Cell Based Assay Market

Global Cell-Based Assay Market Size (2024 to 2029)

According to our report, the global cell-based assay market size was valued at USD 19.85 billion in 2024. This value is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.31% to reach USD 33.93 billion by 2029.

Cell-based assays are majorly used by biotechnology companies, academic research institutes, contract research organizations, government institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and others to detect or measure the effects of a substance or treatment on the cells and are often used in drug discovery and development as well as in basic research to study cellular processes and the mechanisms of disease. The cell-based assay is a technique for examining living cells based on diverse parameters. Cell-based assays are used to determine the functions of cellular or biochemical processes. In cell-based assays, functional cells are used as analytical tools in research for novel drugs. In addition, cell-based assays ease research in immunology, stem cells, cancer, and others.

MARKET DRIVERS

The growing drug development R&D activities, increasing adoption of technological advancements, rising demand for biological treatments, growing government funding, and increasing need for drug toxicity screening propel the cell-based assays market growth.

In the drug development process, cell-based tests are essential. However, in-vitro biochemical assays have various advantages over cell-based techniques. For example, in contrast to biochemical experiments, they provide consistent tissue-specific responses in a physiologically relevant milieu. Also, not every target for biochemical measurement can be prepared or purified, which is a significant factor restricting biochemical assay uses. As a result, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and contract research organizations (CROs) are replacing biochemical tests with cell-based assays in their drug discovery lead identification and optimization procedures.

Traditional toxicity and drug safety assessment approaches (which involve animal testing) are costly, time-consuming, and low throughput. In this way, modern cell-based assays combine the advantages of cell cultures with animal models, allowing researchers to identify problems with lead compounds earlier in the drug development process, resulting in enhanced efficiency. As a result, cell-based assays' physiological relevance has increased their popularity among end-users, as has their ability to provide efficient, cost-effective, and accelerated drug development options.

The advantages associated with cell-based tests, continuous innovation in technologically advanced products, and the goal to lower drug discovery cost further fuel the growth rate of the global cell-based assays market.

The cell-based assay market is further predicted to rise during the forecast period due to growth prospects such as untapped markets in emerging nations, increasing cell-based assays in immunology, cancer, and stem cells, and growing acceptance for label-free cell-based assays. Emerging Asian countries are projected to offer significant opportunities for companies in the cell-based assays market. In addition, low labor and raw material prices, the threat of pandemics (such as swine flu and COVID-19), growing R&D activities, and technological advancements in the end-use sectors for cell-based assays in these countries are contributing to the growth of the market.

Several Asian nations have increased their focus on life science research. For instance, in Japan, the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund is a public-private partnership that funds numerous R&D projects for drug discovery, including compound library screening for various infectious diseases. R&D spending for novel pharmaceutical development is a significant growth driver for the worldwide cell-based assays market. According to World Bank estimates, R&D spending in rising countries in Asia and the Rest of the World has overtaken North America and Europe. Additionally, in these nations, the growing number of pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (CROs)—key end-users of cell-based assays—is likely to provide prospective growth possibilities for cell-based assay producers.

MARKET RESTRAINTS

However, the lack of skilled professionals, severe intellectual property rights, and the high cost of instruments restrain the growth of the global cell-based assays market. The reliability of cell-based assays has improved due to the high-throughput screening (HTS) and high-content screening (HCS) technologies. Furthermore, the length and price of any HTS approach are proportional to the target molecule's complexity; hence, the higher the complexity, the higher the cost. The overall cost of developing biopharmaceuticals has risen dramatically due to the employment of these expensive procedures. Academic research facilities cannot purchase such pricey tools due to funding constraints. Maintenance costs and other indirect expenses raise these instruments' total cost of ownership.

Impact of COVID-19 on the global cell-based assays market

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic an emergency public health hazard, disrupting numerous sectors and the medical community. Creating a coronavirus vaccine is a big challenge for pharmaceutical companies trying to stop the disease from spreading. The need for cell-based assays has increased due to a focus on creating an effective vaccine utilizing the most up-to-date techniques and making it available to the public quickly. Cell-based test approaches are used extensively in research and development to determine the structure of COVID-19 in the human body. As a result, the growth of the global cell-based assay market is expected to continue in the same direction during the forecast period.

REPORT COVERAGE

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

Global Cell-Based Assay Market Analysis By Type of Product

Based on the product, the assay-ready kits held the major share of the global cell-based assay market in 2023 and is forecasted to continue leading the market during the forecast period.

