funding, clinical trials, and public and EU support.
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How many biotech companies are there in Poland, and how much do they spend on research?
According to Statistics Poland (GUS), 246 companies carried out biotechnology activities in Poland in 2024, 26.2% more than in 2023, and total intramural spending on biotechnology R&D reached PLN 1,842.8 m, up 7.1% y/y.
Most of these companies are small. In 2024, 57.3% of them employed up to 49 people, 28.5% between 50 and 249, and 14.2% at least 250. Companies whose main business is biotechnology made up 38.6% of the total. 64.2% of companies carried out biotechnology R&D.
Companies spent PLN 3,290.2 m on biotechnology activities in 2024, 38.1% more than a year earlier. Almost all of it (95.8%) came from their own funds. Companies employed 6,408 people in biotechnology, 43.0% more than in 2023.
275 entities carried out biotechnology R&D, up 15.1% y/y. 62.2% of them were companies; the rest were universities, institutes and other units. 8,424 people worked on this R&D, almost three quarters of them researchers.
Who pays for research is changing. In 2022, companies and universities spent almost the same on biotechnology R&D, about PLN 700 m each. In 2024, companies provided 59.5% of spending, universities 37.7%, and government and non-profit institutions 2.8%. Company spending rose by 56.7% in 2022–2024, while university spending fell by 0.8% (MarketHub calculation based on GUS).
| Indicator | 2024 | Change y/y |
|---|---|---|
| Companies carrying out biotechnology activities | 246 | +26.2% |
| Companies’ spending on biotechnology activities | PLN 3,290.2 m | +38.1% |
| People working in biotechnology in companies | 6,408 | +43.0% |
| Entities carrying out biotechnology R&D | 275 | +15.1% |
| Intramural R&D spending on biotechnology | PLN 1,842.8 m | +7.1% |
| People working on biotechnology R&D | 8,424 | n/a |
| Sector | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,432.4 | 1,719.9 | 1,842.8 |
| Business enterprises | 700.3 | 924.4 | 1,097.1 |
| Higher education | 700.6 | 751.1 | 694.7 |
For foreign suppliers: company spending on biotechnology R&D grew by more than half in two years and is now larger than university spending, so suppliers of lab equipment, reagents and services should look at companies, not only at universities, as their main customers.
02
Who are the leaders of the biotechnology market in Poland?
Among biotech companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, Selvita had the highest revenue in 2025: PLN 371.1 m according to its annual report of 31 March 2026. Celon Pharma had PLN 244.3 m (PAP Biznes). No one publishes a ranking of the whole industry, because GUS does not report data on individual companies.
Polish leaders make money in different ways. Selvita runs research for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, from drug discovery to preclinical studies. In 2025 its revenue rose by 7.2% (MarketHub calculation) and EBITDA by 24% to PLN 69 m.
Celon Pharma combines generic medicines with the development of its own innovative drugs. In 2025 its revenue grew by 17.9% to PLN 244.3 m, but it had a net loss of PLN 79.4 m. Profits from generics pay for costly clinical trials.
Polpharma Biologics in Gdańsk makes the active substance of a natalizumab biosimilar (Tyruko), the first biosimilar used to treat multiple sclerosis. It was launched in the US in November 2025, where Sandoz sells it. The company is not listed, so it is not in the table.
Companies that only develop their own drugs have a harder time. In 2025 Ryvu Therapeutics had PLN 87.7 m of operating revenue (including grants), 14.0% less than a year earlier. Its net loss excluding incentive scheme costs was PLN 98.5 m. In February 2025 Ryvu reorganised to cut costs. Mabion has switched to contract manufacturing of biologics (CDMO). In 2025 its revenue fell to PLN 15.8 m from PLN 69.0 m in 2024, and it had PLN 6.4 m of cash at the end of the year.
| Company | Profile | Revenue 2025 | Revenue 2024 | Change y/y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selvita | contract research (CRO) | 371.1 | 346.3 | +7.2% |
| Celon Pharma | generics and innovative drugs | 244.3 | n/a | +17.9% |
| Ryvu Therapeutics | proprietary oncology drugs | 87.7 | 102.0 | −14.0% |
| Mabion | contract manufacturing (CDMO) | 15.8 | 69.0 | −77.1% |
For foreign partners: Polish biotech offers two kinds of partners: service companies (research, contract manufacturing) with steady revenue, and drug developers that look for licensing partners and funding. The second group is cheaper to enter but riskier.
