Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market

Market Overview

The global pet cancer therapeutics market size was valued at USD 395.74 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 837.75 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.69% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Like humans, there is a surging prevalence of cancer in pets worldwide, which is a primary driver for the global cancer therapeutics market. Similarly, people nowadays are more concerned about pets than ever before. In light of this, several government and non-government organizations are creating awareness about animal health and well-being, ultimately boosting the market expansion.

Pet cancer therapeutics are specialized medical treatments and medications intended to identify, treat, and manage cancer in animals, particularly dogs and cats. It has a high potential for reducing the effects of cancer, allowing for comprehensive cancer care with minimal side effects. Similar to human cancer therapies, these may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, and palliative care.

Veterinary oncologists administer these treatments to improve the quality of life for pets with diverse cancer types. Depending on the type of cancer, its stage, and the nature of the cancer, the veterinarian recommends a specific treatment plan. As veterinary medicine continues to advance, the availability and efficacy of cancer therapeutics for pets have increased, allowing pet owners access to comprehensive and compassionate care for their cherished animal companions diagnosed with cancer.

Market Dynamics

Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Drivers

High Prevalence of Cancer in Pets

There are close to 100 distinct types of animal cancer. Cancer can manifest in the skin, bones, breast, head and neck, lymphatic system, abdomen, and testicles of domesticated animals. Leukemia is the most prevalent form of cancer in cats, while lymphoma and cancer of the mammary gland are the most prevalent forms of cancer in dogs.

According to the article, the Lifetime Prevalence of Malignant and Benign Tumors in Companion Dogs: Cross-sectional Analysis of Dog Aging Project Baseline Survey, published in May 2022, the lifetime prevalence of malignant tumors increased with growing dog size class compared to toy and small dogs. The age-adjusted prevalence for medium, standard, large, and giant dogs were 1.65, 2.92, 3.67, and 2.99, respectively.

Increasing Animal Health Awareness

Animal welfare has become an issue of public policy that must be controlled to improve animals' position due to increased awareness, societal attitudes, and negative publicity. This will, in turn, contribute to human well-being and support production. Several government organizations worldwide are taking various initiatives toward better animal health awareness. For instance, in October 2021, the Animal Cancer Foundation, in collaboration with Nationwide Pet Insurance, launched the 2021 Nationwide Pet Cancer Awareness Walk between October 15, 2021, and November 30, 2021. Nationwide, pet insurance would donate 50 cents in the name of the person walking to the Animal Cancer Foundation, up to a maximum of USD 60,000, helping to fund life-saving cancer research. This augments the demand for pet cancer therapeutics, as cancer is one of the life-threatening diseases in pets.

Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Restraint

Side Effects Associated with Pet Cancer Therapy

Although the available treatment products for cancer are quite efficient, certain side effects of the products on the animals are expected to be a major hindrance in the market studied. In some cases, these adverse events are also due to medication errors in dosage quantity. The common side effects of cancer therapy products are reduced blood pressure and heart rate, slowed breathing, sedation, tremors, dizziness, anxiety, and seizures.

According to the study, Metronomic chemotherapy for palliative treatment of malignant oral tumors in dogs, published in March 2022, sterile hemorrhagic cystitis was the most commonly reported side effect of metronomic chemotherapy, occurring in approximately 33.3% of dogs. Thus, owing to the severe adverse drug reactions in companion animals associated with cancer therapeutics, growth will be hindered over the forecast period.

Global Pet Cancer Therapeutics Market Opportunities

Increasing R&D for Cancer Therapy Launch

In the near future, the expanding number of research grants to launch several anti-cancer therapies for veterinary cancer treatment is anticipated to create opportunities for the global market for pet cancer therapeutics. For instance, the Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF) received a USD 1 million grant from the Blue Buffalo Foundation in 2017 to support comparative oncology research, which aimed to examine similarities between naturally occurring cancers in humans and animals and to discover effective treatments for both species.

Additionally, in 2016, the Petco Foundation and Blue Buffalo Foundation contributed USD 2.35 million to pet cancer research and treatment, as it is a leading cause of illness and untimely death among affected species worldwide. Such contributions are expected to create opportunities for market growth.

Regional Analysis

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

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global pet cancer therapeutics market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 8.83% during the forecast period. The growing pet population and increased spending on pet care fuel market growth in the North American region. For instance, as per the American Pet Products Association's (APPA) 2021–2022 National Pet Owners Survey, 90.5 million American households—or 70% of all households—own pets, up from 56% of all American households in 1988. During the 2019–20 period, around 69 million United States households owned a dog, and 45.3 million families owned a cat. Furthermore, the continuous product development and launches for companion animals by major market players are driving market growth in the region. For instance, in October 2021, the Morris Animal Foundation, a non-profit pioneer in improving animal health, awarded a nearly USD 41,777 grant in partnership with Blue Buffalo and Pet Valu Canada to enhance cancer treatment in cats focusing on intestinal lymphoma. The eligibility criteria for this grant stipulate that only researchers who hold Canadian residency are allowed to apply. Therefore, the abovementioned factors are expected to boost the market growth in the region.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 9.34% over the forecast period. The market for pet cancer therapeutics is expected to experience growth owing to factors like rising pet healthcare expenditure, an increasing rate of pet adoption, and cancer cases among the pet population in the region. In addition, according to the research article "Risks and treatments surrounding cancer," published in December 2021, it is often stated that 1 out of 4 or even 1 out of 3 dogs will eventually get cancer, while 1 in 5 cats gets affected by cancer. Therefore, the increasing cancer incidence among the pet population drives the market's growth over the forecast period. In addition, prominent corporations are actively engaged in endeavors aimed at advancing cancer therapy in companion animals, hence stimulating the expansion of the industry. For instance, in June 2022, Boehringer Ingelheim, a global leader in animal health based in Germany, and CarthroniX, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of small molecule-based therapies for degenerative and aging-related diseases, formed a research collaboration to pursue small molecule therapeutics in canine oncology.