On the other hand, the consumables and reagent segment is expected to grow at a promising CAGR during the forecast period owing to the growing focus on drug discovery activities in developing countries and increasing cell-based assays in drug discovery.

Global Cell-Based Assay Market Analysis By Application

Based on the application, the drug discovery segment led the market in 2023. It is likely to expand with a high CAGR during the forecast period owing to rising funds for Research and development by governments and biopharmaceutical companies.

Global Cell-Based Assay Market Analysis By End Users

Based on end-users, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology segments are anticipated to command a major share of the global cell-based assay market during the forecast period.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

Regionally, North America had the biggest share of the global market in 2023. The region’s dominance is expected to continue during the forecast period owing to the rising drug-related R&D activities, increased adoption of cell-based assay platforms, and the presence of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in this region. The growth of the North American cell-based assay market is majorly driven by the factors such as increasing awareness about cell-based assays used for drug discovery and the extensive adoption of cell-based therapies. In addition, the growing incidence of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes further boosts the market's growth rate. The United States is currently leading the North American market with increasing funds and investments for research activities to develop drugs. Canada is quickly growing after the United States in the region. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2019, around 1.9 million new cancer cases were registered in the U.S. Surging approvals for the clinical trials for stem cell therapy are accelerating the cell-based assays market.

The European cell-based assay market stood 2^nd in place in accounting for the largest global market share in 2023 and is projected to showcase promising growth during the forecast period. Factors such as increasing consciousness regarding cell-based assays and increasing adoption of cell-based assays in R&D activities propel the market's growth rate. 

The Asia-Pacific cell-based assay market is expected to show the highest growth rate in the cell-based assays market in the next few years. The growth of the APAC regional market is primarily driven by the rising infrastructural development, growing funds in research and development by various private and public organizations in enhancing safer and better drugs, and the high adoption of high throughput screening methods. The Chinese market is projected to rule the cell-based assays market in the Asia Pacific region. The growing number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry sectors and the massive demand for cell-based assays drive it. Countries such as India and Japan were considered to have the highest growth rate during the analysis period. The Indian cell-based assays market is assumed to have showcased a healthy CAGR growth rate. They intensify the number of chronic diseases and the surging obtainment of extraordinary research facilities during the forecast period. The Japanese market is expected to grow rapidly within a short period in the APAC region. The growing number of cancer cases, rising toxicity for examination, and drug identification are escalating the cell-based assays market. Also, the growing expenditure made by the government accelerates the market's growth rate.

The cell-based assay market in Latin America cell-based assay market is estimated to progress at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. The industry is witnessing a stable invasion in business, revenue, and demand from diverse avenues like basic medical research, predictive toxicology, and drug discovery.

The cell-based assay market in the Middle East & Africa cell-based assay market is predicted to occupy a moderate share of the global market in the coming years. The primary driver for this market is the widespread use of cell-based assays in drug discovery processes. In addition, the cell-based assays market is emerging mainly due to increased activities like drug discovery, government expenditure, and technological advancement.

KEY MARKET PARTICIPANTS

Some of the companies playing a dominating role in the Global Cell-Based Assay Market profiled in this report are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Merck & Co. Inc., Cell Signalling Technology Inc., PerkinElmer Inc., Danaher Corporation, Cisbio Bioassays, DiscoveRx, Ametek Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Roche Diagnostics, GE Healthcare, and Promega Corporation. Thermo Fisher Scientific and Danaher Corporation are the top companies in the global cell-based assay market, commanding a considerable market share.

Key market participants focus on R&D and organic and inorganic strategies to maintain and strengthen their market position.

RECENT MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

• In 2019, Danaher Company launched ClearLLAb 10C System for Flow cytometry labs. 
• In 2019, PerkinElmer completed the acquisition of Cisbio Bioassays.
• In 2018, GE Healthcare inaugurated a new testing center to enhance its research and manufacturing capabilities.

DETAILED SEGMENTATION OF THE GLOBAL CELL-BASED ASSAY MARKET INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT

This market research report on the global cell-based assay market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on product, technology, application, end-user, and region.

By Type of Product

• Cell Lines
  • Primary Cell Lines
  • Stem Cell Lines
  • Immortalized Cell Lines
• Assay Ready Kits
• Cell Culture Kits
• Reagents & Consumables
• Ligands & Inhibitors

By Technology

• Automated Handling
• Flow Cytometry
• Label-Free Detection
• High Content Screening

By Application

• Drug Discovery
• ADME Research

By End Users

• Academia
• Biotechnology
• Pharmaceuticals
• CROs

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa