Global Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapeutics Market Grows Tremendously at a CAGR of 44.3%

Introduction

The advancement of the global NK cell therapies market has been propelled by the pharmaceutical industry's growing interest in the immunotherapeutic potential of cells. Other immunotherapies, including CAR T-cell treatments, checkpoint inhibitors, and cytokines, dominate the pharmaceutical business. Nonetheless, the proportion of natural killer (NK) cell treatments is expected to rise, given their capacity to meet unmet medical needs, overcome constraints associated with conventional immunotherapies, and target complex, challenging targets. NK cell therapies offer several benefits, including antigen non-specificity, simple isolation and ex vivo expansion, and low production costs.

Market Dynamics

Rising Number of Clinical Trials Drives the Global Market

There are many emerging therapies concerning natural killer (NK) cell therapies, such as CAR T-cell therapy. But considering the safety, cost, and efficacy, many biopharmaceutical companies are trying to create NK cell therapy-based products with fewer adverse effects than other immunotherapies. Manufacturing cost is low, and there is a vast range of applications, including COVID-19. Therefore, the focus of the companies is shifting toward NK cell therapies. Hence, companies are investing and focusing on creating such product candidates.

The number of clinical developments is also increasing due to massive competition between established and emerging companies. For instance, major players, such as Fate Therapeutics Inc., Cytovac A/S, Celularity Inc., and Sanofi S.A., are strengthening the Company's product portfolio concerning NK cell therapeutics. The increasing number of trials by significant players in the global NK cell therapeutics market reflects the ongoing effort of the companies on numerous clinical trials that would lead to approvals from the regulatory bodies, hence, would aid in the growth of the global NK cell therapeutics market at a favorable rate.

Rising Number of Partnerships and Collaborations Provides Tremendous Opportunities

The number of partnerships and collaborations in the medicinal field has changed the healthcare system. Biopharmaceutical companies are trying to match themselves with new technologies to improve the overall design from drug discovery to drug commercialization. The key players in the global NK cell therapeutics market are partnering and collaborating with emerging companies to develop novel targeted therapies. These opportunities will drive the global NK cell therapeutics market to grow significantly in the coming years.

Regional Insights

North America is the highest revenue contributor and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 38.8% during the forecast period. High prices associated with CAR T-cell treatments, unmet clinical needs related to existing therapeutic alternatives for target indications, and continuous success in producing NK cells as therapeutics are expected to contribute to the growth of NK cell therapeutics over the projected period. In addition, established U.S. biopharmaceutical businesses are forging alliances or engaging in collaborative arrangements with young companies to advance their research in the United States. Gilead Sciences, Inc. teamed with Shoreline Biosciences, Inc. in June 2021 to research NK cell therapeutics derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Janssen Biotech, Inc. and Fate Therapeutics, Inc. collaborated in April 2020 to support Fate's iPSC product platform and Janssen's exclusive tumor-targeting antigen binders to develop novel chimeric antigen receptor CAR-NK product candidates to treat hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. These factors are projected to drive the market for NK cell therapies in the United States over the forecast period.

Europe is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 74.5% during the forecast period. According to the journal Cancer Medicine, roughly 20% of women and 25% of men in Germany die from cancer. Approximately 43% of women and 51% of men will have cancer at some point in their lifetime. Consequently, the increasing prevalence of target indications and the availability of cost-effective treatment alternatives would likely contribute to the market's growth throughout the forecast period.

Key Highlights

• The global natural killer (NK) cell therapeutics market was worth USD 92 million in 2022 and is estimated to reach an expected value of USD 3,160 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 44.3% during the forecast period (2022–2031).
• Based on the natural killer (NK) cell therapy type, the global (NK) cell therapeutics market has been divided into NK cell therapy (unmodified), CAR-NK cell therapy (modified), and NK cell engager. The NK cell therapy (unmodified) segment dominates the global market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 57.6% during the forecast period.
• By pipeline product, the global NK cell therapeutics market is segmented into AFM13, MG4101, GTA002 (oNKordA), and TAK-007. The MG4101 segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 36.2% during the forecast period.
• By indication, the global NK cell therapeutics market has been segmented into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). The relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) segment is the highest contributor to the market.
• North America is the highest revenue contributor and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 38.8% during the forecast period.

Competitive Players

Competitive Player

The key players profiled in the global natural killer NK cell therapeutics market include GC Cell (GC Biopharma Corp.), ImmunityBio, Inc., Nkarta, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sanofi S. A., Innate Pharma SA, Glycostem Therapeutics B. V., Fate Therapeutics, Inc., Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc., and Cytovac A/ S.

Recent Developments

Market News

• In February 2023, Dr. Karim Chamie, Associate Professor of Urology at UCLA, presented "Quality of life in QUILT 3.032 study: Patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) receiving IL-15RFc superagonist N-803 plus BCG" at the ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) conference in San Francisco from February 16 to 18, according to ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX), a clinical The Biologics License Application (BLA) for ImmunityBio's N-803 with BCG for the treatment of NMIBC CIS with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of May 23, 2023, is currently being reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• In February 2023, Clinical-stage immunotherapy firm ImmunityBio, Inc. said it had completed funding to increase operating cash and support its ongoing business activities. With several institutional investors, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement for a registered direct offering that called for the issuance of ImmunityBio common stock and warrants to buy additional shares of the Company's common stock. Subject to customary closing conditions, this transaction is anticipated to generate gross proceeds at closing of about USD 50 million before offering-related costs. The warrants generate up to USD 60 million in extra gross profits if fully exercised.

Segmentation

Global Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapeutics Market: Segmentation

By Natural Killer (NK) cell Therapy Type

• NK Cell Therapy (unmodified)
• CAR-NK Cell Therapy (modified)
• NK Cell Engager

By Indication

• Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
• Relapsed Or Refractory (r/r) B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
• Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL).

By Pipeline Product

• AFM13
• MG4101
• GTA002 (oNKordA)
• TAK-007

By Regions

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific