Primary Cells Market By Source (Hematopoietic Cells, Lung Cells, Gastrointestinal Cells, Skin Cells, Liver Cells, Skeletal & Muscle Cells, Renal Cells, Heart Cells, and Others), By Type (Human Primary Cells and Animal Primary Cells), By Application (Stem Cell Therapy, Virology, Cancer Research, Tissue Replacement, and 3D Cell Culture), By End-user (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, CROs, and Research Institutes), Region and Companies – Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends and Forecast 2024-2033

Report Overview

The Primary Cells Market Size is expected to be worth around US$ 4.7 billion by 2033 from US$ 1.8 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period 2024 to 2033.

Primary cells offer several advantages over in vitro cell lines. They exhibit more reliable tissue-specific responses within a biologically relevant microenvironment, leading to precise outcomes in drug response studies. Additionally, primary cells are cost-effective and reduce the reliance on animal models in research. As a result, they are favored by pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). CROs specializing in cell-based assays can harness primary human cells to provide high-quality data for drug discovery and development.

By integrating these cells into their services, CROs enhance the accuracy and translatability of preclinical studies, ultimately improving the success rate of drug candidates in clinical trials. Additionally, government investments in cell-based research have contributed to market growth.

Across the globe, governments allocate funds to support research initiatives related to cell-based therapies, regenerative medicine, and personalized medicine Numerous market players are engaging in the development of primary cell-based products and services to stay ahead of the curve. For instance, in January 2022, one of the prominent market players and a supplier of research models and services, BioIVT, announced the launch of GMP-grade human AB serum. It is a cell culture supplement that boosts the manufacture and development of cell & gene therapies.

Key Takeaways

• In 2023, the market for Primary Cells generated a revenue of USD 8 billion, with a CAGR of 10.1%, and is expected to reach USD 4.7 billion by the year 2033.
• The source segment is divided into hematopoietic cells, lung cells, gastrointestinal cells, skin cells, liver cells, skeletal & muscle cells, renal cells, heart cells, and others, with hematopoietic cells taking the lead in 2023 with a market share of 22.5%.
• Considering type, the market is divided into human primary cells and animal primary cells. Among these, human primary cells held a significant share of 64.2%.
• Furthermore, concerning the application segment, the market is segregated into stem cell therapy, virology, cancer research, tissue replacement, and 3D cell culture. The 3D cell culture sector stands out as the dominant player, holding the largest revenue share in the Primary Cells market.
• The end-user segment is segregated into pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, CROs, and research institutes, with the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment leading the market, holding a revenue share of 56.2%.
• North America led the market by securing a market share of 43.2% in 2023.

Source Analysis

The hematopoietic cells segment led in 2023, claiming a market share of 22.5% as hematopoietic cells are crucial to the study and creation of regenerative treatments. These multipotent primitive cells can differentiate into myeloid- and lymphoid-lineage blood cells, among other blood cell types. Because of their wide range of potential uses and significance in stem cell biology, researchers are currently investigating the use of adult-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in fundamental and clinical sciences applications.

In regenerative medicine, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their originators are valuable resources as they may be able to treat a range of pathophysiologic problems, such as blood disorders and non-hematopoietic tissue regeneration.

Type Analysis

The human primary cells segment held a significant share of 64.2% due to its essential role in research and development (R&D). These cells closely mimic the physiological state of cells in vivo, providing more biologically relevant data compared to immortalized cell lines. By incorporating human primary cells into cell culture systems, researchers enhance the physiological relevance of generated data, leading to valuable insights aligned with in vivo outcomes.

This segment is projected to experience rapid growth in the coming years, driven by advantages such as biological relevance through maintaining key aspects of tissue origin, representation of donor variability, and predictive data generation.

Application Analysis

The 3D cell culture segment had a tremendous growth rate in 2023 owing to the increasing demand for personalized medicines and organ transplantation. The advancements in technology such as microfluidics-based systems are boosting the adoption of 3D cell cultures.

