Cell Separation Market

Market Overview

The global cell separation market size was valued at USD 9,234.8 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 41,907.3 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 18.3% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The demand is expected to be stimulated by increased efficacy, the rise of the biopharmaceutical sector, and the ability to treat numerous ailments in Asian nations. The primary drivers of the cell separation market's expansion are the rise in infectious diseases that result in long-term health issues, the pharmaceutical industry's explosive expansion, growing public awareness of stem cell research and digitalization, and supportive government policies that support the sector.

Cell separation refers to isolating or separating cells from a heterogeneous mixture or population of cells. This can be useful for a variety of therapeutic and scientific applications. Cell separation is used in various scientific areas, including cancer, stem cell research, neurology, and immunology. Cell separation is utilized in cancer research to extract and examine tumor cells and evaluate their characteristics. Cell separation is employed in stem cell research to isolate and expand certain cell types, such as hematopoietic stem cells.

Market Dynamics

Cell Separation Market Drivers

Rising Demand for Biopharmaceuticals

Biopharmaceuticals are complex and sophisticated structures being used increasingly to treat previously untreatable conditions and mainstream chronic diseases. Biopharmaceuticals are mainly derived from animal, plant, and human sources and, therefore, require a more closely examined virus filtration method to prevent viral contamination. This significantly enhances their effectiveness, thereby facilitating enhanced therapeutic alternatives.

Moreover, the growth of the biopharmaceutical industry in developing economies like India and China is among the major factors expected to contribute to market growth, as these countries possess a larger population. China's biopharmaceutical industry is more aligned toward providing biosimilar versions in its domestic markets, such as those in Western countries. In contrast, India is more inclined toward producing and developing biosimilars and biogenerics for export. Thus, greater effectiveness, biopharmaceutical sector growth, and the potential to treat various ailments in Asian nations are anticipated to stimulate demand for these biological forms.

Growing Research on Personalized Medicine

A growing number of people in developed countries opt for personalized medicine owing to increased awareness, thus boosting the demand for the same. Moreover, the availability of reimbursement programs in industrialized nations has increased demand for these medications because the majority of people can now afford them through insurance. The rising adoption of next-generation sequencing by medical practitioners for the genetic mapping of patients has also increased demand and, in turn, boosted the market share of personalized medicines.

Additionally, the utilization of cell-based research is vital in the process of tailoring pharmaceuticals to individual patients. The subclassification of diseases based on genetics has enabled developers of personalized medicine to produce drugs that can cater to specific individuals. The rise in investments and funding by governments and biotechnology companies has further boosted the production of personalized medicines.

Cell Separation Market Restraint

High Cost of Cell Isolation Instruments

Cell isolation tools and associated goods can yield precise and efficient outcomes, hence playing a crucial role in illness diagnosis and scientific investigation. The high expense associated with cell separation products represents the primary inhibiting factor for the whole market. The majority of cell isolation products are of fair cost; however, the costs of technology and other procedures in the cell isolation process are high, suppressing the entry of new players in low- and middle-income economies, thereby restraining overall market growth.

Moreover, the significant R&D investments in developing new technology for these systems are a key factor contributing to high costs. Lack of availability and funding opportunities for new players can restrict them from investing more in R&D. Low awareness about cell isolation product procedures and their benefits in emerging economies is another major market restraint.

Cell Separation Market Opportunities

Increasing Government Funding for Cell-Based Research

An increase in investments and government funding has helped boost the availability of technologically advanced processes for cell isolation and biopharmaceutical production. These advancements have increased the demand for cell separation procedures, thus propelling the cell separation market. The use of cell-based therapies is growing in the treatment of well-known diseases, such as autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, and Crohn's disease, and neurological diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, and stroke, renal, and skeletal. The potential of cell-based research to treat and manage diseases like cancer and chronic disorders has led to a rise in financing for this field from government organizations in recent years. The growing interest of scientists and researchers in stem cell research is a major driver for the cell separation market.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

Based on region, the global cell separation market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America is the most significant global cell separation market shareholder and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16.9% over the forecast period. This large share can be attributed to a well-established healthcare system and pharmaceutical industry in the U.S., which created a significant demand for cell separation solutions for research and clinical purposes. Extensive R&D initiatives for developing vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19 and increasing public-private investments in cancer research, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy have fueled the country's need for cell separation solutions. Continuous advancements in cell separation and the high affordability and adoption of innovative and advanced cell separation systems and solutions in the U.S. further make it the most lucrative market in the world.

Furthermore, expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors in Canada are leading to increased R&D activities, which is expected to support the growth of the North American cell separation market over the forecast period. However, the low affordability of advanced and expensive cell separation products by small- and medium-sized Canadian companies is anticipated to be a major challenge in the country.

Europe is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 17.9% over the forecast period. The growth of the European cell separation market can primarily be attributed to increasing demand for cell separation products in countries with well-established biotechnology industries, such as Germany, the UK, and Italy. Moreover, expanding the biotechnology sector in countries such as Spain and Russia is expected to create a favorable environment for the growth of the European cell separation market. In addition, continuous research initiatives being undertaken by European manufacturers for the development of new and innovative cell separation solutions are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities for market growth.

