Cell Freezing Media Market

Market Overview

The global cell freezing media market size was valued at USD 154.3 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 370.0 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period (2024-2032). Cell Freezing Media Market share can be linked to the increased usage of cell freezing media as an alternative to in-house freezing preparations and the advantages of ready-to-use cryo-preservative media over traditional freezing techniques.

Cell freezing or cryopreservation media are specialized solutions that preserve cells for long-term storage or transfer at extremely low temperatures, usually below -80°C or in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). These media contain cryoprotective agents, buffering agents, and other components that protect cells from harm during freezing and thawing.

One of the factors driving market expansion is the increasing advancements in biotechnology, which has resulted in a greater demand to preserve various cell types for longer periods. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical sector's increasing reliance on cellular research for drug discovery and development, which necessitates using high-quality cell-freezing media, is boosting the market growth. Furthermore, the rising frequency of chronic diseases necessitates more research, which necessitates the storage of biological samples, driving the Cell Freezing Media market growth. 

 Furthermore, the expanding emphasis on stem cell research for therapeutic applications has increased the need for cell freezing media to preserve and transfer these important cells, positively boosting market growth. Furthermore, the rising implementation of favourable regulatory policies that support stringent requirements for cell preservation and encourage the use of specialized cell freezing media is fueling market expansion. Hence, significant technological advancements, such as creating more efficient and safer forms of cell freezing media that make the procedure more reliable and cost-effective, are driving market expansion.

Highlights

• DMSO generates the highest revenue share by product.
• Stem Cell Lines led the market by application.
• Pharmaceutical and Biotech Companies account for the largest market share by end-user.

Market Dynamics

Global Cell Freezing Media Market Drivers

Growing Biobanking Activities

The growing number of biobanks for storing biological samples, such as cells, tissues, and DNA, drives demand for cell-freezing media. Biobanks play an important role in medical research, personalized medicine, and drug discovery because they provide researchers access to a diverse range of well-characterized biological samples for scientific studies. Cell freezing media is critical for preserving the viability and integrity of cells maintained in biobanks for long periods, thereby driving market expansion.

 The UK Biobank is a large-scale biological database and research resource that houses de-identified genetic and health data from 500,000 UK residents. These samples are cryopreserved using a specialized cell freezing medium to ensure their integrity and viability throughout time. The database is available to accredited academics and scientists worldwide who study common and life-threatening diseases. The UK Biobank's open-access philosophy has resulted in external investment in resource development, allowing foreign scientists to undertake exceptional research. Further, In November 2023, AIG Hospitals in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, opened the first private biobank in South India. The biobank can keep over 300,000 human tissue samples for scientific research for over 15 years. It includes 15 freezers at -80°C, five at -20°C, and three liquid nitrogen tanks at -160°C. 

 In addition, the organization Revive & Restore and the US Fish & Wildlife Service will launch a biobanking effort in 2023 to preserve the genetic variety of endangered species in the United States. This is the United States' first systematic biobanking pipeline for threatened or endangered species. The program collaborates with several institutions to create a legacy of America's natural heritage. 

 The expanding global prevalence of biobanking operations is creating significant demand for cell freezing mediums, which are required for the cryopreservation of cells held in biobanks. Cell freezing media are used by researchers and biobank operators to preserve the integrity and viability of cells during long-term preservation, ensuring that the samples can be analyzed and experimented on. As biobanking activities grow and diversify, demand for high-quality cell freezing media is predicted to rise, propelling the market growth for these critical biopreservation solutions. 

Global Cell Freezing Media Market Restraints

Health and Safety Concerns

Cell freezing media frequently contain cryoprotectants, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which can endanger users' health and safety. Exposure to DMSO fumes or skin contact might cause irritation, allergic reactions, or respiratory issues in sensitive people. Furthermore, DMSO has been linked to cytotoxic effects on cells at high doses, potentially jeopardizing cell viability and functionality during cryopreservation. These health and safety issues may discourage researchers and biobanking centres from utilizing cell freezing media containing DMSO or other potentially hazardous cryoprotectants, limiting market expansion.

