Ligase Market Size & Outlook, 2025-2033

Ligase Market Size

The global ligase market size was valued at USD 430.21 million in 2024 and is projected to grow from USD 451.72 million in 2025 to USD 667.39 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period (2025-2033).

Ligases are specific enzymes that help join two large molecules, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). These enzymes are broadly used in next-generation sequencing, mutation detection, cloning, and gene synthesis and are also employed for correcting genetic dysfunctions. In addition, ligases are utilized in clinical applications in their isolated and conjugated form with different drugs or therapies. These can also be named therapeutic enzymes. These enzymes treat various chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and genetic diseases.

Different ligases include T4DNA ligase, RNA ligase, and ubiquitin ligase. These enzymes manage protein to control protein function and stability, creating inhibitors to prevent targeted diseases. The constant advancement of enzyme production and rising innovations in the research and development sector are two key factors likely to impact the overall global market growth in the upcoming years. In addition, the rising cases of genetic disorders and infectious diseases are another driving factor for the market growth of ligase enzymes.

Top 4 Key Highlights

• T4 DNA ligase dominates the product segment.
• Molecular cloning dominates the product segment.
• Academic and research institutes dominate the end-user segment.
• North America is the most significant shareholder in the global market.

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Ligase Market Growth Factors

Rising Incidence of Diseases Such as Cancer and Genetic Disorders

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer among people is catalyzing the demand and interest for new treatment techniques to offer better patient care. The DNA repair defects in inherited human diseases, portrayed by the predisposition to cancer,r include inherited colon and breast cancer types. The development of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors in the case of hereditary breast tumors acts as therapeutics that specifically target the DNA repair defect. These inhibitors of other DNA repair proteins might have utility as anti-cancer agents. The rising incidence of genetic disorders and infectious diseases has led researchers and diagnostic specialists to opt for ligase enzymes for analysis and to treat a variety of contaminations. Bone marrow anomalies, malignancy, radiosensitivity, and genome instability characterize these genetic and contagious disorders. Since, without DNA ligase activity, no lagging strands would be consolidated, leading strand amalgamation would be largely unaffected.

Rising Focus of Researchers on Non-Toxic Biocatalyst

Ligases are profoundly proficient biocatalysts and are yet to be explored for industrial-scale catalysis due to their distinct benefits from their activity in milder response conditions. In addition, across the different ventures where biocatalysis can be utilized, a repetitive obstruction persists, i.e., the utilization of enzyme catalysis is limited by the absence of catalyst strength at high temperatures and potentially toxic solvents. Moreover, researchers are progressively focusing on molecular biology because of its high impact on diagnosing and treating pathogenic diseases using gene therapy. This will ultimately drive the market's development during the estimated time frame.

Market Restraining Factors

High Reception Costs Involving Small and Medium Enterprises

The impediment related to ligase-based methodologies is low throughput but high costs. This cost is highly variable across the number of applications. Variable cost is based on readout equipment (which fluctuates from inexpensive to costly). The price will be high if a genetic analyzer or microarray-like technologies are to be used. One of the broadly used LCR-based techniques for SNP genotyping is multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). For instance,100 MLPA reactions cost around USD 1,380.98 million. This price includes all reagents (ligase, polymerase, probe mix, buffers, dNTPs, and labeled PCR primers). It is completely automated with multiplexing potential and high-throughput applications, but also extremely simple, robust, highly sensitive, and specific. Unlike other diagnostic techniques, MLPA is considered the most preferred and effective technique for genotyping. Still, the only disadvantage of this strong strategy is the high cost caused by the utilization of either a microarray scanner or a genetic analyzer. Similarly, the procedure becomes more expensive with other detection methods, such as chemiluminescence.

Market Opportunities

Utilization of Pcr-Based Frameworks

The innovation in this biochemical technology has a wide application in diagnostic research. This incorporates the detection of the pathogen, infectious diseases testing, and human genetic testing. The increasing predominance of chronic infections and diseases caused by microbes like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites led to rapid technological progressions in advancing the qPCR and dPCR frameworks. This has led to an increase in the demand for ligase enzymes. To address this market interest, noticeable vendors have launched cutting-edge ligases to develop qPCR and dPCR kits. The interest in high-quality ligase enzymes is expected to grow in the coming years. This market pattern will positively influence the development of the global market.

Regional Insights

North America is the highest revenue contributor and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. North America is the prevailing provincial region in the ligase market segment. This region is also the center point of numerous biotechnology organizations and the core of technological advancements. The North American region is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period due to a rise in research and development (RUSD D) to develop ligases as therapeutic agents for cancer and other diseases. Significant developments can be noticed in the global market due to the use of ligases in protein engineering, polymerase chain reaction, mutation detection, cloning, drug targeting, and next-generation sequencing. They are anticipated to offer growth opportunities in the upcoming years because of rising cases of genomic disorders. Major revenue generation is expected from the North American region due to its immense contribution to the ligase market. It is also likely to dominate the market during the forecast period.