The Asia-Pacific pet cancer therapeutics market is expected to witness substantial expansion, owing to the rising trend of pet adoption and the increasing awareness about veterinary care and key initiatives by market players. The regional government is taking several initiatives concerning pet cancer therapeutics, thereby driving the regional market growth. For instance, the Central Government of India has set up One Central and five Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories to provide animal diagnostic services. The Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis (CADRAD) of IVRI, Izatnagar, works as the Central Laboratory for better coordination and efficient disease diagnosis, monitoring, and reporting. Such initiatives increase pet cancer diagnosis and boost market growth. Similarly, as per the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data, in January 2021, a staggering 202 billion yuan (29 billion dollars) was spent by dog and cat owners in 2019 in China, an increase of 18.5% from the year before. Thus, increased spending on animal care supports the market growth over the forecast period.

In the Middle East and Africa, factors such as the increasing prevalence of pet cancer, rising incidence of tumors or neoplasia in pets, an increase in pet ownership, and growing research and development studies are expected to contribute to significant market growth. In Saudi Arabia, multiple veterinary clinics have state-of-the-art technologies and specialized veterinary centers to fulfill all veterinary needs. However, the pet owner must obey a few guidelines and regulatory norms to operate a pet animal in the country. Some known centers include Tilad Veterinary Clinic, Saudi Veterinary Clinic, Open Paws, and Pet Care – European Veterinary Clinic, among others. Additionally, as per Petsecure 2021, Saudi Arabia has the world's highest proportion of big dogs, with 70% of their dog belonging to an extensive breed. Thus, these statistics indicate that the demand for pet cancer therapeutics is significant in the country, thereby contributing to the market growth.

Segmental Analysis

The global pet cancer therapeutics market is segmented by therapy, animal, and application.

Based on therapy, the global market is bifurcated into chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and other therapies. 

The targeted therapy segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 8.46% over the forecast period. Targeted therapy aims to attack a specific target on cancer cells while causing minimal harm to healthy cells. Some cancers can be treated solely with targeted drugs but are frequently used with surgery, radiation therapy, and standard chemotherapy. PALLADIA, a product manufactured by Zoetis, holds a dominant market share within this segment. PALLADIA tablets are prescribed for the treatment of canines diagnosed with recurring cutaneous mast cell tumors of Patnaik grade II or III, with or without regional lymph node involvement. PALLADIA is an antiangiogenic and antiproliferative therapy specifically developed for canine cancer treatment.

The increasing demand for radiation therapy in veterinary medicine is partly due to the recent sophistication of treatment methods. The American College of Veterinary Radiology confers an AVMA-recognized board specialty in radiation oncology. Due to the mobility of tumors in these areas, it is rarely used in veterinary medicine to treat lung neoplasia or neoplastic disease of the upper abdominal cavity. Nevertheless, treatment of mediastinal cancers and those of the caudal abdomen and pelvic canals, such as prostatic carcinoma, thymoma, and anal gland tumors, is possible and frequently recommended.

Based on animals, the global market is segmented into dogs, cats, and other animals. 

The dog segment owns the highest pet cancer therapeutics market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 9.29% during the forecast period. Some dog breeds or families have a greater chance of contracting cancer at a younger age, but adult dogs are most frequently diagnosed with cancer. According to the non-profit organization FETCH a Cure, an estimated six million dogs worldwide were diagnosed with cancer in 2019, likely increasing the demand for cancer treatments.

Domestic cats can be affected by various feline malignancies, but lymphoma is the most frequent. The etiology of feline cancer remains elusive; however, numerous authorities suggest that the feline leukemia virus is implicated in its development. Environmental toxins, secondhand smoke, and environmental toxins may also contribute to the development of feline cancer.

Based on application, the global market is divided into lymphoma, mast cell cancer, melanoma, mammary and squamous cell cancer, and other applications. 

The mast cell cancer segment is the largest revenue contributor to the market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 8.91% throughout the forecast period. Mast cell tumors are one of the most prevalent forms of canine cancer. Mast cells, which treat inflammation and allergic reactions in a dog's body, are the precursors of mast cell tumors. There is no solitary cause for mast cell tumors. Mast cell tumor (MCT) is dogs' most common cutaneous neoplasm, with an estimated prevalence of 0.25–0.27%. In addition, MCTs contribute to 16–21% of all cutaneous neoplasms in dogs, according to the article, 'Dose Characterization of the Investigational Anti-cancer Drug Tigilanol Tiglate (EBC-46) in the Local Treatment of Canine Mast Cell Tumors', published in 2019. Therefore, the factors mentioned above are expected to boost the segment growth.

Melanoma is a common tumor in dogs, especially those with significant skin pigmentation. Melanomas in cats are relatively rare. Melanoma arises from melanocytes, the cells that generate pigment through the melanosome by several melanosomal glycoproteins. Surgery is the most effective local treatment modality for melanoma. Radiation therapy can be vital in treating a subset of canine and feline melanomas. Radiation therapy can be essential in treating a subset of canine and feline melanomas. 

Recent Developments

• March 2023- Hill's Pet Nutrition released a new therapeutic pet diet, Prescription Diet ONC Care, intended to combat appetite loss and provide high-quality nutrition for cats and canines with cancer.
• August 2023- The Canine Tumor Genome Atlas, the first genomic data bank of its kind, was launched at UC Davis, where groundbreaking work in comparative oncology continues. It may eventually store hundreds of gene samples from companion dogs diagnosed with oral melanomas, osteosarcomas, and gliomas.