The global liver cancer drug market size was valued at USD 2.44 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3% from 2023 to 2030. The extensive availability of novel drugs, a strong drug development pipeline, and rising public awareness regarding liver cancer are among the key trends escalating market growth. Besides this, the growing incidence of liver cancer due to the expanding geriatric population and unorganized lifestyle practices is estimated to provide a push to the market’s growth.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2023, over 41,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with intrahepatic bile duct and primary liver cancer, affecting 27,980 men and 13,230 women. Moreover, around 29,380 people (10,380 women and 19,000 men) are expected to pass away due to these diseases. Liver cancer rates have greatly risen, more than three times since 1980, and the number of deaths has also grown, more than doubling during this period. This highlights the need for continuous research, prevention efforts, and better treatment options to fight such forms of cancer and reduce their impact on people's lives.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, liver cancer is a significant global health concern, ranking as the 6th most prevalent cancer form worldwide. Notably, it is the 5th most common cancer in men and the 9th most common in women, impacting both genders but with a slightly higher occurrence in males. In 2020 alone, more than 900,000 new cases of liver cancer were reported across the globe, indicating the substantial burden it places on healthcare systems and individuals alike.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), liver cancer is a major global health concern, estimated to affect over one million people by 2025. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent type of liver cancer, accounting for around 90% of the cases. The primary risk factors for developing HCC are infections caused by hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. In Western countries, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis linked to metabolic syndrome or diabetes mellitus is becoming a more prevalent risk factor.
The targeted therapy segment held the largest market revenue share of 54.5% in 2022. The dominant share of this drug class is owing to factors such as targeted therapies being known to be more effective than traditional chemotherapy in treating liver cancer. In some cases, targeted therapies have been shown to prolong survival in patients with this illness.
According to the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), genome-targeted therapy, which involves using treatments tailored to an individual's genetic makeup, has shown promising advancements in recent years. In 2006, the estimated response rate to this type of therapy was 2.73%, indicating that only a small portion of patients experienced positive outcomes. However, by the end of 2018, the response rate had more than doubled to 5.48%, signifying a notable improvement in treatment effectiveness.
Furthermore, the progress in genome-targeted therapy continued in the following years, and by 2020, the estimated response rate further increased to 7.04%. This indicates that a higher percentage of patients treated with personalized genomic interventions experienced positive outcomes, offering renewed hope for more effective and precise treatments.
Based on drug class, the liver cancer drugs market is segmented into targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. The immunotherapy segment is expected to expand at the highest CAGR of 17.3% over the forecast period. The segment is expected to progress rapidly due to factors such as the increasing prevalence of liver cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2023, it is estimated that the disease will result in 29,380 deaths in the U.S., comprising 19,000 men and 10,380 women.
Among men, liver cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths, and for women, it is the seventh most common cause. Although the death rate from liver cancer more than doubled between 1980 and 2016, it stabilized between 2016 and 2020 for both men and women. These figures underscore the ongoing challenge posed by liver cancer in public health and emphasize the continued need for research, prevention strategies, and advancements in treatments to mitigate its impact on individuals and communities.
North America was the largest market for liver cancer drugs with a revenue share of 43.20% in 2022. The region is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period due to factors such as increasing awareness regarding liver cancer, availability of reimbursement for liver cancer drugs, and strong research and development activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer is a condition characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells within the body. When this abnormal cell growth occurs in the liver, it is referred to as liver cancer.
Annually, approximately 11,000 women and 25,000 men are diagnosed with liver cancer in the U.S., with around 19,000 men and 9,000 women losing their lives to this disease. Over the years, the incidence rate of liver cancer in the U.S. experienced an upward trend but has recently started to decline. Despite this decline, liver cancer remains a significant health concern, and its impact on affected individuals and their families is substantial.
In December 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced a proposed rule for the Medicare Program in 2024 to enhance health equity and streamline utilization management in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is in full support of this rule, especially the provisions that require MA plans to follow National Coverage Determinations (NCD), Local Coverage Determinations (LCD), and traditional Medicare regulations, aligning with ASTRO's advocacy efforts. The CMS taking steps to reform MA would result in improved patient care and greater access to essential healthcare services.
The aging population of North America is a significant factor in market growth. As per the Rural Health Information Hub, the aging population in the U.S. is a major area of concern. Currently, more than 46 million adults aged 65 and older reside in the country, and this figure is predicted to nearly double by 2050, reaching around 90 million. The most significant growth is expected between 2020 and 2030, contributing to an increase of around 18 million older adults during that time frame. By 2030, it is projected that 1 in every 5 Americans will be 65 years old or older, emphasizing the importance of addressing this demographic's unique needs and challenges.
Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing regional market, witnessing a lucrative CAGR of 17.6% during the forecast period. This is owing to the high prevalence of liver cancer in the region. As per the NCBI, in Asia, liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer form and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. In 2020, approximately 609,596 new liver cancer cases were reported in Asia, accounting for around 72.5% of the global incidence, with an Age-Standardized Rate (ASR) of 11.6 per 100,000.
Regarding mortality, there were about 566,269 liver cancer-related deaths in Asia in 2020, representing 72.4% of the total liver cancer deaths worldwide. According to a report by Cancer Australia, liver cancer ranked as the seventh most common cause of cancer-related death in the year 2020. It is projected to maintain its position as the seventh most common cause in 2022. In 2020, a total of 2,192 deaths were attributed to liver cancer in Australia, with 1,468 males and 724 females.
Greater opportunities in both developed and developing countries encourage companies to undertake various strategic initiatives, such as mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations for developing innovative solutions and expanding operations to increase their global presence.
For instance, in 2022, AstraZeneca's Imjudo (tremelimumab) and Imfinzi (durvalumab) received FDA approval to treat adults with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer. The treatment is called the STRIDE regimen, which involves taking a single dose of Imjudo 300mg, followed by Imfinzi 1500mg, and then getting further doses of Imfinzi every four weeks. These drugs work together to help fight cancer and are given to patients who cannot have surgery to remove the tumor. Following are some of the major participants in the global liver cancer drug market:
Bayer AG
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Eisai Co., Ltd.
Exelixis, Inc.
Merck KGaA
Report Attribute |
Details |
Market size value in 2023 |
USD 2.76 billion |
Revenue forecast in 2030 |
USD 7.83 billion |
Growth rate |
CAGR of 15.3% from 2023 to 2030 |
Base year for estimation |
2022 |
Historical data |
2018 - 2021 |
Forecast period |
2023 - 2030 |
Report updated |
October 2023 |
Quantitative units |
Revenue in USD million/billion, and CAGR from 2023 to 2030 |
Report coverage |
Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
Segments covered |
Drug class, region |
Regional scope |
North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA |
Country scope |
U.S.; Canada; UK; Germany; France; Italy; Spain; Denmark; Sweden; Norway; China; Japan; India; Australia; South Korea; Thailand; Brazil; Mexico; Argentina; Saudi Arabia; South Africa; UAE; Kuwait |
Key companies profiled |
Bayer AG; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Eisai Co., Ltd.; Exelixis, Inc.; Merck KGaA |
Customization scope |
Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analyst’s working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope |
Pricing and purchase options |
Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options |
This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global liver cancer drug market report on the basis of drug class, and region:
Drug Class Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Targeted Therapy
Immunotherapy
Chemotherapy
Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
North America
U.S.
Canada
Europe
UK
Germany
France
Italy
Spain
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
Australia
Thailand
South Korea
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Argentina
Middle East and Africa
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Kuwait
b. The global liver cancer drug market size was estimated at USD 2.44 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 2.76 billion in 2023.
b. The global liver cancer drug market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.3% from 2023 to 2030 to reach USD 7.83 billion by 2030
b. North America dominated the liver cancer drug market with a share of 43.2% in 2022. This is attributable to rising healthcare awareness coupled with cloud-based technologies acceptance and constant research and development initiatives.
b. Some key players operating in the liver cancer drug market include Teladoc; Doctor on Demand; iCliniq; IBM; Intel Corporation; Philips Healthcare; McKesson Corporation; AMD Telemedicine; GE Healthcare; CardioNet Inc.; 3m Health Information Systems; Medic4all; CirrusMD Inc.; Cisco; and American Telecare Inc.
b. Key factors that are driving the market growth include increasing medicare reimbursement for telehealth services, reducing emergency room visits and hospitalization rate, and technological innovation in communication technology across the world.
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