March 2025
Principal Consultant
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The global targeted therapy market size is calculated at US$ 80.18 in 2024, grew to US$ 85.69 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach around US$ 155.82 billion by 2034. The market is expanding at a CAGR of 6.87% between 2025 and 2034. The rising demand for better and more precise cancer therapeutics is driving the targeted therapy market.
Drugs created especially to target cancer cells without harming healthy cells are used in targeted therapy, a kind of cancer treatment. Targeted medications have the ability to either block or disable the signals that cause cancer cells to proliferate or to self-destruct. Because cancer grows differently in each person, the therapy is tailored to match their specific needs. Researchers will create more targeted therapies as they get more knowledge about certain alterations in cancer cells.
Targeted treatment is based on accurate medication prediction. AI-driven algorithms primarily utilize omics data to predict potential druggable targets. AI may be involved in the entire medication development, selection, and use process after identifying potential therapeutic targets. It is simpler to create and evaluate medications with the best interactions when using AI models. Additionally, AI's strong analytical capabilities can be leveraged to achieve combination therapy and medication repurposing, which are crucial for reducing side effects and combating potential drug resistance.
Growing Demand for Personalized Medicine
Two new fields in cancer research that concentrate on prevention and treatment are targeted therapy and customized medicine. The transition from an organ-centric approach to a customized strategy based on in-depth molecular analysis is one of the most important developments in contemporary oncology. Individualized treatment has been made possible by this change in perspective, which centers on the specific molecular alterations of the tumor. Based on the molecular characterization of malignant cancer, researchers and doctors are employing targeted medicines to choose the most effective course of therapy. Personalized medicine uses proteomic, immunological, and genomic profiling to offer predictive information about the illness and therapeutic choices for cancer therapy.
Side Effects Associated with Targeted Therapy
The adverse effects of targeted treatment medications differ from those of conventional or regular chemotherapy. While some targeted medications have relatively little side effects, others can lead to increasingly significant issues. Targeted medications come in a wide variety, and the adverse effects of each one are mostly determined by the drug's kind and target.
Growing Clinical Research
Results from recent studies on the combination of immunotherapy and targeted treatment for cholangiocarcinoma are encouraging and outperform those from chemotherapy or solo therapy. This has generated a great deal of interest in learning more about this integrated strategy. Globally, targeted anticancer medication research and development is flourishing and progressing quickly, with domestic businesses now serving as the cornerstone. For innovation-oriented drug development, it is essential to support genomics initiatives and provide frameworks for public-private collaboration and incentives.
By type, the monoclonal antibodies segment held the major share of the targeted therapy market in 2024. For the treatment of different forms of cancer, a large number of monoclonal antibodies have been approved. Clinical studies are being conducted on authorized monoclonal antibodies to explore new drugs and uses. An increasingly important component of cancer treatment is monoclonal antibody-based immunotherapy, which is used in conjunction with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The mechanisms of action of monoclonal antibodies are diverse and therapeutically significant. Because of the various benefits of antibodies as a therapeutic platform, new methods of cancer therapy have been developed that will have a substantial impact on cancer care.
By type, the small molecule segment is estimated to be the fastest-growing in the targeted therapy market during the predicted time frame. Targeted therapeutic pharmaceuticals are becoming commonplace cancer therapies because of their superior effectiveness and safety when compared to conventional chemotherapy medications. Small-molecule targeted medications are superior to macromolecule pharmaceuticals in a few areas, including pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics, expenses, patient adherence, medication storage, and transportation. There are now 89 anti-cancer small compounds that have received approval in China and the U.S.
By application, the lung cancer segment led the targeted therapy market in 2024. Lung cancer (LC) is the first and third most prevalent cancer in the world to be diagnosed in both men and women. It is estimated that there will be 35 million additional instances of cancer by 2050, a 77% rise from 2022. Population expansion, age, and shifts in the prevalence of risk factors (such as smoking and air pollution) are all contributing contributors to the ongoing rise in the global LC burden, which will further put a great burden on people and health systems throughout the globe.
By application, the breast cancer segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the targeted therapy market during the forecast period. The most prevalent kind of cancer in women, breast cancer, poses a serious threat to public health today. Breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer diagnosed globally in 2020, with over 2.3 million new cases and 685,000 fatalities. It is anticipated that by 2040, there will be more than 3 million new instances of breast cancer and one million fatalities. With the most recent developments in immunotherapy and molecular biology, highly focused treatments have been developed to address the unique pathophysiology of many breast cancer types.
By distribution channel, the hospital pharmacies segment held the largest share of the targeted therapy market in 2024. A specialty area of pharmacy that is included in a medical center's services is hospital pharmacy. Hospitals, outpatient clinics, drug-dependency treatment centers, poison-control centers, and drug information centers are a few examples of this kind of establishment. In addition to advising employees on the safe and efficient use of medications with regard to dosage, formulation, administration, and drug monitoring, the pharmacy department collaborates closely with other medical specialists.
