Live Cell Imaging Market

Market Overview

The global live cell imaging market size was valued at USD 1,929.64 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 3,575.17 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.09% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Live-cell imaging refers to the examination of living cells using time-lapse microscopy. The cells are studied using real-time images acquired by several efficient screening tools and microscopes. This technology has allowed researchers worldwide to examine cell structures and processes in real time instead of the static image produced by photographing fixed cells. Technology has altered how scientists explore proteins, molecular interactions, cellular processes, and internal cell architecture to understand biological function better.

Live cell imaging is widely employed to investigate the structural components of a cell, examine dynamic activities, and localize chemicals. Live-cell imaging is in greater demand since it is essential for comprehending cell dynamics in fields of study like immunology, genetics, neurology, microbiology, and others. Live-cell imaging technology will progress to meet the needs of academic institutions, governmental agencies, pharmaceutical firms, and diagnostic labs.

Highlights

• Equipment dominates the product segment
• Cell Biology dominates the application segment
• North America is the highest shareholder in the global market

Market Dynamics

Global Live Cell Imaging Market Drivers

Adoption of High-Content Screening Techniques in Drug Discovery

Factors such as the rising adoption of high-content screening in drug discovery for identifying novel molecules in cancers and other illnesses, rising applications of high-content screening in toxicology studies, and rising product launches by key players are expected to propel market growth. According to the analysis published in the Archives of Toxicology named "Review of High-content Screening (HCS) Applications in Toxicology" in October 2019, high-content screening is applied in various in-vitro toxicity research studies. These new HCS methods represent a substantial improvement in understanding biological mechanisms, developing new drugs, and streamlining toxicological studies.

Additionally, high-content screening has improved the understanding of many downstream effects of numerous treatments on cancer cells, claims the study published in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Rising initiatives from the significant market players for deploying products, software, and services for high-content screening techniques in drug discovery will lead to higher adoption of these products due to the availability of advanced cell imaging products. For instance, in October 2021, PerkinElmer Inc. released Signals Image Artist software, a next-generation image analysis and management platform for drug discovery research. Therefore, such factors will drive market growth.

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Demanding Higher and Quicker Diagnostic Facilities

The four major non-communicable diseases contributing to the burden are cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic lung diseases. The World Health Organization says that chronic diseases are the main killers worldwide. For instance, around 17.9 million people died in 2019 from cardiovascular illnesses, accounting for 32% of all fatalities worldwide, according to statistics from the World Health Organization that were updated in July 2021. There will be a greater need for diagnostic facilities to provide a quick and accurate diagnosis as these chronic diseases become more prevalent. These diagnostic methods include live-cell imaging techniques, which are driving the market.

Global Live Cell Imaging Market Restraint

High Cost of High-Content Screening Systems

High-content screening (HCS) is a well-established procedure for the multi-parametric analysis of cellular events. HCS imaging systems continually evolved with improvements that enabled meeting user demands greater flexibility and the growing requirement for assays involving complex cellular disease models. However, the price of these reagents, which can often be extremely sensitive, expensive, and difficult to create, is a significant factor limiting the market's growth. In addition, high capital technological investments are required to develop application-specific reagents; consumables that are used are also expensive. This adds to the cost of high-content screening systems, making them less affordable, which is expected to dampen the market.

Global Live Cell Imaging Market Opportunities

Government Funding for Cell-Based Research

The rise in research and development activities for expanding cell-based treatments and rising focus and grants from various national governments for developing cell-based research are expected to fuel the market growth over the forecast period. Likewise, the introduction of novel cell-based medicines was made possible by increased research funding from the national governments to develop cell therapies, which is anticipated to hasten the market's expansion.

For instance, in FY 2019, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) funded USD 1,626 million for stem cell research. This will lead to a surge in research and development activities in the market, which is expected to enhance market growth due to the higher adoption of live-cell imaging devices for research activities. This will further lead to the increased adoption of live cell imaging devices in research training, thereby creating opportunities for market growth.

Regional Analysis

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

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global cell imaging market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.26% during the forecast period. The existence of a larger patient pool and an expanding senior population is said to account for the majority of the stake in the region. The main driver is the significant funding and investment for live-cell imaging research. Due to factors including an increase in chronic diseases and the amount of research and development (R&D) programs in the nation, the United States currently owns the greatest market share in the North American area. In the United States, around 34,800 new HIV infections were reported in 2020, according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. In addition, according to the same source, 13% of Americans who have HIV do not realize they do and so require a prompt diagnosis. According to data, the vast patient base and high per capita income assist the government and research agencies in accelerating the market growth in this region.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.69% over the forecast period. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases, rise in gene therapy research, and rise in funding from the government for cell and gene therapies are estimated to drive this market's growth in this region. In February 2022, a gene therapy center was created in the United Kingdom, joining a nationwide network of gene therapy clinics to give patients treatment alternatives. Further, the center aims to research gene therapy for new patient therapeutic alternatives. The rising gene therapy centers in the United Kingdom may lead to increased research in these centers, leading to increased adoption of cell imaging devices, thereby driving the market growth in this region. In addition, the fundraising by the biopharmaceutical companies in the region to develop cell therapies may further lead to increased adoption of live-cell imaging devices, thereby expected to drive market growth. For instance, in September 2021, TreeFrog Therapeutics, a French firm, raised EUR 64 million to make gene and cell therapy manufacturing easier and less expensive.

