Animal Model Market (2026 - 2033)

Animal Model Market Summary

The global animal model market size was valued at USD 2.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 2.8 billion in 2026 to USD 5.4 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2026 to 2033. North America held the largest revenue share of 50.6% in 2025.

The growth of the animal model industry is driven by rising demand for preclinical research, drug discovery applications, and translational biomedical studies, as well as increasing investments in biopharmaceutical R&D, advanced genetic engineering techniques, and the expanding use in personalized medicine development globally across major regions.

Market Dynamics

Market Concentration & Characteristics

The animal model market is witnessing a high degree of innovation driven by advances in genetic engineering, CRISPR-based genome editing, and the development of humanized and disease-specific models. These innovations are significantly improving the physiological relevance of animal models, enabling more accurate replication of human disease conditions and enhancing translational research outcomes. In addition, integration of AI, imaging technologies, and advanced bioinformatics is further refining experimental design, data analysis, and predictive accuracy in preclinical studies, thereby expanding the utility of animal models across drug discovery and biomedical research.

The animal model industry is characterized by a moderate to high level of mergers and acquisitions, primarily driven by pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations (CROs), and specialized biotechnology firms seeking to strengthen their preclinical research capabilities. Strategic acquisitions are commonly focused on gaining access to advanced genetically modified model portfolios, expanding geographic presence, and integrating complementary services such as breeding, testing, and model development. This consolidation trend is enhancing operational efficiency and enabling companies to offer more comprehensive end-to-end research solutions. For instance, in June 2026, Chewy agreed to acquire Modern Animal, expanding its pet healthcare ecosystem by integrating physical veterinary clinics with its e-commerce, pharmacy, AI-powered, and virtual care platforms.

Regulatory frameworks have a strong and complex impact on the animal model market, with stringent guidelines governing animal welfare, ethical research practices, and experimental approvals across major regions such as North America and Europe. Compliance with the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) increases operational requirements and research timelines while also encouraging the adoption of alternative testing methods. However, regulatory acceptance of animal models remains essential for drug approval processes, ensuring their continued relevance in preclinical research despite growing compliance burdens.

Geographical expansion in the animal model industry is driven by increasing investment in life sciences infrastructure and growing biopharmaceutical research activities in emerging economies, particularly across Asia Pacific and Latin America. Countries such as China, India, and South Korea are witnessing a rapid expansion of research institutions, CRO networks, and academic collaborations, supported by favorable government funding and policy initiatives. Meanwhile, established markets in North America and Europe continue to lead in the development of advanced models, creating a globally integrated ecosystem for animal-based research services.

Analyst Perspective

The animal model market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by rising demand for translational research, expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D pipelines, and stricter regulatory requirements for preclinical validation. Growth is further supported by advancements in genetically engineered and humanized models, which enhance disease relevance and predictive accuracy in drug discovery. However, ethical concerns, regulatory constraints on animal testing, and the gradual adoption of alternative in vitro and in silico models may moderate long-term growth. Overall, the market remains highly specialized, with strong reliance on CROs and academic-industry collaborations to support complex preclinical research needs.

Animal Type Insights

The mice segment dominated the animal model industry, accounting for the largest revenue share of 54.0% in 2025, and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2033. Factors such as increasing investments and technological advancements in mouse model technology are anticipated to drive segment growth. In addition, the growing implications of mouse clinical trials for more predictive outcomes and the rising demand for personalized medicine are further contributing to the demand for mouse models.

The rat segment is expected to grow significantly throughout the forecast period, primarily due to its extensive use in preclinical research for pharmacokinetic, toxicology, and disease modeling studies. Rats are widely preferred because of their physiological and genetic similarities to humans, cost-effectiveness, ease of handling, and well-established experimental protocols, making them a standard model in pharmaceutical and academic research.

Application Insights

The cancer segment dominated the animal model market in 2025, with a revenue share of 44.6%, and is expected to register the fastest growth rate over the forecast period. This is due to the exponential increase in the use of animal models in drug screening and preclinical testing to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-cancer therapeutics. Moreover, animal models enable researchers to assess the therapeutic index, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic properties of anticancer therapeutics before transitioning to human clinical trials.

The immunological disease segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period, driven by the rising prevalence of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders globally and the increasing demand for advanced preclinical animal models to support the development of targeted therapies and vaccines. Growing research focus on conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease, coupled with expanding immunology-based drug pipelines in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, is further accelerating the adoption of relevant animal models in translational research.

End-use Insights

In 2025, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment led the animal model market, accounting for the largest share of 39.2%, primarily due to their dominant role in drug discovery, preclinical testing, and translational research activities. Their strong R&D investments, extensive use of advanced animal models for target validation and toxicity assessment, and increasing focus on developing innovative therapeutics further reinforced their leading position in the market.

The contract research organization (CRO) segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by increasing outsourcing of preclinical research, rising demand for specialized animal models, and the need for cost-effective drug development. Growing R&D investments, expanding drug pipelines, and CROs’ ability to provide scalable, regulatory-compliant research services are further supporting segment growth.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the animal model market, accounting for a global revenue share of 50.6% in 2025, driven by substantial investments in biomedical research, a strong presence of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, increasing preclinical R&D activities, and widespread adoption of advanced animal models for drug discovery and disease research.

U.S. Animal Model Market Trends

The U.S. animal model industry is growing due to high R&D expenditure in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, the presence of leading research institutions, and stringent regulatory requirements that drive extensive preclinical testing. Regional market demand is also increasing due to a growing emphasis on genetically modified models, novel treatments, and research on chronic illnesses. For instance, in July 2025, AstraZeneca announced plans to invest USD 50 billion in the U.S. by 2030 to expand its manufacturing and R&D footprint, including a new drug substance manufacturing facility and multiple research expansions. The investment is expected to strengthen the country's pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem and support future demand for preclinical research and animal models.

