Spatial OMICS Market

Market Overview

The global spatial OMICS market size was valued at USD 270.7 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 612.7 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The emerging potential of spatial OMIC analysis as a cancer diagnostic tool and the advent of the fourth generation of sequencing (in-situ sequencing) promote market growth. North America is expected to dominate throughout the forecast period, owing to an increased focus on translational research

According to SkyQuest, the ongoing development of sequencing technology has resulted in a rapid advancement in spatial genomics sequencing. The global leader in life science technology, MGI Tech Co., with its headquarters in China, has a subsidiary called MGI Australia. It recently announced a significant expansion of its Brisbane Customer Experience Center (CEC), giving researchers in Australia and New Zealand first access to MGI's state-of-the-art DNA, Cell, and Spatial Omics (DCS) capabilities. For example, in August 2021, Visgen introduced the MERSCOPE platform, which is the only platform for the MERFISH technology. Vizgen is a life science startup that uses single-cell spatial genomics data visualization to improve human health.

Spatial OMICS is the study of spatially resolved gene expression patterns in cells or tissue samples, utilizing methods such as in situ hybridization and imaging mass cytometry. The worldwide spatial OMICS market is expanding since there is a greater need for spatial resolution techniques in various sectors, including cancer research, neurology, developmental biology, and pharmaceutical research. The primary goal of spatial OMICS is to comprehend the spatial links between cells and tissues and how these links contribute to biological processes and disease pathology. Spatial OMICs can reveal gene expression patterns in specific tissue parts and link them to physiological or pathological processes. Based on the data generated by studying spatial correlations between genes, this technique can aid in developing tailored medicines and diagnostic tools for various disorders.

Market Dynamics

Spatial OMICS Market Drivers

Emerging Potential of Spatial OMIC Analysis as a Cancer Diagnostic Tool

Chromosomes and genes undergo a distinct spatial arrangement during diseased conditions, which varies in different diseases. Chromosome mapping for spatial positioning patterns of specific genomic loci helps distinguish cancerous tissue from benign tissue with high specificity. The spatial arrangement of genes is independent of variations in copy number; hence, gene positioning can be used to accurately distinguish cancer tissue from healthy tissue using control tissue specimens. Thus, genome positioning is considered a novel biomarker for early cancer diagnosis.

Advent of Fourth Generation of Sequencing (In-Situ Sequencing)

In-situ sequencing differs from previous generations of sequencing techniques in two aspects: First, in-situ sequencing offers a broad picture of the spatial distribution of reads over a sample, providing important information for investigating tissue heterogeneity based on known molecular biomarkers. Second, the in situ sequencing method can be performed using less starting input, with an increase in the rate of cell sequencing and a decrease in sequencing cost. Furthermore, technologies such as fluorescent in situ sequencing (FISSEQ) and other in situ technologies for performing genomic analysis facilitate the development of powerful clinical applications.

Spatial OMICS Market Restraint

Slow Implementation of Technology

Challenges that currently limit the implementation of advanced technologies such as NGS into clinical practice include the smaller number of clinical studies, the growing complexity of bioinformatics, the complexity of genomic information, and the economics of personalized medicine. As a result, the diagnostics sector is slow to leverage NGS-based clinical testing. Advancements in new technology implementation rely on several factors, including regulatory oversight of Laboratory-Developed Tests (LDTs) and NGS-based testing, policies for data sharing, and intellectual property laws.

In addition, the isolation of cells from the local environment prior to profiling destroys important contextual information such as dynamic behavior and the spatial environment of cells. Many scientists consider this small amount of data crucial to interpreting the state of the cell precisely at the time of isolation. This missing data significantly influences the final interpretation, which might alter the analysis and diagnosis, limiting the adoption of novel technologies such as single-cell genome sequencing and hindering market growth.

Spatial OMICS Market Opportunities

Gradual Adoption of Single-Cell Sequencing

Single-cell techniques have contributed significantly to genomic research studies, including spatial gene expression analysis, quantification of gene expression from specific alleles, tracing of differentiation pathways, understanding of cell-to-cell heterogeneity, and future directions of cell lineage tracing. The emergence of single-cell gene sequencing methods has significantly driven spatial transcriptomic studies. For example, in July 2016, laser capture microscopy was integrated with Smart-seq2, Illumina's single-cell-based technology, for precise spatial transcriptomic profiling. This has led to increased investment in developing advanced single-cell sequencing technologies.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

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

North America is the most significant global spatial OMICS market shareholder and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.20% over the forecast period. A rise in government support for genomics and sequencing technologies, high demand for personalized medicine, and a substantial number of translational and academic research organizations. Also, rising cancer rates, increased desire for tailored medication, well-developed healthcare facilities, and the availability of innovative diagnostic technology. The rising morbidity and mortality rates from cancer and other metabolic, autoimmune, and inflammatory illnesses have increased the need for innovative medicines, propelling the market in this area.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 9.42% over the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific market will likely grow as companies engage in partnerships to boost their biological research efforts, which will drive the region's use of omics technologies. For example, in February 2021, ERS Genomics Limited awarded G+FLAS Life Sciences, Inc., a South Korean biotechnology start-up, access to its CRISPR/Cas9 patent portfolio. This cooperation aided the firm in developing CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing applications.