Increased research and development activities and the search for novel treatments are also expected to fuel the growth of this segment. Strategic partnerships among the key players and the development of new products are further expanding the 3D cell culture offerings, with market leaders focusing on geographic expansion and entering new territories.

End-user Analysis

The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment grew at a substantial rate, generating a revenue portion of 56.2% due to the increasing demand for personalized medicines and targeted therapies. The growth of this segment is also driven by the use of primary cells in drug discovery, development, and testing.

Furthermore, the requirement to reduce costs and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the drug development process also fuels the demand for primary cells in this sector.

Key Market Segments

By Source

• Hematopoietic Cells
• Lung Cells
• Gastrointestinal Cells
• Skin Cells
• Liver Cells
• Skeletal & Muscle Cells
• Renal Cells
• Heart Cells
• Others

By Type

• Human Primary Cells
• Animal Primary Cells

By Application

• Stem Cell Therapy
• Virology
• Cancer Research
• Tissue Replacement
• 3D Cell Culture

By End-user

• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
• CROs
• Research Institutes

Drivers

Growing Scope of Application of Primary Cells

There has been a significant rise in the commercial applications of primary cells in recent years. Along with their usual role in medical research, these cells are increasingly being assimilated in other areas such as toxicology testing, drug discovery, and development of cell-based assays. The demand for primary cell-derived biomaterials has increased significantly due to their relevance in drug development.

Primary cells closely mimic native human tissues, making them valuable for bridging the gap between pre-clinical testing and clinical trials. Advances in cell isolation and culture techniques have made primary cells more accessible for high-throughput screening. This shift is crucial as the pharmaceutical industry embraces personalized approaches using patient-derived cells and disease-specific models.

According to the data from React4Life, primary human cells from various tissues are increasingly used as alternatives to animal models. These cells help develop relevant markers and models for downstream studies. For instance, primary human hepatocytes isolated from the liver serve as predictive in vitro models for drug metabolism. Additionally, other primary cells from healthy skin, kidneys, heart, muscle, intestine, and lungs are used for drug metabolism and toxicity predictions.

Restraints

Risk of Contamination

Contamination is a significant issue in primary cell cultures. It can negatively affect experimental results, introduce variability, and compromise research reliability. Key concerns include bacterial, fungal, viral, and mycoplasma since primary cells have a high risk of contamination during the storage and handling process.

Contamination can occur through various sources including personnel, laboratory equipment, and reagents. If the cells get contaminated, they can lead to incorrect conclusions in research and can even lead to potentially harmful products.

Opportunities

Surging Demand for Personalized Medicine

The growing demand for personalized medicine is driving the primary cell culture market. Researchers use primary cell cultures to study how cells from different patients respond to drugs, aiding in personalized treatment plans. Precision medicine’s focus has increased demand for these techniques, especially in cell therapies and regenerative medicine.

The rise of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has further fueled this market. As precision medicine becomes mainstream, primary cell cultures will play a crucial role in personalized diagnostics and therapeutics.

According to the data from the Personalized Medicine Coalition, in 2023, personalized medicines accounted for over one-third of new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug approvals, continuing a trend observed for four consecutive years. Notably, this trend is particularly evident in the rare disease domain, where the number of new treatment approvals more than doubled.

Impact of Macroeconomic / Geopolitical Factors

Macroeconomic factors such as growing healthcare expenditure in emerging economies and geopolitical factors such as fluctuation in tariffs exert significant influence on the Primary Cells market, shaping its growth trajectory and dynamics. Macroeconomic growth, government policies, and inflation affect the affordability of primary cells.

Geopolitical factors such as trade wars can disrupt supply chains and increase costs. Globalization and collaboration among countries can drive market growth by facilitating access to new markets and technologies. To summarize, the overall impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical factors in the coming years is expected to be positive for the market.