The Asia-Pacific live-cell imaging market is expected to grow due to rising chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, technological advancements, and increasing R&D activities. According to data published by Globocan in 2020, there were around 45,68,754 new cancer cases and 30,02,899 cancer deaths in China. The cancer cases are expected to increase to 68,45,787 by 2040. Therefore, the high mortality rate and anticipated increase in cancer cases may increase the demand for accurate and early diagnosis. Cancer diagnosis requires live-cell imaging products, which will drive the studied market. Moreover, huge investments in cell-based research are expected to boost the market further. For instance, in May 2021, Eyestem raised funding from Endiya partners in technology, healthcare, and life sciences. This funding may allow Eyestem to move closer to scaling its platform and forming affordable cell therapies for dry age-related macular degeneration (Dry AMD). Such investments may help bring therapies for largely unmet needs, which is expected to boost the market.

In the Middle East and Africa, factors such as the rising burden of chronic disease, increasing investments, and strategic initiatives by market players are expected to drive the market. According to the International Diabetes Federation 2021, the number of people living with diabetes in 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was 990.9 thousand. The number is expected to reach 1,177.5 thousand in 2030 and 1,325.8 thousand in 2045. According to the same source, the total cases of diabetes in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in 2021 were 803,400 and 4,274,100, respectively. The high prevalence of diabetes in these countries may increase the demand for live-cell imaging equipment to develop cell-therapy-based therapeutics, thus driving the market.

Segmental Analysis

The global live cell imaging market is segmented by product and application.

Based on product, the global cell imaging market is bifurcated into equipment, consumables, and software and services. 

The equipment segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.55% over the forecast period. The equipment segment is further sub-segmented into standalone systems, microscopes, cell analyzers, and image-capturing devices. Standalone systems are called equipment or devices capable of operating independently from other hardware and not integrated into another device. The main drivers of the segment's expansion are the extensive application of these systems in live-cell imaging and the growing emphasis on research and development with the aid of technology. A microscope is a lab tool to examine objects too small for the human eye to see.

Additionally, there are different types of live cell imaging microscopic techniques. Live‐cell imaging is primarily conducted with fluorescence microscopy. Cell analyzers are cutting-edge flow cytometers with adaptable designs for various experimental complexity and throughput requirements. The factors propelling the segment's growth are the increasing number of strategic initiatives undertaken by the market players and the increasing focus on research and development about live cell imaging. Further, an image-capturing device includes an optical module configured to capture an image, at least one sensor module configured to generate image signals for the captured image, and a data processing module configured to generate image data for the captured image based on the generated image signals.

Software and services for live cell imaging software accelerate and eases the process. The increasing product launches and a growing focus on technologically aided processes propel the segment's growth. For instance, in March 2021, Nanolive SA launched an integrated and user-friendly software solution called EVE Analytics for unbiased, non-invasive, continuous live cell analysis and quantification. Nanolive's CX-A, together with its quantification software EVE Analytics, represents a breakthrough in the field of quantitative live cell imaging and analysis. With Nanolive's platform, researchers get higher significance earlier and faster.

Additionally, in August 2019, Olympus' newly launched scanR 3.1 high-content screening (HCS) station fully embraced the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate cutting-edge life science research. It incorporates the automation, speed, throughput, and reproducibility of HCS applications into a microscope-based system, which increases its modularity and adaptability. Olympus' scan HCS software can reliably derive nuclei positions in microwells solely from brightfield transmission images with an accuracy that rivals fluorescence. Such product developments are anticipated to fuel the demand for more such products, contributing to market growth.

Based on application, the global live cell imaging market is segmented into cell biology, developmental biology, stem cell biology, drug discovery, and others. 

The cell biology segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.71% during the forecast period. Cell biology, often known as cellular biology or cytology, is a subfield of biology that focuses on understanding cells' composition, operation, and behavior. Most cell biology imaging is done with widefield microscopy, in which the microscope forms an image of the sample on the camera without any additional optical manipulation. Live cells are most commonly imaged on an inverted epifluorescence microscope. It allows for observing cell-cell interactions, single-cell behavior, and the movements of cellular molecules or organelles. CytoSMART Technologies introduced a new live cell imaging technology in May 2020. A simple, affordable option for researchers performing instant side-by-side comparisons across cell cultures is the CytoSMART Lux2 Duo Kit. Thus, the growing research and product launches in the segment are expected to boost the market's growth over the forecast period.

Researchers and medical professionals may better understand how illnesses and ailments manifest by seeing stem cells turn into cells in bones, heart muscle, neurons, and other organs and tissue. This is why there is a rise in research about live cell imaging in stem cell research. In the article 'Live-cell imaging of subcellular structures for quantitative evaluation of pluripotent stem Cells published in 2019, the researchers developed a live-cell imaging technique called Phase Distribution (PD) imaging system, which envisions subcellular structures quantitatively in unstained and unlabeled cells. This was used to evaluate pluripotent cells. The study concluded that PD imaging systems might be utilized to screen live pluripotent stem cells with potentially high pluripotency before more rigorous quality control processes. The increasing use of stem cells in various research and treatments increases the need for studying them. Growing research on that front is boosting the segment's growth.

Recent Developments

• February 2023- Thrive Bioscience Inc. introduced a new integrated suite of innovative and exciting capabilities, including Version 4.0 of its CellAssist software that substantially advances the field of live cell imaging.
• January 2023- Axion BioSystems revealed the addition of the Omni Pro 12 to the Omni family of live-cell imaging products. The new platform, incorporating robotics and a multi-plate design adaptable to any standard incubator, offers increased flexibility and efficiency for scientists and drug developers conducting live-cell imaging experiments.