Schedule a Meeting
Download Brochure
Table of Content
February 2025
The global chemotherapy market size is estimated to be valued at USD 10.28 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach around USD 19.35 billion by 2034. The market is expanding at a CAGR of 7.56% between 2024 and 2034. The market for cancer chemotherapy is expected to grow significantly due to advancements in drug delivery technology, ongoing development in innovative medicines, and a growing trend towards biologic treatment.
Unlock Infinite Advantages: Subscribe to Annual Membership
Key Takeaways
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs to target and prevent the development and rapid multiplication of cancer cells. Chemotherapy aids in tumor reduction, stops tumors from spreading, and alleviates symptoms associated with cancer. Depending on the kind and stage of the cancer, it is a crucial therapy option meant to either cure the disease or enhance the patient's quality of life. Targeted and immune-based medicines are used to treat cancer. Single-agent treatment is often not chosen over combination or multitargeted therapy, which follows the Goldie-Coldman hypothesis and fractional kill principles.
Chemotherapy is frequently used in conjunction with radiation treatment before surgery or as a curative measure for head, neck, lung, and anus malignancies. Chemotherapeutic medications work by targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells, destroying their genetic material, and occasionally preventing cell division by inhibiting vital molecules. As growing awareness about different types of cancer, favorable government initiatives like The Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund under Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) promote the potential benefits and different cancer treatments like heat-based approach to reduce chemotherapy doses.
The market for chemotherapy could undergo a revolution thanks to technological developments that provide more individualized, effective, and precise treatment options. It is possible to customize treatments to each patient's unique genetic profile, tumor type, and response to treatment by evaluating patient data. Additionally, real-time monitoring of patient health can assist in changing treatment strategies to enhance efficacy and avoid negative effects. Enhanced imaging technologies enable more accurate cancer detection, leading to speedier and more precise diagnosis. By tailoring medication combinations and doses to each patient's need, we may anticipate that chemotherapy regimens will become more tailored as research continues, lowering risks and improving patient outcomes. More individualized care and streamlined treatment procedures are two benefits of these advancements.
Increasing Cancer Prevalence
The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that by 2040, there will be 29.4 million new cases of cancer worldwide, up from 18.1 million in 2018. The global chemotherapy market is expanding due to the rising prevalence of cancer and the increasing number of cancer patients seeking more specialized and effective treatment alternatives. The highest mortality rate is caused by cancer incidence, surpassing cardiovascular diseases as the second leading cause of death. For example, urbanization, changed dietary habits, and tobacco use are contributing factors to this phenomenon.
According to recent statistics, the need for chemotherapy treatments is expected to expand significantly worldwide, with projections indicating a 53% increase in the number of patients needing first-course chemotherapy between 2018 and 2040.
Combination Therapies
Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for cancer and is often used in conjunction with other cancer treatments. The development of combination medicines has been spurred by the increase in drug resistance. Contrary to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, which is chemotherapy administered before surgery and radiation therapy, adjuvant chemotherapy is chemotherapy administered following surgery or radiation therapy in order to reduce the tumor cells. One important trend anticipated to propel the development of combination treatments.
High-cost therapies and adverse effects of drugs
The growth of the market will be slowed by the high cost of chemotherapy medication and the low success rate in oncology. Chemotherapy drugs damage healthy body cells while destroying malignant cells. Strict government restrictions, expensive medications, and patent expiration are some of the reasons preventing the worldwide market from growing over the projection period. The side effects associated with chemotherapy drugs, like Heart issues, bone marrow suppression, hair loss, weight loss, gastrointestinal issues, decreased bone density, and kidney and liver failure, are likely to restrict chemotherapy market growth further.
Innovative technology development
Chemotherapy was a major factor in helping cancer patients live longer than they otherwise would have. Injecting cancer-fighting medications as tailored nanoparticles into contaminated regions without harming healthy cells is the latest development in chemotherapy. This approach has been shown to eradicate cancerous cells while protecting healthy tissue. When treating malignant cells, doctors can use photon lasers to follow the length and distribution of these tube-and-pore-containing nanoparticles as they are released into a patient's body.
By drugs, the alkylating agent segment dominated the chemotherapy market in 2024 and is expected to grow during the forecast period. Alkylating agents cause unusual base pairing, DNA strand breaking, or cross-linking, which stops cells from dividing. Since they may kill cells at different stages of the cell cycle, these agents are usually categorized as nonspecific in the cell cycle phase. As cancer rates rise worldwide, the market for anti-metabolite medications will grow significantly. The industry for anti-metabolite drugs will expand as a result of more pipeline research and growing medical expenses.
