Global Cell-Based Assays Market By Product & Service (Reagent, Assay Kits, Microplates, Probes & Labels, Instruments &Software, and Cell Lines), By Application (Basic Research, Drug Discovery, Other Application), By End-User By Region and Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends and Forecast 2023-2032

Report Overview

According to a recent report by Market.us, the Global Cell-based Assays Market size is expected to be worth around USD 37.1 Billion by 2032 from USD 16.3 Billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 8.8 % during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032.

Cell-based assays can be used in biomedical research as well as in drug discovery screening applications to effectively measure cytotoxicity, biologic activity, biocompetent mechanisms, and non-target interactions. Cell-based assays have numerous advantages over conventional biochemical assays, which include the ability to simplify and create complex and bio-relevant data.

In contrast, traditional biochemical assays are physiologically more relevant and can measure compound properties at the same time. A cell-based assay is an analytical measurement consisting of a collection of reagents that generate a quantifiable signal for the measurement of a biological process.

*Actual Numbers Might Vary in the final report

Key Takeaways

• The global cell-based assays market was worth USD 16.3 Billion in 2022.
• The market size is projected to increase to USD 37.1 Billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 8% from 2023 to 2032.
• Drug discovery and the prevalence of chronic diseases are major growth drivers.
• The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the cell-based assays market, however, the market is currently recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
• Assay kits accounted for the majority of revenue in the product & service segment in 2022 (3%).
• In 2022, Drug Discovery dominates the application segment (8%).
• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies lead the end-user segment (7%)
• Growing Biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies offer growth opportunities.
• Increasing focus on personalized medicine drives the cell-based market growth.
• North America dominates the market (2% revenue share).
• Some of the key players are BD, Danaher Corporation, Corning Incorporated, Lonza Group, and others.

Product & Service Type Analysis

Assay Kits Accounted for The Largest Market Share Owing to Increasing Demand

The cell-based assays market is based on product and service type, which is further classified into Reagents, Assay Kits, Microplates, Instruments and software, Probes and labels, and Cell Lines. Among these, assay kits dominated the market with a revenue share of 39.3% in 2022. These specific assay kits significantly reduce uncertainty by providing dependable results in the field of diagnostics, which is why they are in high demand. Additionally, its all-in-one approach of providing all consumables for the assay is what drives the segment. For instance, in February 2023, in India, Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced PCR Kits for infectious diseases.

Application Analysis

Drug Discovery Holds the Maximum Market Share

Based on application, the market is further divided into Basic Research, Drug Discovery, Toxicity Studies, Pharmacodynamic Studies, Pharmacokinetic Studies, and Other Applications. Among these applications, drug discovery accounted for the largest market share of 41.8% in 2022. The drug discovery segment is growing due to the increasing need for new therapeutic drugs to treat various diseases around the globe. In addition, increasing number of therapeutic drug discovery research, clinical trials, and the rise in competition for FDA approvals among the players in the market.

Basic research applications are expected to take up a lot of space in the industry over the next few years. To get a better understanding of the many cellular processes that affect health and disease, cell-based assays are at the heart of life sciences. They’re used to figure out what’s going on inside a cell, look at how genes, proteins, or whole cells work and how they regulate each other, and look for things that could be inducers or brakes on biological processes.

End-User Analysis

The Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Segment is dominating the market

The market is segmented based on end-users, namely Contact Research Organizations (CROs), Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies, and Academic & Government Institutes. The Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies segment dominated the market with a 52.7% share in 2022. Cell-based assays are essential in the pharma industry for measuring the impact of pharmacological molecules or external stimuli on cell functions. They also help in selecting potential lead molecule candidates from a large chemical compound library. Cell-based assays have been widely used in drug discovery for screening and this drives the growth of this segment.

Academic & research institutes segment is projected to have the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR). This is due to the increasing use of these assays in cell-based research as well as the development of new test-based diagnostics.

Key Market Segments

By Product & Service

• Reagent
• Assay Kits
• Cell Growth Assays
• Reporter Gene Assays
• Cell Death Assays
• Second Messenger Assays
• Microplates
• Probes & Labels
• Instruments &Software
• Cell Lines
• Primary Cell Lines
• Stem Cell Lines
• Immortalized Cell Lines

By Application

• Basic Research
• Drug Discovery
• Toxicity Studies
• Pharmacodynamic Studies
• Pharmacokinetic Studies
• Other Application

By End-Users

• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
• Contract Research Organizations (CROs)
• Academic & Government Institutes

Drivers

Increasing preference for cell-based assays in drug discovery

The researchers are constantly working on developing new drugs to treat chronic conditions. As a result, cell-based assays are becoming increasingly popular in drug discovery due to their ability to provide more physiologically relevant results compared to traditional methods. The growth of cell-based research is further aided by government support and funding.  For instance, in 2021 about 50 new therapeutics were approved by the CDER.