Latest Trends

Increasing Demand for Primary Human Cells

Primary human cells offer several advantages in drug discovery and research. They are cost-effective, reducing the need for animal models in in vivo studies. Additionally, pre-screened primary cells closely represent in vivo signaling. Pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, and CROs are increasingly adopting primary human cells for lead identification and optimization.

Notable benefits include physiological relevance, genetic diversity, and accurate tumor microenvironment representation. Primary human cells offer a preferable alternative to animal testing for toxicity and drug safety assessment. They are cost-effective, efficient, and accelerate drug discovery.

Their physiological relevance and inherent virtues make them valuable for biochemical assays. According to the data published by the Science Daily in July 2024, it states that researchers have developed an efficient method to generate functional endothelial cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for in vitro testing.

Regional Analysis

North America is leading the Primary Cells Market

North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 43.2% owing to several causes, including the high cost of healthcare, the growing senior population, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and government assistance finance. The growing emphasis of market players on creating innovative applications for cell culture, equipment, the accessibility of diverse cell types, and their cellular interactions is also contributing to the market’s expansion in the region.

Several key players in this region are making investments toward expansion and development. For instance, STEMCELL Technologies announced its growth in October 2023 with the creation of a new sales office in Toronto. It is anticipated that this development would increase STEMCELL Technologies’ footprint in North America and fortify its connections in the Toronto region.

The Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period

It is estimated that the Asia Pacific primary cells market will develop at the fastest rate during the forecast timeframe. The primary factor driving the increase is the region’s lower costs for stem cell transplantation, which also supports the high demand Additionally, the market for primary cells in China had the most market share, while the market for primary cells in India is expanding at the quickest rate.

The growth of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies in this region is also expected to boost the market since these industries rely heavily on primary cells for drug discovery and personalized medicines. Furthermore, the growing use of bioinformatics tools and data analysis techniques enables researchers to better understand primary cell behavior, identify new biomarkers, and develop effective treatments. This is expected to impel the market in this region.

For instance, in November 2022, the bioinformatics division of QIAGEN, QIAGEN Digital Insights (QDI), announced the release of a new cell line database created in association with ATCC, a well-known biological materials organization, supplier, and producer of authenticated cells. This database provides prudently selected sequencing data for authenticated, standardized, and repeatable cell lines.

Key Regions and Countries

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Netherland
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • 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

The major players in the Primary Cells market are actively engaged in the development and introduction of innovative products, as well as implementing strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing their competitive positioning. Companies partner with research institutions, universities, and other industry players to access new technologies, expand their product portfolio, and enhance their research capabilities.

The key market players also invest heavily in the development of new and innovative primary cell products, improving existing products, and expanding their applications.

Top Key Players in the Primary Cells Market

• ZenBio
• Thermo Fisher Scientific
• STEMCELL Technologies
• PromoCell
• Merck KGaA
• Inventia Life Science
• Lonza
• Cell Biologics, Inc.
• Axol Biosciences Ltd.
• American Type Culture Collection
• AllCells

Recent Developments

• In March 2023, Thermo Fisher Scientific, one of the prominent key players, founded a cell therapy facility at UCSF to further the advancement of novel therapeutic interventions. This created an opportunity for the exploration of the hypothesis that the proximity of scientists, patients, and doctors to a manufacturing facility could improve the efficiency of drug development.
• In June 2023, a new distribution deal was announced between Australia-based biotechnology business Inventia Life Science, a prominent market leader, and Biotron Healthcare PVT Limited, a distributor of diagnostics for the life sciences and biotechnology sectors. Consequently, Biotron Healthcare PVT Ltd has obtained the Indian market’s sales rights for Inventia Life Science’s flagship RASTRUM technology. Researchers working to identify and cure severe diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, and fibrotic disorders are helped by the RASTRUM platform. These researchers make extensive use of primary cells in the development of effective and precise treatments for patients.

Report Scope