 The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) classifies DMSO as a hazardous chemical because of the potential health risks to workers who handle the substance. To reduce the possibility of adverse health effects, NIOSH recommends limits for workplace DMSO vapour exposure. Furthermore, studies have shown that occupational exposure to DMSO causes skin sensitivity, allergic responses, and respiratory problems in laboratory personnel. To safeguard the health and safety of laboratory workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other regulatory authorities issue rules and recommendations for the proper handling, storage, and disposal of DMSO and other hazardous chemicals.

Global Cell Freezing Media Market Opportunity

Rising Demand for Personalized Medicine

Personalized medicine relies heavily on patient-specific cells and tissues to tailor therapy techniques to individual patients' genetic composition, illness features, and treatment responses. For example, in cancer treatment, patient-derived or circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are cryopreserved in cell-freezing media to allow for genetic profiling, drug sensitivity testing, and therapeutic decision-making. Oncologists can identify actionable targets, choose appropriate medicines, and monitor therapy responses by studying patient-derived cells' genetic alterations, gene expression patterns, and signalling pathways, resulting in more accurate and effective cancer care.

 Further, The growing use of customized medicine approaches, fuelled by advances in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and targeted medicines, is propelling market expansion. Personalized medicine initiatives use patient-specific cells and tissues for disease modelling, drug screening, and therapeutic interventions, increasing demand for cell-freezing media to cryopreserve these precious biological specimens.

Regional Analysis

The global cell freezing media market analysis is conducted in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global cell-freezing media market shareholder and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.9% over the forecast period. Modern healthcare infrastructure, developed economies, essential players, and established supply channels contribute to the market's growth. Furthermore, the incidence of diseases and the expanding elderly population have fueled the race to produce innovative and effective remedies through the biopharmaceutical industry. This has increased demand for cell freezing media and is projected to generate additional revenue in the coming years.

In addition, in 2023, the US is predicted to spend USD 4.7 trillion on healthcare, accounting for 18% of the national economy. In the first half of 2023, venture capital raised in healthcare totaled USD 14 billion, with 1,482 VC deals. This is the third-best year for healthcare fundraising in the last decade, and if current trends continue, healthcare fundraising in 2023 might reach the USD 35 billion record set in 2021. 

Aside from that, North America's public and commercial sectors' high level of investment in healthcare and medical research, with significant funding allocated to scientific projects, including those needing cell preservation, is driving market expansion. Furthermore, regulatory backing from bodies such as the United States is increasing. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is driving market expansion by creating strict rules for cellular research and encouraging high-quality cell-freezing media to ensure the dependability and reproducibility of scientific discoveries. Furthermore, the region has a well-developed distribution network for scientific and laboratory goods, making it easier for end users to obtain high-quality cell-freezing media.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 10.4% over the forecast period. Asia-Pacific has a supportive government, a focus on low labor and operating costs, and is a significant hub for biologics manufacturing, particularly monoclonal antibodies. The production of MAbs often uses mammalian cell cultures that are continuously treated and require cryopreservation.

The European cell-freezing media business thrives thanks to cell-based research, regenerative medicine, and biopharmaceutical advances. Despite the market's potential for growth, constraints such as regulatory hurdles, ethical considerations, and safety concerns over cryopreservation techniques may stymie market progress in Europe. Furthermore, economic uncertainty and budget limits in research funding may impede regional market expansion.

Latin America is expected to have a higher CAGR by the end of the forecast period due to increased investments in the R&D sector for various applications. On the other hand, growth in the Middle East and Africa is expected to be slower due to a lack of penetration of modern products.

Segmental Analysis

The global cell freezing media market is segmented based on product, application, and end-user.

The market is further segmented by product into DMSO and glycerol.

The DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) segment held the most significant market share of 50% in 2023 and is predicted to increase during the forecast period. This is due to the long-established gold standard of employing DMSO in classical cryopreservation to stop cell metabolic activity. DMSO plays a crucial role in cryobiology because of its aprotic and solvation characteristics. It prevents ice crystal formation intracellularly and extracellularly at subzero temperatures during slow freezing. As a result of its antifreeze qualities, DMSO has gained extensive use as a cryoprotectant. 