The epidemiology of chronic diseases is on the rise

The growth of the cell-based assay market is mainly because of the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, etc. According to the CDC, 6 out of 10 Americans are affected by one or more chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of disability and death in the US, and it is also a significant factor in the cost of healthcare. Therefore, with more and more people suffering from chronic conditions around the world, the need for effective treatments is on the rise, which is likely to drive the cell-based assays market.

Restraints

Restrictions on Reagent Use

The drawbacks in reagent use are expected to limit the development of the cell-based assay market. Furthermore, the high instrument cost is expected to limit the growth of the worldwide cell-based assay market over the forecast period. Some cell-based assays require specialized reagents such as antibodies for detection, growth factors for detection, cytokines, or fluorescent dyes for measurement of cellular responses. These specific reagents may be restricted by intellectual rights, licensing agreements, or commercial availability. If researchers or assay developers encounter difficulties in accessing these essential reagents, it may slow down the development and adoption of some cell-based assays.

Initial investment and High Maintenance Costs for Instruments

Revenue growth in the global cell-based assay market is expected to be limited by initial investment in the instruments. Technological advances such as high content screening and high throughput screening are expensive, which slows down the adoption of these technologies in most developing countries. Additionally, the high maintenance costs are expected to limit the growth of the global cellular-based assay market over the forecast period.

Opportunity

Growing Biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies

The market growth is expected to be rising by the growing presence of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies. These companies are rapidly becoming more widespread. Therefore, most of the biotech and biopharma companies are increasingly using cell-based assays as part of their lead discovery and optimization procedures for drug development. Biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are becoming increasingly popular in the medical landscape due to their high degree of specificity, effectiveness, personalized medicine potential, ability to address complex diseases, increasing demand, and technological advancements.

Trends

Growing focus on personalized medicine

The increasing demand for personalized medicine is driving the need for more accurate and reliable diagnostic tools, which is expected to drive the growth of the cell-based assay market. Oncology is one of the areas of personalized medicine that’s growing at a rapid pace, and researchers are looking into other areas where personalized medicine can be used to treat and diagnose other diseases. Some examples of personalized medicine are targeted therapies for treating human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer, as well as tumor marker tests to detect cancer.

Geopolitical and Recession Analysis

Geopolitical influence is one of the factors analyzed in the risk analysis of the cell-based assay market. Geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, and political instability can impact the market by disrupting supply chains and affecting consumer behavior.

There was a positive as well as negative impact of the recession on the cell-based assay market.

• Positive impact
• Increased demand for cost-effective solutions: During recession, companies may look for cost-effective solutions, which can lead to increased demand for cell-based assays products that offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods.
• Increased focus on drug discovery: During recession, there may be an increased focus on drug discovery as companies look for new revenue streams. This can lead to increased demand for cell-based assays products.
• Negative impact
• Decreased demand: A recession can lead to decreased demand for cell-based assay products, as companies may cut back on research and development spending
• Supply chain disruptions: A recession can disrupt supply chains, which can impact the production and distribution of cell-based assays products

Regional Analysis

North America Holds Region Accounted Significant Share of the Global Cell-Based Assays Market

North America held the largest market share, with 42.2% in cell-based assays in 2022. The North American market is projected to continue to grow at a consistent pace, maintaining its dominance throughout the projection period. The growth of the market in North America is largely attributed to the results of extensive research conducted in a variety of research institutes, which are supported by academic research institutions and pharmaceutical companies in the region. Increasing prevalence of diseases like cancer, osteoarthritis, and diabetes are on the rise in the US, which is further driving the growth of the cell-based assay market for new drug discoveries. For instance, according to the American Heart Association in every 40 seconds, someone has a heart attack in the US.

Key Regions

North America

• The US
• Canada

Europe

• Germany
• France
• The UK
• Spain
• Italy
• Russia
• Netherland
• Rest of Europe

APAC

• China
• Japan
• South Korea
• India
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Rest of APAC

Latin America

• Brazil
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Rest of MEA

Key Players Analysis

Strong Focus On Partnership Maintain the Dominance of Industry Leaders

Industry leaders are looking for strategic partnerships, geographic expansion, and partnerships in emerging and prosperous markets. For instance, Promega Corporation has entered into an agreement with Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, Inc. to collaborate on the development of a new assay for drug discovery.

Market Key Players

The following are some of the major players in the industry

• BD
• Danaher Corporation
• Corning Incorporated
• Lonza Group
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• DiscoverX Corporation
• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
• The Merck Group,
• Charles River Laboratories
• AAT Bioquest, Inc.
• Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.
• GE Healthcare
• Other Key Players

Recent Development

• In May 2022: The Aquios STEM system from Beckman Coulter Life Sciences was introduced. It is a revolutionary new way to analyze stem cells. It drastically reduces the amount of time it takes to complete the analysis, as well as the number of manual and mistake-prone steps.
• In May 2021: PerkinElmer acquired Nexcelom BioSciences, a manufacturer of automated cellular counting and analysis solutions, in order to broaden its reach in the cellular assays market, with a particular focus on drug discovery and development.

Report Scope