Global Oncology Drugs Market Grows at a Staggering CAGR of 11.6%

Introduction

Oncology drugs are medications used to prevent or treat cancer. These include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy, designed to prevent or lower the growth of cancerous cells. The oncology drugs market is witnessing significant growth due to rising cancer incidence, increasing R&D investments, and advancements in personalized medicine. With strong pipelines and growing global healthcare initiatives, the market is expanding rapidly, especially in emerging economies where access to cancer care is improving.

Market Dynamics

The increasing prevalence of cancer drives the demand for oncology drugs

One of the primary drivers propelling the growth of the oncology drugs market is the increasing global incidence of cancer, such as breast, prostate, and cervical cancer.

• For instance, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2022, the 5-year prevalence of cancer in Brazil was 16,34,441. The bar graph below highlights the number of new cases for the top five cancer types in Brazil in 2022.

Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and Straits Research

This surge in cases compels healthcare systems to enhance treatment capacities, thereby accelerating the adoption of oncology drugs, including chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies.

Growing focus on value-based oncology care: Key market opportunity

The growing focus on value-based oncology care presents a significant opportunity for the oncology drugs market. Value-based care emphasizes improved patient outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and personalized treatment approaches, shifting away from volume-driven healthcare models. Governments and healthcare providers are increasingly supporting this model through policy reforms and reimbursement incentives.

• For instance, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Oncology Care Model (OCM), which incentivizes providers to deliver high-quality and cost-efficient cancer care.

Such frameworks promote the use of evidence-based treatments and encourage drug manufacturers to develop therapies that offer both clinical and economic value. As payers and providers globally adopt similar models, pharmaceutical companies have the opportunity to align drug development strategies with value-based principles, driving market growth and patient-centered innovation.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the major share of 43.67% in oncology drugs, owing to strong healthcare infrastructure, well-established reimbursement schemes, and increasing prevalence of cancer. Additionally, early adoption of advanced therapies, strong presence of leading pharmaceutical companies, and robust research infrastructure further drive market growth in the region. Further, collaboration throughout the cancer research community, non-profit organizations, private companies, and other federal agencies is reshaping the clinical and research capabilities of oncology in North America.

The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by rising cancer prevalence, improving healthcare infrastructure, increasing government initiatives, and growing investments in oncology research. Additionally, expanding access to advanced treatments and clinical trials in emerging economies such as China and India is accelerating market growth in the region.

Key Highlights

• The global oncology drugs market was valued at USD 193.04 billion in 2024. It is estimated to reach USD 503.13 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 11.6% during the forecast period (2025–2033).
• Based on drug class, the market is segmented into chemotherapy drugs, hormonal therapy drugs, targeted therapy drugs and immunotherapy drugs. The targeted therapy segment accounted for a major oncology drugs market share of 43.15%, owing to its precision-based approach in treating specific cancer types and high efficacy with fewer side effects compared to traditional therapies.
• Based on indication, the market is segmented into lung cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer, multiple myeloma and other cancers. The breast cancer segment dominated the oncology drugs sector with a market share of 16.77%. This growth is driven by growing awareness about breast cancer and the rising number of cases.
• Based on distribution channel, the market is segmented into hospital pharmacies, drug stores and retail pharmacies and online pharmacies. The hospital pharmacies segment accounted for the largest share of 60.23%, owing to the rising number of people taking treatments from hospital settings and increasing demand for advanced medications and personalized treatments that require healthcare professionals.

Competitive Players

1. Merck & Co., Inc
2. Pfizer Inc.
3. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc
4. AstraZeneca
5. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
6. Eli Lilly and Company
7. Incyte
8. Novartis AG
9. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
10. AbbVie Inc
11. Gilead Sciences, Inc
12. Amgen Inc
13. Sanofi
14. GSK plc
15. Bayer AG
16. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
17. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
18. Betta Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
19. Astellas Pharma Inc
20. Biogen
21. others

Recent Developments

• In March 2025, AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi was approved by the FDA in the U.S. in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment to treat patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
• In September 2024, GSK plc's Blenrep in combination with bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BorDex) or pomalidomide plus dexamethasone received approval in Japan to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Segmentation

1. By Drug Class
   1. Chemotherapy Drugs
   2. Hormonal Therapy Drugs
   3. Targeted Therapy Drugs
   4. Immunotherapy Drugs
2. By Indication
   1. Lung Cancer
   2. Stomach Cancer
   3. Colorectal Cancer
   4. Breast Cancer
   5. Prostate Cancer
   6. Liver Cancer
   7. Cervical Cancer
   8. Bladder Cancer
   9. Thyroid Cancer
   10. Multiple Myeloma
   11. Other Cancers
3. By Distribution Channel
   1. Hospital Pharmacies
   2. Drug Store and Retail Pharmacies
   3. Online Pharmacies
4. By Region
   1. North America
   2. Europe
   3. Asia-Pacific
   4. Middle East & Africa
   5. Latin America