For decades Americans have been reliant on foreign supply of key pharmaceutical products. President Trump and our nation’s new tariff policies are focused on ending this structural weakness. We are proud that AstraZeneca has made the decision to bring substantial pharmaceutical production to our shores. This historic investment is bringing tens of thousands of jobs to the US and will ensure medicine sold in our country is produced right here.”

-Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of Commerce

Europe Animal Model Market Trends

The Europe animal model industry is expanding due to the growing emphasis on precision medicine, increasing use of genetically modified models in disease-specific research, and strong innovation in biologics and advanced therapeutics development. The region's robust research infrastructure, coupled with rising demand for predictive preclinical models to improve clinical success rates, is supporting market growth.

Asia Pacific Animal Model Market Trends

The Asia Pacific animal model industry is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period. The region is benefiting from the rapid expansion of contract research services, increasing localization of drug development activities, and a growing focus on developing novel therapies for chronic and infectious diseases. In addition, rising investments in research facilities, a large patient population, and the increasing presence of global pharmaceutical companies are creating favorable conditions for market expansion.

The China animal model market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increased investment in pharmaceutical and biotech research and development, the growing demand for preclinical testing, and supportive government policies. The emphasis on genetically engineered, transgenic, and disease-specific models to support drug discovery and translational research is also driving market growth across the region.

Growth of theanimal model market in Japan is driven by advanced pharmaceutical research, growing use of genetically modified and disease-specific models, and strong government support for biomedical innovation. Continued investments in translational research and active participation from leading pharmaceutical companies and research institutions further support market growth. In addition, strategic investments in the research ecosystem, such as Blackstone’s acquisition of a majority stake in CMIC Co., Ltd. in June 2026, are expected to strengthen preclinical and drug development capabilities in the country.

Latin America Animal Model Market Trends

Latin America’s animal model industry is growing steadily, driven by increasing investments in biomedical research, expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology activities, and rising demand for preclinical testing services. The region is also benefiting from improving research infrastructure, growing collaborations between academic institutions and industry players, and increasing participation in global drug development programs.

Middle East & Africa Animal Model Market Trends

The animal model industry in the Middle East and Africa is experiencing stable growth, driven by rising investment in pharmaceutical R&D, the expansion of biotechnology research centers, and increasing demand for preclinical services. Moreover, increased awareness of advanced disease models and genetically modified species contributes to the adoption of animal models in the Middle East and Africa.

Key Animal Model Company Insights

The competitive landscape of the animal model market features key players such as Charles River Laboratories, The Jackson Laboratory, genOway, Taconic Biosciences, Inc., Janvier Labs, and BioModels. These market players are actively engaged in strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, to strengthen their market positions.

Key Animal Model Companies

The following key companies have been profiled for this study of the animal model market.

• Charles River Laboratories

• The Jackson Laboratory

• genOway

• Taconic Biosciences, Inc.

• Janvier Labs

• BioModels, LLC.

• Crown Bioscience

• Inotiv

• BIOCYTOGEN

• Hooke Laboratories

Competitive Benchmarking

Recent Developments

• In February 2026, Covetrus agreed to merge with MWI Animal Health in a USD 3.5 billion transaction, creating an integrated animal health platform spanning distribution, veterinary technology, pharmacy, and practice management services

“As the animal health sector has grown and developed, so too have the needs of MWI’s stakeholders. This transaction positions MWI for success with a partner strategically focused on and dedicated to animal health, while allowing Cencora to further invest in our key growth priorities.”

-Bob Mauch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cencora.

• In July 2025, Twist Bioscience announced the launch of its humanized transgenic (HuTg) mouse model to enhance antibody discovery services, aiming to accelerate fully human antibody generation and streamline preclinical lead identification.

“The humanized transgenic mouse model complements our current in vivo antibody discovery platforms and can be paired with our DiversimAb mouse and B cell screening platforms, offering researchers multiple methods that can be used independently or together to generate more candidates with greater flexibility across varied disease areas.”

-Emily M. Leproust, CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience.

• In August 2025, Taconic Biosciences and Cyagen partnered in North America and Europe to provide streamlined access to over 16,000 genetically engineered mouse and rat models, enhancing preclinical research efficiency.

Animal Model Market Report Scope

Global Animal Model Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth and provides an analysis of the latest trends in each of the sub-segments from 2021 to 2033. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global animal model market report based on animal type, application, end-use, and region:

• Animal Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million/Billion, 2021 - 2033)

  • Mice

  • Rat

  • Guinea Pigs

  • Rabbits

  • Hamsters

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million/Billion, 2021 - 2033)

  • Cancer

  • Immunological Disease

  • Infectious Disease

  • Others

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million/Billion, 2021 - 2033)

  • Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

  • Academic Research Institute

  • Contract Research Organization

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million/Billion, 2021- 2033)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Denmark

    • Sweden

    • Norway

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Australia

    • Thailand

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Argentina

  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait

Research Methodology

The animal model market figures in this report are based on a proven research process that combines executive interviews with secondary research from proprietary databases, company filings, and recognized regulatory and institutional sources. Market size is built through value-chain sizing-reconciling supply-side and demand-side estimates-and triangulated with bottom-up and top-down approaches. Every estimate passes multiple levels of expert validation before publication, with each animal model segment quantified using the revenue-capture definitions in the table below.

Segment Definition

Estimation Model

Delivered Customizations

This report has been delivered with the following In-depth customizations