The global antibody drug conjugates market size was valued at USD 11.65 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach around USD 28.61 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2024 to 2033.
This can be attributed to the presence of a robust R&D pipeline. This, coupled with the growing incidence of cancer and increased demand for low-toxicity & effective drugs, is expected to drive market growth. Some of the key Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) currently available in the market are Kadcyla (Genentech/Roche), Adcetris (Seattle Genetics), Enhertu (AstraZeneca/Daiichi Sankyo), Besponsa (Pfizer), Mylotarg (Pfizer), and Polivy (Genentech/Roche). ADCs are a novel category of drugs composed of an antibody linked-via a chemical linker-to a cytotoxic drug.
Conventional chemotherapy is intended to eradicate fast-growing tumor cells. However, it can also damage healthy proliferating cells, which may produce undesirable effects. In contrast, ADC is designed to upsurge the efficacy of treatment and decrease systemic toxicity. In this market, the landscape is influenced by reimbursement policies, a crucial factor in developed economies. The production and research costs of ADC drugs are high compared to conventional treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies and chemotherapy. This results in a higher overall treatment cost, which poses a challenge for reimbursement coverage. For instance, a negative review was given by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics in Ireland in February 2020 for Roche's Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine).
The review was based on the drug's perceived low cost-effectiveness, indicating a potential trend where expensive ADC treatments may face obstacles in gaining reimbursement approval. This dynamic highlights the delicate balance between innovation, cost, and access to cutting-edge medical solutions in the market. In contrast, some countries considered such costly ADC drugs for reimbursement due to high disease prevalence. In April 2021, the UK’s Cancer Drug Fund approved Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) for the reimbursement of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) treatment. However, countries, such as Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, are yet to provide reimbursement approval for the same. The lack of availability of reimbursement policies in developing economies, such as India and China, might restrict market growth.
| Report Attribute | Details |
| Market Size in 2024 | USD 12.75 Billion |
| Market Size by 2033 | USD 28.61 Billion |
| Growth Rate From 2024 to 2033 | CAGR of 9.4% |
| Base Year | 2023 |
| Forecast Period | 2024 to 2033 |
| Segments Covered | Application, product, target, technology, region |
| Market Analysis (Terms Used) | Value (US$ Million/Billion) or (Volume/Units) |
| Report Coverage | Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
| Key Companies Profiled | Seagen, Inc., (previously Seattle Genetics, Inc.); Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.; AstraZeneca PLC, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.; Pfizer, Inc.; ImmunoGen, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc. (acquired Immunomedics); Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd. |
The U.S. antibody drug conjugates market is valued at USD 4.32 billion in 2023, and it is expected to reach USD 10.73 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 9.53% during the forecast period of 2024-2033.
The North America antibody drug conjugate market accounted for the largest revenue share of 52.54% in 2023. Increased awareness about ADCs among healthcare professionals and favorable reimbursement policies are driving market growth. North America is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to increased awareness about current treatment therapies, favorable reimbursement policies, significant R&D expenditure, and improved patient affordability. Some of the key players operating in this region are Seagen, Inc.; F. Hoffmann La-Roche Ltd.; Gilead Sciences Inc.; and Pfizer Inc.
U.S. Antibody Drug Conjugate Market Trends
The antibody drug conjugate market in the U.S. is growing owing to factors, such as high awareness among healthcare professionals about ADCs, presence of advanced ADCs, and high R&D investment by manufacturers. For instance, in April 2021, Gilead received FDA approval for Trodelvy for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. Approval for a new indication is expected to boost the market for Trodelvy and other ADC drugs, such as Polivy, Padcev, and Enhertu, sales over a period.
Europe Antibody Drug Conjugate Market Trends
The Europe antibody drug conjugate market is growing significantly owing to new product launches, increasing R&D initiatives, and potential products in pipeline expected to be commercialized in the forecast period.