Europe Ligase Market Trends

Europe is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. The biotechnology and molecular enzymes business is prominent in the European region, and these biochemical advancements have further prompted the modernization of the European life sciences industry. Europe has been using ligase enzymes in chemical analysis and as a research tool in the life sciences for a significant time. The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) researchers conducted several research and innovation programs, acting as one of the propelling factors of the market in the region.

Asia Pacific Ligase Market Trends

Asia-Pacific is the third-largest region. Asia-Pacific's biotechnology and biopharmaceutical market is developing quickly, effectively determined by investments in expanded ventures and government drives. Ligases as enzymes form an integral part of this industry, with their role in different application regions. Additionally, compounds in the research and biotechnology areas are vital for genome designing and testing, and various applications like PCR, sub-atomic exploration, and engineered science.

Product Insights

The global market is segmented into Quick Ligase, T4 DNA Ligase, E.coli DNA Ligase, Tth DNA Ligase, T4 RNA Ligase, Pfu DNA Ligase, and others.  The T4 DNA Ligase segment dominates the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period. T4 DNA ligase is the most commonly used ligase enzyme available in abundance. This ligase enzyme is used to catalyze the formation of phosphodiester bonds using ATP as a coenzyme. It is essential for DNA replication and repair in all organisms. This T4 DNA ligase is ATP-dependent and is phage-encoded, as it is produced during the infection by bacteriophage T4 of Escherichia coli strain. Application-based usage of this enzyme includes ligase chain reaction (LCR), repairing nicks in duplex DNA, RNA, or DNA/RNA hybrids, blunt and cohesive end DNA ligation, and DNA fragment insertion into vectors.

Source Insights

The global market is segmented into archaea, Thermus thermophilus, Pyrococcus furiosus, Escherichia coli, and others. The Escherichia coli segment dominates the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. Escherichia coli-based ligases are among the first DNA ligases to be purified and analyzed biochemically. E. coli DNA ligase is a fundamental chemical that comprises numerous amino acids. The most commonly used ligase, i.e., T4 DNA ligase, was the first to be isolated from E. coli. The bacterium contains its ligase and can easily ligate the ends of the recombinant DNA in the cell. This ligase type is commonly used to join the recombinant lots of molecules before they are introduced into the cell. Hence, this in vitro ligation process greatly influences the frequency of recombinant DNA transformation. Products like T4 RNA ligase, T4 DNA ligase, E. coli DNA ligase, and salt T4 DNA ligase are obtained from Escherichia coli in abundance.

Application Insights

The global market is segmented into molecular cloning, next-generation sequencing, ligase, chain reaction, ligase detection reaction, repeat expansion detection, rolling circle amplification, proximity ligation assay, ligation-mediated PCR, mutation detection, and others. The molecular cloning segment dominates the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. Molecular cloning is a strategy to set up a recombinant DNA molecule, an additional circular DNA that can repeat independently inside a microbial host. DNA ligation is used in cloning to join two DNA vectors of interest. In molecular cloning, the ligation response follows the gene insertion and target vector absorption.

End-User Insights

The global market is segmented into academic and research institutes, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, and others. The academic and research institutes segment dominates the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. Research laboratories are at the forefront of being the primary developers of genomic testing. However, the respective adoption for their usage is quite restricted. Research laboratories constitute necessary facilities for companies and independent academic research facilities. Concerning the global market, research laboratories and institutions are the only ones working toward developing new technologies to empower the discovery of chemical or biological modulators of approved ligase enzyme targets, as well as exhibiting modulation of the targets with high specificity by utilization of chemical or biological modulators bringing about advantageous effects for disease progression in clinically relevant models.

List of key players in Ligase Market

1. Agilent Technologies Inc
2. ArcticZymes Technologies ASA
3. Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc
4. Codexis Inc
5. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
6. Inspiralis Limited Inc
7. Merck KGaA
8. New England Biolabs (UK) Ltd.
9. Promega Corporation
10. QIAGEN N.V
11. SBS Genetech
12. Takara Bio Inc
13. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc
14. Tinzyme Ltd.
15. Vividion Therapeutics.

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Recent Development

• February 2023 - Leaders from Agilent Technologies Inc. joined Colorado Governor Jared Polis and local government officials to break ground on Agilent's USD 725 million investment in the double manufacturing capacity of therapeutic nucleic acids in Frederick, Colorado.
• February 2023 - Agilent Technologies Inc. announced the release of new NovoExpress software that introduces integrated compliance tools for NovoCyte flow cytometer systems. The compliance-enabling features enable users to meet regulatory requirements defined in FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and Annex 11.