April 2025
The global protein engineering market size is calculated at US$ 3.08 in 2024, grew to US$ 3.58 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach around US$ 13.84 billion by 2034. The market is expanding at a CAGR of 16.27% between 2025 and 2034. Protein engineering is a process in which desirable proteins are developed that have properties like tissue regeneration, antiviral, etc. Thus, they are being used in various fields due to their wide range of applications.
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A transition from small-molecule chemical therapy to biological therapy, including protein therapeutics, cellular therapy, and gene therapy, is being experienced by medicine and pharmacology. Protein engineering is a common and crucial technology in biological therapies, as proteins play an important role in biological functions. The metabolic drugs can be transformed into smart, stimulus-responsive drug systems by using protein engineering. The stimulus-responsive protein therapeutics are the type of drugs that are metabolized under target conditions.
Furthermore, due to the advances in protein engineering capabilities, there is an improved control over both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Smart therapeutics with biochemical logic can also be formulated with the help of protein engineering. Protein therapeutics is a segment of FDA-approved drugs that is rapidly expanding and improving clinical outcomes.
Metric | Details |
Market Size in 2024 | USD 3.08 Billion |
Projected Market Size in 2034 | USD 13.84 Billion |
CAGR (2025 - 2034) | 16.27% |
Leading Region | North America |
Market Segmentation | By Product, By Application, By Protein Type, By End-use and By Region |
Top Key Players | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Agilent Technologies, PerkinElmer, Inc., Bruker Cor., Waters Corp., Amgen, Inc., Genscript Biotech Corp. |
The potential to revolutionize various areas like drug discovery, ecology, antibody design, food security, etc., is shown by protein engineering, an emerging field in biotechnology. Yet the mutational space required is vast, which is problematic to handle through experimental means alone. Thus, utilizing protein databases and machine learning (ML) models, such as natural language processing (NLP), is enhancing protein engineering technology. A more powerful strategy, such as structure-based ML-assisted protein engineering, can be developed with the help of artificial intelligence-based protein structure prediction like AlphaFold2 and advances in topological data analysis (TDA). Moreover, a new approach to protein engineering and directed evolution has emerged, which utilizes data-driven machine learning.
Rising Demand for New Therapeutics
The increasing incidences of chronic diseases have increased the demand for protein-based therapeutics. Thus, the use of biologics such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), recombinant proteins, and enzymes is increasing for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular disorders. Similarly, the demand for biosimilars is also increasing as they are affordable. Furthermore, increasing technological advancements have increased the production of personalized medications utilizing protein engineering. Here, protein engineering is used to develop a protein that is target specific to disease markers within the patients. Moreover, for genetic disorders gene therapies or cell therapies are being developed with the help of protein engineering. Thus, all these factors contribute to market growth.
The graph indicates the total number of CDER-approved novel drugs in 2024. It indicates that new therapeutic options are rising for rare diseases which often do not consist of any treatment. Thus, this encourages the development of new protein-based treatment options, which in turn will promote market growth.
Expensive Production
The development of protein-based therapeutics is expensive. It is a complex process that requires technological advancements as well as skilled personnel, which contributes to the expenses. Similarly, the production of biologics is also costly as it requires specialized reagents, facilities, and quality control measures. Furthermore, the protein therapeutics used to treat rare diseases are often associated with high costs. Thus, the affordability of protein-based therapeutics is an important issue that affects the protein engineering market growth.
New Protein-based Biologics
Targeted treatment can be provided for various diseases by utilizing protein-based biologics such as recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, or therapeutic enzymes. This has increased the demand for protein-based biologics to treat complex and chronic diseases. Thus, the development of new biologics with improved safety, efficacy, and specificity has increased. At the same time development of personalized medications depending on patients' profiles and treatment options is also being developed. Furthermore, these protein-based biologics and therapeutics are being used in the treatment of rare diseases to replace the defective proteins in the patient.