Furthermore, it protects against biological damage during cryopreservation. As a result, numerous market competitors provide a variety of DMSO-based cell freezing media in addition to other cell freezing media products. Various DMSO-based cell freezing media applications have also contributed to its dominant market position. For example, Merck KGaA's Sigma Aldrich brand provides a variety of DMSO-based cryopreservation media suited for mammalian cancer and other cell lines. 

Glycerol is another popular cryoprotectant in cell freezing media, notably in clinical and pharmaceutical applications, due to its biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. Glycerol functions as a cryoprotectant, decreasing the formation of ice crystals and protecting cell membranes during freezing. It also helps to maintain cell osmolarity and structural integrity during cryopreservation, ensuring cell survival and functionality following thawing. Glycerol is commonly used in cell-freezing media formulations at 5% to 20% doses.

The market can be bifurcated by application into Stem Cell Lines and Cancer Cell Lines.

The stem cell lines segment maintained the most significant market share, accounting for 60%. The increased need for biopharmaceuticals due to effective therapies such as cell and gene therapy and an increase in innovation that has resulted in a surge in approvals are essential contributors to the segment's growth. Due to the current trial success rates and product pipeline, the FDA is expected to approve between 10 to 20 cell and gene therapy medicines annually by 2025. This has prompted market players to establish a robust supply network for all consumables, given the anticipated increase in demand in the coming years. As a result, using cell freezing media for the ongoing processing of these therapeutic items will result in the quickest market penetration during the forecast period. 

Cancer cell lines are another prominent use of cell freezing media, particularly in oncology research, medication development, and personalized medicine. Cancer cell lines produced from tumor biopsies or existing cell lines are applicable models for investigating cancer biology, tumor heterogeneity, and treatment response mechanisms. Cancer cell lines are cryopreserved using cell freezing media, which ensures long-term storage and availability for experimental investigations, drug screening assays, and preclinical testing. 

Moreover, the rising occurrence of life-threatening diseases, combined with the hunt for new medicines, has resulted in extensive study in other fields, such as cancer. Cell freezing media has also seen significant market penetration for cancer cell lines, and it is expected to develop gradually in the following years as research initiatives for better healthcare continue.

Based on end-users, the market is fragmented into pharmaceutical and biotech companies and research and academic institutes.

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses sector held the most significant market share, accounting for 45%. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses are critical end-users of cell-freezing media. These companies use cell freezing media for various purposes, including drug discovery, bioprocessing, and product development. Cell freezing media are required to preserve cell lines, primary cells, and modified cells for high-throughput screening tests, target validation studies, and biomanufacturing procedures. 

Additionally, the segment's rise has been ascribed to the continued expansion and commercial success of biopharmaceuticals, as well as the expanding portfolios of large pharmaceutical corporations. The exceptional protection and preservation provided by the cell preservation medium and its cost-effectiveness compared to traditional freezing techniques have fueled its adoption. The consistent use of these consumables during the research, clinical, and commercial stages is expected to contribute to market expansion.

The research and academic institutes section is predicted to grow the fastest during the projection period. This high growth can be attributable to increased R&D efforts over the anticipated period. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness among industry professionals about the need for ongoing study and development of existing technologies. The predicted expansion is also attributable to significant investment in partnerships and collaboration with research institutions. For example, in May 2022, NIBRT (National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training) announced a relationship with Kerry Group and ValitaCell to improve knowledge and validation of cell culture medium products for Kerry Group. ValitaCell will provide its Chemstress platform, which mimics the biological environment at the microscale. Enterprise Ireland funded this project to encourage innovation.

Recent Developments

• April 2024- Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced new ENERGY STAR Certified TSX Universal Series ULT freezers for improved temperature control and faster recovery times.
• April 2024- Merck launched the first all-in-one genetic stability assay to accelerate biosafety testing.