Antibody Production Market

Executive Summary

The global antibody production market was valued at USD 18.51 billion in 2023, and it is predicted to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.20% between 2023 and 2033. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, together with the growing demand for therapeutic antibodies, has resulted in the market's rapid expansion. The COVID-19 epidemic has significantly impacted the market. The urgent need for therapeutic antibodies and vaccines to combat the virus has resulted in an increase in demand for antibody production services.

However, delays in the global supply chain and production processes due to lockdowns, travel restrictions, and staff shortages have hampered industry growth. Despite the hurdles, the market has proven resilient, with many businesses adapting their operations to continue servicing clients during the pandemic. In October 2020, Ely Lilly announced an agreement to provide a prospective COVID-19 antibody treatment to low- and middle-income countries. The Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard developed the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator program to accelerate the development and availability of COVID-19 therapeutics, including efforts to provide equitable access to new treatments. Increased expenditure in monoclonal antibody research and development is likely to support market expansion, particularly in cancer treatment, which accounts for over half of all mAb-related R&D. The focused strategy of mAbs has transformed cancer treatment, lowering side effects and boosting patient outcomes. Despite this, further research and development are required to improve mAb efficacy in cancer treatment. The European Commission recently approved Bristol Myers Squibb's Yervoy and OPDIVO combination therapy for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma in June 2021, marking a significant milestone in the field of mAb therapies. This approval underlines the promise of mAbs in treating complicated and severe diseases and reinforces the necessity for ongoing investment in the research and development of mAb therapeutics.

Antibody Production Market Dynamics

Growth Drivers

Chronic sickness is on the rise, as is the senior population

The increased chronic incidence, combined with an aging population, is likely to fuel market expansion during the forecast period. For example, the PAHO predicts that there will be 20 million additional cancer cases worldwide.  Cancer's burden will increase by almost 60% over the next two decades, putting additional strain on healthcare systems, individuals, and communities. By 2040, it is expected that there will be around 30 million more cases of cancer worldwide. As disease cases rise, the sector will be forced to increase its production capabilities as well as its research operations in order to innovate and advance. As a result, the factors mentioned above will drive market expansion over the forecast period.

Restraint

Production is complex and expensive

Purification of antibodies from complicated mixtures can be difficult and time-consuming. High purity standards and the need to remove impurities might result in labor-intensive and expensive processes. Furthermore, antibody synthesis, particularly for therapeutic applications, can be costly due to the need for specialized equipment, cell culture conditions, and purification processes. The expenses associated with large-scale manufacture may limit the availability of antibody-based therapeutics. As a result, this is likely to be a significant restraining factor for market growth throughout the forecast period.

Opportunity

Increasing approvals for monoclonal antibodies

The increasing number of FDA approvals for monoclonal antibodies is likely to provide a lucrative opportunity for market expansion throughout the forecast period. For example, in May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved EPKINLYTM to treat adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The increased number of infectious and noncommunicable disease cases also forces the FDA and other approving agencies and administrative bodies to accelerate the approval of monoclonal antibodies for further research and development. Thus, the increased approval of monoclonal antibodies is expected to drive market expansion.

Antibody Production Market Segmentation

The consumables segment dominated the market in 2022, accounting for 55.93% of the total, and is expected to grow at the fastest rate throughout the forecast period. Consumables encompass a variety of products needed in antibody manufacture, including reagents, kits, media, buffers, and other materials. The growing demand for antibodies for research, diagnostics, and therapies has resulted in an increase in the demand for consumables. Furthermore, the rising use of automated technologies for antibody production has aided the expansion of the consumables category. The global market for instruments is predicted to increase rapidly in the next years. Instruments are an important part of antibody production and comprise a variety of equipment such as bioreactors, centrifuges, chromatography systems, and other devices needed during the process. In June 2022, Evonik introduced cQrex AC, a novel peptide that provides a highly soluble and chemically defined source of L-cystine, allowing for efficient delivery of this essential amino acid to cells. Thus, this product would provide a suitable amount of L-cystine, which is required for numerous biological processes in the body, in order to stimulate the synthesis of cell-culture-based antibodies.

The downstream segment dominated the market in 2022, with a market share of 67.04%, and is expected to grow at a faster CAGR of 13.48% from 2023 to 2030. The procedure ensures that antibodies are of high quality, safe, effective, pure, and identifiable. Furthermore, numerous technical improvements help the downstream process retain efficiency, which fuels bio-manufacturing innovation. The most recent improvements in processing include single-use sensors, membrane chromatography technologies, remote monitoring, and data analytics. For example, in March 2019, GE Healthcare collaborated with Amgen to launch a digital data sharing program to better evaluate the impact of bio-manufacturing breakthroughs on raw material variability. The upstream process segment is expected to increase significantly in the market over the forecast period. This is due to various technological breakthroughs and investments in production facilities undertaken by several firms. Major manufacturers use cutting-edge bioreactors for the upstream process to ensure high-quality end products. For example, on April 18, 2023, Cytiva (a Danaher company) introduced the X-platform single-use bioreactors. The new platform aims to improve process efficiency in upstream bioprocessing processes. The X-platform can be used to produce cell and gene treatments, protein-based therapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies, and viral vectors.

The monoclonal antibody sector is estimated to lead the antibody manufacturing market in 2022, accounting for 63.25% of total revenue, and to grow at a CAGR of 13.58% between 2023 and 2030. The segment's rise is attributed to increased investments in monoclonal antibody research as well as the introduction of a variety of innovative antibody-based products. For example, in March 2023, Eli Lilly, a US-based pharmaceutical corporation, invested roughly USD 1 billion in a monoclonal antibody (mAbs) manufacturing factory in Ireland, with plans to begin producing novel clinical treatments by 2026. The polyclonal antibody segment is expected to increase significantly over the forecast period, owing to a variety of advantages such as a smooth production process, low cost, and expanding diagnostic tests for diseases with increasing prevalence.Furthermore, the development of novel technologies and procedures for polyclonal antibody manufacturing, such as recombinant DNA technology and transgenic animal models, is projected to drive further expansion in this market. Furthermore, polyclonal antibodies can be made more quickly and cheaply than monoclonal antibodies because they do not require the extensive cell culture and screening methods that monoclonal antibodies do.

In 2022, pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses led the antibody production market, accounting for 55.06% of revenues. The rising applications of biopharmaceutical companies in antibody production is one of the primary drivers driving the segment's rise. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses have been at the forefront of the sector, with many of the top players investing considerably in research and development. These companies have enormous financial resources and cutting-edge technology, allowing them to create novel solutions that address the changing demands of healthcare practitioners and patients. For example, Roche, a Swiss multinational healthcare corporation, is a global leader with a diverse array of antibody-based treatments. The company's products are used to diagnose and treat a variety of ailments, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infections. The CROs and CDMOs segment had the greatest CAGR of 13.68% between 2023 and 2030. This is primarily due to the growing demand for outsourcing services from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, which are looking to cut operational costs and focus more on core skills. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for CMO and CRO outsourcing services, as many companies attempt to develop and manufacture disease-specific antibody-based therapies and vaccines as quickly as possible.

Antibody Production Market Competitive Landscape

• Illumina, Inc.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
• Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
• BGI
• QIAGEN
• Agilent Technologies
• PerkinElmer, Inc.
• ProPhase Labs, Inc. (Nebula Genomics)
• Psomagen
• Azenta US, Inc.

Recent Developments

In January 2023, the Biologics License Application (BLA) for nirsevimab was approved by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Nisevimab is developed for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract disease in newborns and infants beginning or experiencing their first RSV season.

In May 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized LibrelaTM for the treatment of osteoarthritis for dogs. Librela is the first and only once-monthly anti-NGF monoclonal antibody therapy for canine OA pain, and it is both safe and effective in reducing symptoms of the condition in dogs for the long term.

Regional Insights

North America had the biggest revenue share of the antibody production market in 2022, accounting for 38.29%, owing to the presence of important biopharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses in the United States and Canada. Furthermore, rising investments in medication discovery, research, and healthcare infrastructure are driving market expansion across the region. Furthermore, the usage of biopharmaceuticals is increasing in North America, driving up demand for antibody production. Biopharmaceuticals are gaining popularity due to their specificity, efficacy, and safety, and antibodies are one form of biopharmaceutical that is used to treat a variety of illnesses. Furthermore, according to an article published by the American Chemical Society in February 2023, pharmaceutical companies are making significant investments in developing their technology, such as AI technology, which will help to accelerate the speed of the drug development process, lowering the cost of bringing new drugs to market.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the quickest CAGR of 16.14% between 2023 and 2030, owing to untapped prospects in the region. The market's growth is driven by factors such as increased expenditure in R&D activities, rising demand for pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, and an aging population. Furthermore, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases is driving up demand for antibody-based medicines and diagnostics.

Antibody Production Market Segmentation

By Product

• Instruments
  • Bioreactors
    • Multi-use Bioreactors
    • Single-use Bioreactors
  • Chromatography Systems
  • Filtration systems
• Consumables
  • Media
  • Buffers and Reagents
  • Chromatography Resins and Columns
  • Filtration Consumables and Accessories
  • Others
• Software

By Process

• Upstream Processing
• Downstream Processing

By Type

• Monoclonal Antibody
• Polyclonal Antibody

By End-use

• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies
• Research Laboratories
• CROs and CDMOs

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America

• Middle East & Africa