The antibody drug conjugate market in the UK is expected to grow over the forecast period due to rising awareness of cancer, increasing treatment adoption, and favorable reimbursement schemes. Drugs, such as Besponsa and Kadcyla, are reimbursed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The France antibody drug conjugate market is expected to grow over the forecast period attributed to the increasing patient base and introduction of novel ADC drugs in the country for different types of cancer.
The antibody drug conjugate market in Germany is expected to grow over the forecast period due to the high R&D investments in developing ADCs and improved access & availability of various treatment options.
Asia Pacific Antibody Drug Conjugate Market Trends
The Asia Pacific antibody drug conjugate market is anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to the presence of emerging economies, increasing investments in the biotechnology sector, improving government initiatives, and rapidly growing clinical research & outsourcing markets. In addition, improvements in healthcare facilities and R&D in drug development are anticipated to propel market growth.
The antibody drug conjugate market in China is expected to grow over the forecast period due to the increasing approval of novel ADCs, increasing prevalence of cancer, and various initiatives undertaken by the governments to improve treatment access to cancer patients.
The Japan antibody drug conjugate market focuses on the geographic expansion of key players to increase their market share and introduction of novel ADC medicines in the country, which are expected to boost market growth. For instance, in May 2021, Japan’s MHLW granted priority review to Astellas’s enfortumab vedotin (Padcev) for the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced urothelial cancer. Furthermore, in September 2020, Enhertu was approved for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer patients in Japan. Moreover, an increasing number of ADC clinical trials are being conducted in the country. For instance, a Japanese company, Daiichi Sankyo, is investing heavily in ADC development. Currently, it has three ADC products in the clinical pipeline at multiple phases.
Latin America Antibody Drug Conjugate Market Trends
The antibody drug conjugate market in Latin America was identified as a lucrative regional market in this industry owing to the high prevalence rate in countries, such as Mexico, mainly due to lifestyle changes and growing physical inactivity.
The Brazil antibody drug conjugate market is expected to grow over the forecast period due to growing R&D activities conducted by various organizations, such as AC Camargo Cancer Center. The Center has a free, decentralized, universal healthcare system funded by tax revenue from the federal, state, and municipal governments, which is utilized by approximately 75% of its population for services including cancer treatment.
MEA Antibody Drug Conjugate Market Trends
The antibody drug conjugate market in MEA was identified as a lucrative regional market, driven by the high prevalence coupled with increasing unmet medical needs, aided by improvements in healthcare infrastructure.
The Saudi Arabia antibody drug conjugate market is expected to grow over the forecast period owing to collaborations between drug manufacturers, such as F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., and the Government of Saudi Arabia & National Cancer Associations to help educate healthcare workers on examination & diagnosis of cancer, leading to high adoption for treatment options including drugs.
The breast cancer segment dominated the market in 2023 with a revenue share of 48.00% owing to factors, such as a rise in incidence, promising pipeline products, and high adoption of Kadcyla. Trodelvy, Enhertu, and Kadcyla are the products approved for the treatment of breast cancer. The label expansion of Kadcyla to include patients with early breast cancer and the recent approval of Enhertu & Trodelvy are likely to drive segment growth. The blood cancer segment is expected to grow at a high CAGR from 2024 to 2033.
Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths globally. According to the National Foundation of Cancer Research, in the U.S., a total of ~186,400 new cases of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma were diagnosed in 2022. Furthermore, the approval for multiple products during the forecast period is expected to drive market growth. For instance, a new product, Polivy, was launched in the market in October 2019 for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
The Kadcyla segment held the largest revenue in the ADC space in 2023. The surge in breast cancer cases, coupled with heightened approvals for ADCs tailored for breast cancer treatment, propels the market's upward trajectory. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. announced approval for Kadcyla in China's rapidly expanding industry in January 2022 marking a pivotal development.
Kadcyla witnessed a strategic move by Roche in 2023. A strategic price reduction of over 50% for Kadcyla in China aimed to strategically capture a larger market share through competitive pricing. China, once Roche's 10th largest market, has ascended to the second position. Roche's strategic price adjustment underscores the dynamic shift in its market approach, aligning with the evolving landscape in China.
Enhertu is among the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period. DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED. and AstraZeneca’s Enhertu has experienced a surge in sales projections following recent approvals. Particularly its groundbreaking approval for HER2-low breast cancer in August 2022, marking an industry-first achievement. During a recent earnings call, Daiichi emphasized Enhertu's swift adoption in this new indication, catering to patients with tumors previously classified as HER2-negative. Additionally, since its launch for second-line HER2-positive breast cancer in May 2022, Enhertu has outperformed competitors, securing the largest share of new patients.
The HER2 or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 target type segment held the largest market share in 2023. HER2 is a pivotal target. It plays a crucial role in breast cancer treatment, where overexpression is common. ADCs designed to target HER2 work by delivering potent drugs directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells, and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Owing to all such factors, its adoption is high, which contributed to the segment’s industry dominance.
CD22 is among the fastest-growing target segments over the forecast period. This segment stands out for its high adoption in cancer therapy for indications, such as leukemia, making it the fastest-growing niche within the space. The increasing demand for CD22-targeted therapies in leukemia is driven by their efficacy and limited side effects, making them a preferred choice among healthcare professionals and patients alike.
The cleavable linker segment accounted for the largest revenue share of 72.95% in 2023. The ability of cleavable linkers to remain stable in the bloodstream for longer duration & release of cytotoxins from ADCs makes them the most popular used technology for an effective outcome of ADCs in cancer treatment. For instance, in 2020, Seagen’s & Takeda’s Adcetris was approved by NMPA for use in the treatment of relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma and relapsed systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma sALCL in China. Such factors are expected to drive the cleavable linker segment growth.
Non-cleavable linker was the second-largest revenue-generating segment in 2023 owing to the increased usage of Kadcyla, which contains a non-cleavable linker. Non-cleavable linker is used for the production of ADCs that are reliant on the ADC’s lysosomal degradation and prevents the non-specific release of the drug, thus reducing the overall cytotoxicity of the ADC to surrounding healthy cells. This is expected to drive the segment growth. Currently, only FDA-approved ADCs, such as Kadcyla and Blenrep, use non-cleavable linkers for binding the antibody and cytotoxic molecule
Linker is the key component of ADCs and it connects the antibody & cytotoxic payload. It imparts the characteristics to ADCs, such as high stability in circulation and specific release of payload in the target tissue. There are several linkers available in the market, which include VC, Sulfo-SPDB, VA, SPP, Hydrazone, SMCC, MCC, maleimide tetrapeptide, CL2A, and MC, and are used to deliver payloads to their target sites.
Payloads are cytotoxic agents that are used to kill target cancerous cells. There are many payloads available in the market including microtubuline inhibitors (Vinorelbine, Paclitaxel, Epothilone B, Tubulysins (IM-2, B), DNA cleavers (Bleomycin A2), Akt inhibitors (GDC - 0068), DNA intercalators (Doxorubicin hydrochloride, Epirubicin hydrochloride, Duocarmycins, PBD dimers), and MMAF & MMAE. Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin-blmf), developed by GlaxoSmithKline Plc., utilizes MMAF, protease linker, and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody to kill target cells in adult patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.
The following are the leading companies in the antibody drug Conjugates market. These companies collectively hold the largest market share and dictate industry trends.
This report forecasts revenue growth at country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2021 to 2033. For this study, Nova one advisor, Inc. has segmented the Antibody Drug Conjugates market.
By Application
By Product
By Target
By Technology
By Region
Cross-segment Market Size and Analysis for Mentioned Segments
Additional Company Profiles
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Additional Countries (Apart
From Mentioned Countries)
Country/Region-specific Report
Go To Market Strategy
Region Specific Market DynamicsRegion Level Market Share Import Export AnalysisProduction AnalysisOthers