03
How is the biotechnology market in Poland funded?
According to GUS, 95.8% of companies’ spending on biotechnology activities in 2024 came from their own funds, and venture capital plays a small role: in 2025 there were 11 biotech VC rounds worth over PLN 80 m in total (PFR Ventures and Inovo VC).
The whole Polish VC market was worth PLN 3.4 bn in 2025. The money went to 166 companies in 183 deals. Healthcare was the most frequent target, with 13.1% of all deals. Biotechnology, however, received only about 2.4% of the market value (MarketHub calculation using the PLN 80 m lower bound). The report’s authors note a clear rise in the number of biotech deals.
The second major source is public grants. In early 2026 Ryvu Therapeutics had secured about PLN 89.1 m in non-dilutive grants. Grants also come from the Medical Research Agency (ABM) and EU programmes (see section 05).
The third source is revenue from other activities. Selvita is funded by its research services, Celon Pharma by generics. Companies without such revenue rely on new share issues, loans or bridge financing. Mabion received the first part of bridge financing at the end of 2025 and further loans in 2026.
| Indicator | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Value of VC investment | PLN 3.4 bn |
| Number of deals | 183 |
| Number of companies that received funding | 166 |
| Number of active funds | 147 |
| Biotech rounds | 11 (more than PLN 80 m) |
| Healthcare share of the number of deals | 13.1% |
For foreign investors: local VC money for biotech is scarce, so Polish drug developers are open to foreign co-investors and licensing deals, and public grants often cover part of the early risk.
04
How many clinical trials are run in Poland?
The Polish medicines agency (URPL) issued 663 clinical trial start permits in 2025, and according to a report by INFARMA, POLCRO and GCPpl, commercial clinical trials in Poland were worth almost USD 2.2 bn in 2024.
Poland is one of the larger clinical trial markets in the world. In 2024 it had 2.68% of the global commercial trials market: ninth in the world and sixth in Europe. In the previous edition of the report, Poland was 11th in the world and 7th in Europe. According to the report, trials supported about 9,400 jobs in 2024, and more than 26,800 patients gained access to new therapies through them.
The authors warn of stagnation, though. Poland’s share rose by 0.16 percentage points in 2020–2024, but has been flat since 2022. By their estimate, this meant more than 600 jobs were not created and Poland lost almost USD 250 m in research investment.
One figure in the report matters for biotech. The number of sponsors running only one trial in Poland grew from 239 in 2020 to 285 in 2024. The authors link this to a growing presence of small and mid-sized biopharma companies.
In 2025 URPL also carried out 38 clinical trial inspections and issued 74 permits for clinical investigations of medical devices. The figure of 663 covers all decisions to start a trial, including trials transferred to the new EU system and second-instance decisions.
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| URPL clinical trial start permits | 663 | 2025 | URPL |
| Permits for clinical investigations of medical devices | 74 | 2025 | URPL |
| Value of commercial clinical trials | almost USD 2.2 bn | 2024 | INFARMA, POLCRO, GCPpl |
| Share of the global commercial trials market | 2.68% (9th in the world) | 2024 | INFARMA, POLCRO, GCPpl |
| Patients in commercial trials | more than 26,800 | 2024 | INFARMA, POLCRO, GCPpl |
| Jobs supported by commercial trials | about 9,400 | 2024 | INFARMA, POLCRO, GCPpl |
For foreign sponsors: Poland already ranks ninth in the world for commercial trials and is attracting more small sponsors, so a biotech company planning a multinational trial in Europe should consider Polish sites early in feasibility.
05
How do the Polish state and the EU support biotechnology?
The main national document is the Government Plan for the Development of the Biomedical Sector 2022–2031, adopted by the Council of Ministers on 21 June 2022, and at EU level the European Commission proposed the European Biotech Act on 16 December 2025.
The biomedical plan aims to make Poland the leader of the biomedical industry in Central and Eastern Europe and to produce the first Polish innovative drug. It is implemented by the Medical Research Agency (ABM). ABM funds, among other things, non-commercial clinical trials. In January 2026 it announced the results of a call in which 8 projects out of 63 applications received over PLN 180 m, including in rare diseases, oncology and type 1 diabetes.
The European Biotech Act is a package of two acts: a regulation to strengthen the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors, particularly in health, and a directive on genetically modified micro-organisms. The proposal provides for faster, better coordinated approval of clinical trials run in several EU countries. It also creates “strategic projects” that should get permits faster and easier access to funding. The most disputed point is a proposed 12-month extension of patent-related protection (supplementary protection certificate, SPC) for qualifying biotech medicines.
Work on the act continues. In June 2026 the Council of the EU agreed its position on the directive. On the regulation, MEPs tabled more than 3,000 amendments, and the committee vote is scheduled for December 2026. According to an analysis by Sidley Austin, the rules could apply from late 2027 or early 2028, but that date is uncertain.
| Instrument | Who | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Government Plan for the Development of the Biomedical Sector 2022–2031 | Council of Ministers; implemented by ABM | adopted 21.06.2022 |
| ABM call for non-commercial clinical trials | Medical Research Agency (ABM) | 8 projects, more than PLN 180 m, results 01.2026 |
| European Biotech Act, regulation | European Commission | proposal of 16.12.2025, under discussion in the European Parliament |
| European Biotech Act, directive | European Commission | proposal of 16.12.2025, Council of the EU position 06.2026 |
For foreign companies: once the European Biotech Act applies, faster multinational trial approval and strategic project status will be available to projects located in Poland too, which can make Polish sites and partners more attractive.
06
What are the prospects for the biotechnology market in Poland?
According to GUS, biotechnology R&D spending rose from PLN 1,432.4 m in 2022 to PLN 1,842.8 m in 2024, or by 28.7% (MarketHub calculation), but 2025 results of listed companies show that growth comes mainly from service companies, while drug developers are cutting costs.
The first trend is services. Contract research, contract manufacturing and clinical trials bring steady revenue that does not depend on the outcome of a single drug. Selvita increased its revenue and EBITDA in 2025, and Polpharma Biologics entered the US market with a biosimilar. This shows that Polish companies can sell biotech services and products abroad.
The second trend is a funding gap. Companies that develop their own drugs need large amounts of money over many years, and the biotech VC market in Poland is small (11 rounds in 2025). Ryvu has cut costs, and Mabion relies on bridge financing. Grants from ABM and EU programmes play an important role.
The third trend is EU regulation. If the European Biotech Act shortens approval of trials run in several countries at once, Poland, already ninth in the world by share of commercial trials, could benefit. The effect will show after 2027 at the earliest, because the act is still in the European Parliament.
The next GUS data, for 2025, are due in November 2026. They will show whether the fast growth in the number of companies seen in 2024 has continued.
For foreign investors: service companies offer steadier exposure to Polish biotech, while drug developers offer higher potential returns at higher risk; in both cases cash runway and non-grant revenue are the first things to check.
This text is not a full market analysis or competitor analysis of the kind we carry out for our clients. This publication contains only selected information about the market. We can explore it further in an in-depth market analysis.
MarketHub expert comment
“Polish biotech is growing, but unevenly. GUS shows more companies and higher research spending, while companies developing their own drugs are cutting costs and looking for bridge financing. Companies selling services do best: contract research, contract manufacturing and clinical trials. For an investor, this means that industry growth alone is not enough. You need to check where a company’s revenue comes from beyond grants, and how long its cash will last. For a supplier of lab equipment, reagents or laboratory services, the companies’ budgets matter more than their number. Almost two thirds of companies do research, and they cover almost all of their spending from their own money, so purchasing decisions depend on current results. It is also worth following the European Biotech Act. If it shortens approval of trials run in several EU countries at once, Poland, already in the world’s top ten clinical trial markets, could benefit.”
Author: Katarzyna Kucia · Updated by: Patrycja Hrabiec-Hojda, 17 October 2026
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Source: MarketHub, “Biotechnology market analysis in Poland”, markethub.pl, updated 10.2026