By indication, the leukemia segment dominate the chemotherapy market in 2024. Leukaemia can arise in bone marrow, one of the tissues that make blood. Different treatment results are seen for leukemias, which can produce symptoms including weariness, weight loss, recurrent infections, and easy bruising or bleeding. Radiation treatment, stem cell transplantation, and chemotherapy are sometimes used together to treat severe leukemias.
By indication, the breast cancer segment is estimated to grow at a notable rate in the chemotherapy market during the forecast period. There is a notable increase in the number of instances of breast cancer. The rising incidence of breast cancer in women, the range of treatments available, and enhanced techniques for breast cancer diagnosis utilizing state-of-the-art technology are the main drivers of the industry's expansion.
Johnson & Johnson is getting ready to launch a ground-breaking therapy for metastatic breast cancer in the EU. Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer are anticipated to have much higher survival rates thanks to the new medication, ‘Tucatinib,’ a HER2-targeted treatment. After receiving regulatory clearance, Tucatinib, which is produced in J&J's cutting-edge facilities in the United States, will be supplied throughout Europe. With the launch slated to address a key need in the treatment of advanced breast cancer, this represents a significant milestone in the advancement of targeted cancer medicines.
By route of drugs, the oral route segment is the highest contributor to the market. A medication used to treat cancer orally comes in tablet, capsule, or liquid form. When compared to topical methods, oral chemotherapy medicines frequently show greater effectiveness. Because patients may take their medication at home instead of having to visit a hospital or clinic for infusion therapy, this approach is extremely convenient.
By route of drugs, the intravenous segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the chemotherapy market over the forecast period. The intravenous route witnessed the fastest growth rate. Because chemotherapy medications are immediately absorbed into the circulation, they work faster than oral and topical therapies.
By end-user, the hospital segment is the highest contributor to the chemotherapy market throughout the forecast period. The rapid growth of these sub-segments is linked to a number of factors, including the availability of advanced medical technology, the presence of competent medical workers, the precise cancer treatment given in hospitals, and favorable reimbursement policies. The market's rapid growth rate is being driven by the seamless advancement of modern medical technology. Additionally, rise in chronic illness cases, the expansion of public-private partnerships in the healthcare sector, and the growing senior population.
Over the course of the forecast period, the online pharmacy sector is anticipated to develop at the quickest rate in the chemotherapy market. An online pharmacy, often referred to as an Internet or mail order pharmacy, is a pharmacy that operates online and ships orders to clients via the mail, shipping services, or its website. Online pharmacies often include pharmacy benefits managers, which are organizations in charge of overseeing corporate prescription medication programs.
North America dominated the global chemotherapy market share by 45% in 2024. The U.S. and Canada are included in the analysis of the North American market. The availability of chemotherapeutic therapies and the significant presence of international suppliers in the area are boosting market expansion. Additionally, the market for chemotherapy treatments in North America is likely to grow as a result of the expected approval of combination medicines that are presently in the advanced phases of clinical testing.
Asia-Pacific chemotherapy Market is estimated to expand rapidly during the forecast period. Increased government awareness campaigns and rising healthcare costs in the area are the main drivers of this rise. Because of the growing need for chemotherapeutic treatments and the availability of skilled and competent healthcare practitioners, the market's rate of growth in this area will also be slowed by the growing accessibility of generic products. Moreover, China’s market held the largest market share, and the Indian market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.
To develop a novel class of immunotherapies that enhance chemotherapy for solid tumors, such as colorectal, lung, and breast malignancies, Pfizer and BioNTech have launched a strategic alliance. Through the partnership, Pfizer's well-established chemotherapy platforms and BioNTech's mRNA technology will be used to develop synergistic medicines that will increase the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy while lowering its negative effects. With an initial investment of $400 million USD, the alliance aims to get both firms into early-stage clinical trials by the end of 2025.
By Drugs
By Indication
By Route of Drugs
By End User
By Region
February 2025
February 2025
February 2025
February 2025
Annual Access, Limitless Research! Unlock all market research reports with our annual subscription. Stay on top of market trends and crucial insights year-round!
2500+
Client Queries in 20235000+
Insights Published60+
Consulting Projects Per Year40+
Analysts