The European spatial omics market is fragmented, with many small and medium-sized businesses competing. The market's leading players include 10x Genomics, Nanostring Technologies, and Akoya Biosciences. These businesses invest in research and development to produce new goods and services. They are also broadening their global reach to capitalize on fresh prospects in emerging areas. The key drivers of this rise are the growing desire for customized medicine and the need for more accurate and tailored therapies.

In Latin America, the healthcare industry is quickly expanding owing to an aging population, an increase in the frequency of chronic illnesses, and increased government spending on healthcare. As a result, there is an increasing demand for sophisticated diagnostic techniques and technologies, such as spatial OMICS, to provide more precise and complete data for illness diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the area is expanding its expenditure on research and development activities, which is projected to fuel the growth of the spatial OMICS market.

In the Middle East and Africa, the spatial OMICS market has great development potential. The region's healthcare industry is undergoing rapid development due to increased urbanization, rising disposable income, and government efforts to extend access to healthcare services. There is also a rising emphasis in the region on precision medicine and individualized medicines, which is projected to increase the use of spatial OMICS methods. Furthermore, the area is expanding its investment in R&D activities, which is projected to boost innovation and growth in the spatial OMICS market.

Segmental Analysis

The global spatial OMICS market is bifurcated into technology, products, workflow, sample, and end-use.

The global spatial OMICS market is bifurcated based on technology into spatial proteomics, imaging techniques, microscopy, multiplexed ion beam imaging, mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, and centrifugation techniques.

The spatial proteomics segment dominates the global market and will likely exhibit a CAGR of 5.32% over the forecast period. The growing number of studies aimed at understanding cell biology can be primarily attributed to segment growth. By capturing the spatial proteome, the localization of proteins and their dynamics can be studied at the subcellular level. In addition, the increasing application of mass spectrometry for analyzing the protein fragments further boosts segment growth. Moreover, this technique is widely integrated with other separation technologies, such as liquid chromatography, which enables large-scale protein profiling. Hence, integrating such instruments and advanced computational analysis platforms is driving market growth.

Moreover, the growth in the segment can also be attributed to its rising adoption of mapping proteins for efficient characterization of disease states. The mapping of proteins generally involves cell purification and fractionation, followed by mass spectrometric analysis. Hence, this helps researchers identify the positioning of proteins in a cell, which helps them create cellular maps for understanding disease mechanisms. Furthermore, research centers are expanding their capabilities to facilitate spatial proteomics studies.

Based on product, the global spatial OMICS market is bifurcated into instruments, modes, consumables, and types.

The consumable segment owns the global market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 10.15% over the forecast period. The consumables segment includes products required to run the instruments across various stages of genome mapping, from sample preparation to final result derivation. This segment held the largest share in sales owing to high product penetration, the increased usage rate of reagents and kits, wide product availability, and frequent purchases of consumables to run the instruments. The development of any new instrument or upgrade of any current instrument directly influences segment growth since the creation of any new instrument necessitates the development of the necessary consumables. In addition, companies are launching a new consumable range for protein analysis, contributing to market growth.

Based on workflow, the global spatial OMICS market is segmented into sample preparation, instrumental analysis, and data analysis.

The instrumental analysis segment dominates the global market and will likely exhibit a CAGR of 10.14% during the forecast period. The growth in the segment can be primarily due to substantial advancements in instruments such as microscopy and mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry is one of the most promising tools for quantifying nucleic acids and proteins. It has several advantages, such as high-resolution, high-speed, and high-throughput operations for protein profiling, which are later used for analyzing complex biological samples. This facilitates novel applications such as new drug development, biomarker discovery, and diagnostics. In addition, companies are launching new and advanced mass spectrometers for various applications such as metabolomics, proteomics, genomics, and biopharmaceutical characterization, further propelling segment growth.

Based on the sample, the global spatial OMICS market is divided into FFPE and fresh frozen.

The FFPE segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.97% over the forecast period. Formalin fixation and paraffin-embedding (FFPE) is a standard sample type most commonly used to preserve human tissue for clinical diagnosis. Hence, it holds a major market share in the spatial OMICS market. This technique is considered the best in researching tissue morphology for clinical histopathology and diagnostic purposes. In addition, FFPE specimens are abundant in clinical tissue banks, which can be further attributed to segment growth.

However, they are incompatible with single-cell-level transcriptome sequencing owing to RNA degradation and RNA damage during storage and extraction. Hence, researchers are focusing on new approaches for increasing the application of FFPE in spatial transcriptomic studies. Also, new techniques are devised for gene expression profiling in FFPE, further driving segment growth.

The global spatial OMICS market is divided into pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and academic and translational research institutes based on end-use.

The academic and translational research institutes segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.97% over the forecast period. Spatial genomic studies, which fully examine many illnesses, are rapidly being used in academic and translational research facilities. For example, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's research center has established a Center of Spatial and Functional Genomics to examine the genetic basis of various prevalent illnesses using 3D Genomics-based methodologies. The institute especially focuses on cancer, metabolic (diabetes), neurologic (Alzheimer's, insomnia, schizophrenia), and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Over the past few years, universities have commercialized their research to fund further research and as a potential source of income. Correspondingly, funding bodies are also directly interested in promoting the research's commercialization.

Recent Developments

• March 2023: Akoya Biosciences launched its Spatial Profiler platform. This platform will allow researchers to investigate the geographical distribution of DNA methylation in tissues.
• February 2023: The Nanostring Technologies nCounter spatial omics platform has been released. This platform allows researchers to investigate the geographical distribution of genes, proteins, and other tissue molecules.