Furthermore, many COVID-19 cases in countries such as Italy, France, the UK, and Germany and extensive R&D initiatives by European pharmaceutical players to develop vaccines and therapeutics for the disease are anticipated to create huge demand for cell separation solutions. Moreover, the presence of leading and regional players and their increasing growth initiatives are anticipated to boost market growth.

The Asia-Pacific market growth can be due to increased demand for innovative cell separation solutions in countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea, with increasing cancer and cell therapy research. Also, extensive growth in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in emerging countries of the Asia-Pacific and continuous government support in pharma and biotech R&D are expected to support regional growth further. Extensive strategic activities by regional players for the improvement or development of innovative cell separation solutions are expected to support market growth in the region over the forecast period.

In Latin America, cell separation is associated with growing biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries in key countries, including Brazil and Mexico. Brazil dominates this region in terms of market size. There are ample opportunities for R&D and production of biopharmaceutical products in Brazil. This is anticipated to create a huge demand for cell separation systems and solutions for conducting research in the country. However, low investments in biotechnology in countries such as Argentina are anticipated to hamper overall market growth over the forecast period.

In the Middle East and Africa, the cell separation market is anticipated to exhibit steady growth over the forecast period. This steady growth can be attributed to limited investments in the biotechnology sector, the low affordability of expensive systems, and fewer R&D activities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. However, robust government initiatives to boost the biotechnology sector in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities. Moreover, an increasing focus on hematology and oncology due to the high prevalence of cancer and other diseases is anticipated to drive the demand for cell separation products for conducting research.

Segmental Analysis

The global cell separation market is bifurcated into product, cell type, technique, application, and end-user.

Based on product, the global cell separation market is bifurcated into consumables and instruments.

The consumable segment dominates the global market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 18.9% over the forecast period. This segment dominates the market primarily due to frequent repurchases of consumable goods. Moreover, there has been a notable increase in research and development (R&D) funding allocated by biotechnology and biopharmaceutical enterprises towards the advancement of sophisticated biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccines. Thus, the demand for cell separation consumables is also expected to remain high during the forecast period. The consumables segment is further categorized into reagents, kits, media, sera, beads, and disposables.

Based on cell type, the global cell separation market is bifurcated between humans and animals.

The human segment owns the highest market share and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 19.4% over the forecast period. There has been a rise in the demand for cell-based research for disease diagnosis as a result of rising chronic illnesses like cancer and other infectious diseases across the globe. Moreover, increasing investments by the government in research focusing on cancer and human stem cell research have further motivated R&D in the cell isolation process. This has led to various technologically advanced products being introduced in human cell isolation.

For instance, the human T cell isolation product by Thermo Fisher Scientific is an affordable, pure, and easy-to-use product involving untouched and viable cells. The rising focus on personalized medicine leads to increased demand for human cell isolation techniques, thus leading to a large market share. Moreover, favorable reimbursement policies for personalized medicine in developed countries further boost the demand for human cell isolation.

Based on application, the global cell separation market is segmented into biomolecule isolation, cancer research, stem cell research, tissue regeneration, in vitro diagnostics, and therapeutics.

The biomolecule isolation segment dominates the global market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 19.3% during the forecast period. Biomolecule isolation is essential in the development of various biosimilars and biopharmaceuticals. The primary categories of biomolecules encompass lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and proteins. Proteins and nucleic acids are commonly employed in the production of biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars. With an increasing demand for these biomolecules, there is a need for cell isolation techniques, thereby accelerating market growth.

Based on technique, the global cell separation market is bifurcated into centrifugation, surface filtration, and filtration.

The centrifugation segment owns the highest market share and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 18.4% over the forecast period. Centrifugation is one of the most important steps in cell isolation. The two methods most frequently employed for cell isolation are differential and density gradient centrifugation. Density gradient centrifugation uses the molecular weights of the particles to be separated, whereas differential centrifugation uses a lysate to break cell membranes to separate them. These processes require various consumables, such as reagents and disposables, to ensure successful cell isolation in the media.

Based on end-users, the global cell separation market is divided into research laboratories and institutes, hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, cell banks, and biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies. 

The research laboratories and institutes segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 18.6% over the forecast period. The research laboratories and institutes segment accounted for the largest market share in 2022 and will likely hold its position throughout the study period. This can be due to increasing R&D initiatives by research institutions to develop novel therapies in oncology and neuroscience. The growing number of research institutes and laboratories across the globe and increasing public-private investments for the establishment of new research institutes are also anticipated to be major drivers of the segment.

Recent Developments

• March 2023: GE Healthcare introduced the CellSearchTM CD4+ T-Cell Assay. The purpose of this test is to count the quantity of CD4+ T cells in the blood, which are white blood cells that play an important role in the immune system.
• February 2023: STEMCELL Technologies Inc. introduced the CellProTM CD34+ Cell Isolation Kit. This kit is intended to isolate CD34+ cells from bone marrow, which are utilized to treat various disorders, including leukemia and lymphoma.