By distribution channel, the online pharmacies segment is estimated to grow at the fastest CAGR in the targeted therapy market during the forecast period. The rapid growth of online pharmacies and e-commerce, the increasing availability of digital service offerings, and the emergence of direct-to-consumer healthcare have all transformed the landscape of online pharmacies. This is happening concurrently with the growing availability of Internet consultation services, medications, and health information. For various reasons, including convenience, round-the-clock accessibility, pricing transparency, potentially enhanced customer privacy, and product availability, consumers may opt to use online pharmacies. When getting to a pharmacy is challenging for people with disabilities or those who are confined to their homes, having medications delivered is a practical solution. Online ordering of medications offers benefits for customers residing in rural or isolated areas or those seeking items but prefer to remain anonymous.
North America dominated the targeted therapy market share by 32% in 2024 because of a combination of rising cancer rates and improvements in therapeutic technology. Furthermore, the industry has grown as a result of the increased focus on precision medicine and customized treatment plans, which provide safer and more effective substitutes for conventional medicines. The United States and Canada are the two main nations that support the expansion of the North American market.
Cancer has a big societal impact in the U.S. and throughout the world. Cancer statistics illustrate what happens in large populations and paint a picture of how cancer has affected society throughout time. Estimates indicate that 2,001,140 new cases of cancer will be discovered in the U.S. in 2024, along with 611,720 fatalities from the disease. As of January 2022, an estimated 18.1 million Americans have survived cancer. It is projected that 22.5 million people will have survived cancer by 2032.
In 2024, 247,100 Canadians are anticipated to hear the words "You have cancer," compared to 239,100 new cases of the disease in 2023. The aging and growing population of the nation is most likely the cause of this increase. Additionally, it was projected that there will be 88,100 cancer deaths in 2024, up from 86,700 in 2023. As the population became older, it was expected that the number of cancer diagnoses and deaths would increase. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, the number of new cancer cases is expected to climb by about 40% by 2030 as the population ages and grows.
Asia Pacific is estimated to host the fastest-growing targeted therapy market during the forecast period. WHO emphasizes the substantial cancer burden that fuels the need for cutting-edge therapeutic alternatives. The market is anticipated to grow as a result of increased availability of innovative treatments, rising cancer incidence, and rising healthcare spending. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the market will expand more quickly because of the quick developments in biotechnology and the increased focus on customized treatment. In the upcoming years, the industry is anticipated to grow even more due to the launch of new targeted medicines and encouraging government regulations, which will make the area a desirable place for research and investment.
A projected 3,246,625 new cases of cancer and 1,699,066 cancer-related deaths occurred in China in 2024. Lung cancer is thought to be the most common type of cancer in China. China has made strides in the fight against cancer. China's cancer burden is gradually increasing due to the country's growing and aging population, and the cancer pattern is shifting from that of a developing to a developed nation. Given the shift in China's cancer epidemiology, it is essential to create more robust policies by implementing U.S. cancer prevention and control techniques in order to combat population aging and slow the rise in cancer rates.
Following China and the U.S., India came in third place in cancer prevalence. According to GLOBOCAN, the number of cancer cases in India will reach 2.08 million by 2040, representing a 57.5 percent increase from 2020. To reduce the incidence of cancer, the Indian government is adopting the appropriate actions. In the Union Budget 2025-2025, for example, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare received a total of Rs.99,858.56 crore, of which Rs. 3,900.69 crore was allotted to the Department of Health Research and Rs. 95,957.87 crore to the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The Government of India's commitment to improving cancer treatment is evident in several key measures outlined in the Union Budget 2025–2026.
Europe is expected to be significantly growing in the targeted therapy market during the forecast period. The growing incidence of cancer, the ease with which new cancer treatments may be approved by European regulators, and the substantial R&D expenditures made by major regional competitors are the main drivers of the market's expansion. In 2020, there were 4.79 million cancer cases in the European region; by 2040, that number is predicted to rise to 6.07 million, according to data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Therefore, the market is more likely to be driven by a rise in the incidence of cancer cases.
With 230,292 fatalities in 2023—or 22% of all deaths—cancer is Germany's second most common cause of death. Previous research has determined the percentage of cancer cases in Germany that may be attributed to a variety of lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight, not exercising, and eating an unhealthy diet. The predicted expenditures of malignancies linked to sedentary behavior in 2024 are €472 million for female genital cancers, €51 million for rectal cancer, €234 million for breast cancer, and €270 million for colon cancer.
The OECD estimates that until 2050, cancer may increase UK health costs by £14.4 billion annually. In all, the OECD predicted that if nothing is done, UK health spending on cancer will rise by 52% per person by 2050. This is related to the nation's aging and expanding population, and it generally corresponds with our own estimates that, if present trends continue, more than half a million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed annually by 2040. This represents an increase from the 2019 number of almost 385,000 annual diagnoses.
In March 2024, speaking about the recent launch, Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences, stated that patients recently diagnosed with these particular diseases can greatly benefit from early detection and treatment. Our patient-centered approach to the introduction of IBYRA provides patients with the most cost-effective precision treatment and state-of-the-art diagnostics for HRD-positive cancer. We think this will significantly lessen the patients' burden of illness.
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