Protein Assays Market

Market Overview

The global protein assays market size was valued at USD 1.64 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 4.31 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.34% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The surging frequency of chronic and infectious diseases is the main driver for the global protein assay market. There has been a growth in the expenditure on pharmaceutical and biological research for research and development of new protein assay products, boosting market growth.

Proteins are one of the four macromolecules necessary for existence. They are long chains of amino acids that fold into hierarchical structures to execute specific functions within the tissues and cells of all living organisms. The protein assay aims to ascertain the quantity or concentration of a particular protein or a group of proteins in a sample. Protein isolation and detection are utilized in various clinical and scientific procedures.

Protein assays can be used as an initial protein capture before structural analysis, as a preliminary step before further protein manipulation in a research and development process, or as the final stage of detection in a clinical laboratory as part of a diagnostic technique. There are numerous protein assay types and variations on the main techniques. Due to the complexity of the subject matter, major biological supply companies typically produce extensive handbooks detailing the specifics of each protein assay.

Market Dynamics

Global Protein Assays Market Drivers

Increasing Incidence of Chronic and Infectious Diseases

Using protein-based approaches to study diseases is considered one of the most innovative approaches that can confirm, complement, and provide additional information beyond what can be obtained from other high-throughput techniques. The rising prevalence of chronic and infectious illnesses, including cancer, influenza, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, is anticipated to increase the demand for developing medicine, which will spur protein identification and interpretation research and propel the protein assay market.

As per WHO's April 2021 update, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) lead to 41 million deaths annually, equivalent to 71%. Similarly, according to GLOBOCAN 2020, there were 19,292,789 newly diagnosed cancer cases and 9,958,133 cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2020. Thus, the increasing incidence of chronic and infectious diseases contributes to the growth of the protein assay market.

Rising Expenditure on Pharmaceutical and Biological Research and Development

The expenditure on pharmaceutical and biological research for the R&D of innovative products has been increasing over the past few years. As Per the September 2020 update by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, PhRMA members invested nearly USD 83 billion in R&D activities in 2019.

Furthermore, approximately GBP 70.5 million, representing a total investment of GBP 70.5 million, has been allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to boost national synthetic biology research capacity and ensure that different expertise is available to stimulate innovation in this area. Such developments support the increasing focus on protein assays, contributing to market growth.

Global Protein Assays Market Restraint

High Cost of Multiplex Assay Equipment

The high cost of protein assay equipment, along with the consumables and reagents required for protein analysis, is expected to restrain the growth of the protein assay market. Due to the growing technological advancements in this field and the high cost of machine maintenance, including the purchase of spare parts and consumables, the equipment is more expensive, resulting in lower adoption of the instruments, especially in low-income countries without health insurance. This factor may lead to lower adoption of new, advanced products and impede the market's growth.

Global Protein Assays Market Opportunities

Technological Advancements in Protein Assay Techniques

In recent years, several new techniques have been developed that are utilized by nearly every laboratory involved in protein research. For instance, in November 2020, NanoString Technologies Inc., a leading supplier of life science tools for discovery and translational research, launched GeoMx DSP Protein Assays for next-generation sequencing (NGS) readout, enabling multi-analyte analysis for nCounter and NGS readout.

The GeoMx DSP Protein Assays for NGS readout include more than 50 targets focused on immuno-oncology applications. These assays will provide GeoMx Cancer Transcriptome Atlas users with complementary protein content designed for NGS readout. These new protein assays have been tested for multiplex performance on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and fresh frozen tissue. Such technological advancements are expected to create opportunities for market growth.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

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

North America is the most significant global protein assays market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 11.56% during the forecast period. The North American region is anticipated to hold a significant share of the protein assay market during the forecast period because of the presence of a large pharmaceutical market, huge investment in the drug development and discovery initiative by a few of the largest pharmaceutical companies located in the region, the high prevalence of chronic illnesses, and the presence of a solid healthcare infrastructure in the region. For instance, the research and development expenditure of Pfizer, Inc., which is headquartered in the United States, increased from USD 9,393 million in 2020 to USD 13,829 million as per the company's annual report.

In addition, the rise in the frequency of chronic diseases in the region is expected to boost the market studied. For instance, in April 2021, the Canadian Cancer Society data stated that cancer is Canada's leading cause of mortality, accounting for roughly one-third of all deaths. This is poised to increase the demand for testing, increasing protein assay growth in the region.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 10.76% over the forecast period. The increasing incidences of infectious diseases, growing product launches, and rising strategic initiatives are all predicted to boost regional market growth. For instance, according to estimates from the Global Cancer Observatory updated in March 2021, around 628,519 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Germany in 2020, with 252,065 cancer fatalities. Furthermore, the advancement and investment in diagnostics, genomics, proteomics, and others, where protein assays can play a significant role in enhancing accuracy and cost-cutting, will also boost growth in the studied market.

For instance, according to the 2021 report of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, in 2019, the total pharmaceutical industry research and development funding in Germany was about EUR 8,466 million, which stood at EUR 7,815 million in 2018. This data shows that increasing pharmaceutical research and development expenditure in Germany can positively impact the market's growth over the years.

The Asia-Pacific protein assay market is anticipated to grow during the forecast period because of rising research and development expenditures. According to the Statistics Bureau of Japan 2021, Japan's total R&D spending in fiscal year (FY) 2020 was 19.24 trillion yen, and research and development spending as a percentage of GDP was 3.59%, up 0.08 % from the previous fiscal year. The increasing R&D expenditure, especially in healthcare, is expected to boost market growth. Furthermore, the market players in the region adopted various strategies like product launches, developments, collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions to increase market share. For instance, in July 2021, WuXi NextCODE Genomics Co. Ltd. and Olink Proteomics AB formed a strategic cooperation in China to provide protein assays.

Furthermore, according to the Global Cancer Observatory, there were an estimated 1,324,413 new cancer cases and 851,678 cancer-related deaths in India in 2020. Thus, the growing burden of cancer increases the demand for novel diagnoses based on protein technology, boosting the adoption of protein assays and thus driving the market.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are two of the most developed markets in the Middle East and Africa, with a robust healthcare infrastructure and the region's highest per capita drug expenditure. Hence, this generates a huge opportunity for the growth of various drug development research activities. Furthermore, according to GLOBOCAN, around 27,885 new cancer cases were reported in Saudi Arabia in 2020 and around 4,807 new cancer cases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Thus, the rising prevalence of cancer will boost the demand for protein assay diagnosis and further drive market growth.

Segmental Analysis

The global protein assay market is segmented by product type, application, and end-user.

Based on product type, the global protein assay market is bifurcated into kits, reagents, and instruments and accessories. 

The reagents segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 12.34% over the forecast period. A reagent is a substance used (in detecting or measuring a component, preparing a product, or developing photographs) due to its chemical or biological activity. In December 2021, Sino Biological Inc. launched a panel of research reagents for the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which quickly raised concerns worldwide because of the high number of mutations it carried, especially the 30-plus mutations on the spike protein. Thus, the growing number of launches of reagents and the continuous use of these products are expected to expedite segment growth over the forecast period.

The instruments used in protein assays are chromatographic, electrophoretic, and immunochemical devices. The increasing number of chronic diseases and drug developments are expected to boost the segment's growth. In October 2019, BioTek Instruments Inc. launched quantitative assay apps, which provide convenience and simplicity for researchers performing four commonly used detection-based applications: absorbance-based BCA, Bradford and Lowry protein assays, and fluorescence-based DNA assays. These easy-to-use apps are powered by Gen5 data analysis software. They are compatible with BioTek microplate readers with the relevant detection mode, including the popular Cytation and Synergy multi-mode readers.

Based on application, the global protein assay market is divided into drug discovery and development, disease diagnosis, and other applications. 

The drug discovery and development segment is the largest revenue contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 11.12% throughout the forecast period. Proteins are the primary target of any drug discovery and development activity; therefore, protein analysis is paramount in drug discovery and development. Target identification and evaluation, efficacy and toxicity biomarkers from readily available biological fluids, and investigations into drug action or toxicity mechanisms are just a few of the prevalent applications of protein analysis in drug discovery. These applications, in turn, are anticipated to grow significantly due to numerous drug discovery projects launched by pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

The need for developing medication is predicted to rise in tandem with the rising worldwide burden of infectious and chronic diseases like cancer, influenza, HIV, tuberculosis, and others. This will probably spur protein identification and interpretation research and propel the market for protein assays. A survey conducted by the WHO from January 24, 2022, to February 6, 2022, stated that approximately 12,368 people tested positive for influenza viruses. Of these, 8,423 (68.1%) people were typed as influenza A and 3,945 (31.9%) people as influenza B. Furthermore, 171 (6.4%) were influenza A (H1N1), and 2,483 (93.6%) were influenza B (H3N2). The abovementioned factors are expected to boost segment growth during the forecast period.

Based on the end-user, the global protein assay market is segmented into pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, hospitals and clinics, and other end users. 

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 11.01% during the forecast period. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries continuously adopt protein assays to develop better drug uses for disease diagnosis, further accelerating the identification and validation of new therapeutic targets. The increasing product launches by key players and increasing research and development using protein assay methods for drug discovery and disease diagnosis are also expected to boost market growth.

In April 2022, Bio-Techne Corporation and Cygnus Technologies, part of Maravai LifeSciences, launched the Simple Plex HEK 293 HCP 3G assay for automated process impurity testing on the Ella immunoassay platform. The new Simple Plex HEK 293 HCP 3G assay provides consistent, accurate, and controlled assay conditions for host cell protein (HCP) detection. Therefore, the new product launches are anticipated to boost market growth in the biotechnology industry.

The hospitals and clinics segment is expected to have lucrative growth due to increasing cases of cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Patients suffering from critically severe conditions prefer getting treated at hospitals with the support of experienced and well-trained healthcare professionals. Hence, hospitals and clinics are the primary care settings for diagnosing and treating medical conditions. The major aspects fueling market growth in this segment are the rising inpatient and outpatient visits in hospitals for diagnosis and better treatment facilities provided by hospitals and clinics, such as better reimbursement scenarios and early diagnosis and treatment, an increasing number of new hospitals and clinics for disease diagnosis and monitoring, and strategic initiatives adopted by the care setting.

Recent Developments

• May 2023: 10x Genomics, Inc., a pioneer in single-cell and spatial biology, announced the commercial availability of a new Visium CytAssist Gene and Protein Expression product to broaden the scope of Visium CytAssist spatial analysis capabilities.
• August 2023: BD (Becton, Dickinson, and Company), a world leader in medical technology, announced the commercial release of the BD® AbSeq assay for analyzing single-cell protein expression using high-throughput sequencing.