For instance,
By product type, the instruments segment dominated the market in 2024 and is estimated to be the fastest-growing at a notable CAGR during the forecast period. The instruments provided faster and more efficient protein synthesis, screening, and analysis. It also helped in the large-scale production of protein-based therapeutics. Thus, these factors contributed to the protein engineering market growth.
By application type, the rational protein design segment dominated the market in 2024. Rational protein design provided optimized proteins. It also helped in the development of target-specific protein therapeutics. Furthermore, by using AI, it developed more reliable therapeutics, which helped in reducing the time required for production, which enhanced the market growth.
By application type, the hybrid approach segment is anticipated to be the fastest growing during the forecast period. The hybrid approach helps in the improvement of proteins at a faster rate which in turn helps in the optimization of protein therapeutics. Hence, it is being used in various industries for production processes as it also reduces the time and cost involved.
By protein type, the monoclonal antibodies segment dominated the market in 2024 and is expected to be the fastest-growing during the forecast period. The monoclonal antibodies provided target-specific actions for various diseases. With the help of protein engineering, the stability as well as the specificity of the monoclonal antibodies was enhanced. Thus, these were further approved by the FDA in treating diseases like cancer. Thus, this contributed to the market growth.
By end user, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment dominated the global protein engineering market in 2024. Due to the increased demand for protein therapeutics, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies focused on their development process. At the same time, technological advances helped in providing optimized results by minimizing the time. This, in turn, increased the manufacturing and distribution of protein therapeutics, which promoted market growth.
By end user, the contract research organizations (CROs) segment is predicted to be the fastest growing during the forecast period. The CROs provide the technological advancements for protein engineering, which helps in a faster production process. It helps in large-scale manufacturing. This increases their demand for biologics and biosimilar production. Thus, this results in enhancing the market growth.
North America dominated the protein engineering market in 2024. North America consists of many well-developed biotechnological industries. Thus, this increased the utilization of protein engineering for the development of therapeutic proteins or any other protein-based products. Furthermore, technological advancements helped to optimize its various applications. This contributed to the market growth.
The research and innovations using protein engineering are increasing due to the presence of a large number of biotechnological industries. These industries are further provided with funding and investment by the government.
The research and development sectors in industries and institutes are contributing to the development of new treatment options using protein engineering. Due to this increased interest, the funding is also provided by the government. Furthermore, collaborations are also being formed, which are increasing the demand for protein engineering and enhancing market growth.
Asia Pacific is estimated to host the fastest-growing protein engineering market during the forecast period. The demand for treatment options is rising due to the increased occurrences of diseases. Thus, various healthcare systems are adopting protein-based therapeutics. Similarly, the industries are also using protein engineering for the development of new treatment options.
The biotechnological industries in China are utilizing protein engineering for the development of new treatment options, such as biosimilars, against different diseases. Furthermore, using technological advancements, the development of biopharmaceuticals, recombinant proteins, etc., is becoming easier.
The demand for protein engineering in India is continuously increasing due to increased incidences of diseases. The industries are utilizing protein engineering for the development of generic drugs which helps in providing cost-effective treatment options to the patients. The presence of skilled personnel also helps in developing quality drugs or any other treatment options.
Europe is expected to be significantly growing in the protein engineering market during the forecast period. New industries, as well as startups, are being developed in Europe. This, in turn, is increasing the research in protein engineering. At the same time, as the demand for personalized medications increases, collaborations are also being formed. Thus, these factors are contributing to the market growth.
The presence of biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries is providing various research opportunities which increases the interest within the population. Due to this, collaborations are formed with the institutes. Furthermore, these collaborations are also supported by the government. Thus, this rise in collaboration increases market growth.
The biotechnological startups that are focusing on protein engineering for therapeutic applications in the UK are increasing. This, in turn, attracts various investors to develop personalized medications or other treatment options. At the same time, the government is also supporting them by providing funding schemes.
By Product
By Application
By Protein Type
By End-use
By Region
April 2025
April 2025
April 2025
April 2025