Pharmaceutical Filtration Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Membrane Filters, Pre-filters & Depth Media, Cartridges & Capsules), By System, By Type, By Technique, By Application, By Scale Of Operation, And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025

Report Overview

The global pharmaceutical filtration market size was estimated at USD 13.7 billion in 2016 and is expected to witness lucrative growth during the forecast period. Increasing emphasis on biologics and their development for the treatment of various diseases is a major attribute expected to trigger growth.

U.S. pharmaceutical filtration market, by product, 2014 - 2025 (USD million)

The increase in the number of chronic diseases globally is one of the prime reasons for the growth of the pharmaceutical industry. There is a high demand for advanced therapeutic drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, COPD, and arthritis. Moreover, the production of novel biologics requires utmost sterility and zero risks of contamination which further necessitates the application of advanced filtration products for the manufacturing of drugs and biologics. 

Increasing investment in research and development of biologics is another prime factor attributing to the growth. The rapid adoption of innovative treatment therapies such as therapeutic proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines has resulted in an increased number of various biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies that utilize filtration systems including membranes, cartridges, capsules, and other products. In addition, a large number of companies are investing heavily in manufacturing facilities worldwide. For instance, in October 2016, AbbVie Inc. invested around USD 320 million to construct a new facility in Singapore for small-molecule and biologic APIs production. Thus, the growth in the biopharmaceutical companies is projected to boost the demand for advanced products.

The technological progression by pharmaceutical filtration manufacturers has also resulted in the increasing adoption of these systems in the industry. The majority of the market players are constantly engaged in R&D to improve existing product portfolios and introduce novel technologies to aid in the sterilization of the media and the constituents. For instance, AstraZeneca, a leading healthcare company invested around USD 5,890 million in R&D in 2016.

Product Insights

In the product segment, membrane filters held the largest market share in 2016, owing to versatile usage in a wide range of applications such as ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, microfiltration, and cross-flow filtration. Since these membrane filters are used in a large number of applications they are also expected to substantially continue to gain market share during the forecast period.

The membrane filters segment is projected to witness growth at the fastest CAGR during the study period because of the rapid development of drugs and biologics companies. These companies are undergoing collaborations and partnerships to gain maximum share in the market. For instance, in June 2016, Novartis and Xencor Inc. entered into a strategic collaboration where Novartis received rights to develop T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies intended for acute myeloid leukemia and B-cell malignancies treatment.

The membrane filters are widely used in the development and manufacturing processes including sterile filtration and end-stage processes. Thus, with the increase in the incidence of viral and chronic diseases such as anthrax, measles, influenza, tuberculosis, and chickenpox, the demand for advanced drugs and vaccines is expected to accelerate rapidly in the near future. According to CDC, around 5 to 20 percent of the population in the U.S. gets infected with the flu annually.

The single-use systems segment is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. These systems provide several advantages including reduced risk of contamination, minimizes operation time, and provides ease of convenience. Thus, the demand for single-use systems is expected to rise in the near future. They are also compact in nature and take up less amount of space in factory settings. For instance, Allegro MVP Single-Use System developed by Pall Corporation can be used across various applications like sterile filtration, bioburden testing, depth filtration, virus inactivation, media, and buffer preparation.

Technique Insights

The microfiltration technique was the highest revenue-generating segment in the year 2016. Product advancement is one of the key driving factors for the segment. For instance, in 2016, Merck KGaA launched a novel Viresolve Pro Shield H that is intended especially for the elimination of parvoviruses from therapeutic protein feed streams. This technique is extensively used by manufacturers for the separation of large particles including proteins and yeast from a liquid feed stream.

The ultrafiltration segment is estimated to grow at lucrative growth due to varied applications of this technique in protein purification, vaccines, and antibody processes. The manufacturers are highly focused on delivering the exact needs of filtration processes in the healthcare industry. For instance, in January 2013, Merck Millipore launched a new Mobius FlexReady Solution, a fully-automated system that is ready to set up, which makes it ideal for CMOs and pilot plants that have rapidly changing demands.

The nanofiltration technique segment is projected to showcase a significant growth rate during the forecast period owing to innovations in nanofiber technology. The nanofibers are the innovative and next generation of nonwoven filter media, which deliver several unique properties such as good interconnectivity of pores along with the high potential to incorporate on a nanoscale.

Crossflow filtration is another technique that is gaining significant share owing to its increasing usage and added advantages such as filter cake flush away ability, long lifespan, and its deployment for the continuous separation process. In September 2016, Sartorius Stedim Biotech launched a novel ultrafilter Sartocon Slice 50, a new crossflow filter system, which is designed for various applications in the biotech industry including small-volume process development and membrane screening.

Application Insights

Final product processing held the largest share in the year 2016 owing to its large application in active pharmaceutical ingredient processing, protein purification, vaccine processing, antibody processing, and viral clearance. The final product processing segment is also projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The advancement in technology such as cross-flow filtration, nanofiber, and ultrafiltration technology boosts the adoption of innovative filters for final product processing, which is estimated to drive growth. In addition, the rising adoption of biologics and other therapeutic proteins has led to high usage of protein purification processes in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, which propels market growth.  

North America pharmaceutical filtration market share, by application, 2016

Cell separation is vital in various applications such as in the production of a monoclonal antibody, vaccine, and therapeutic protein to name a few. Microfiltration and depth filtration is used frequently for cell separation applications. The U.S., Germany, U.K., Japan, India, and China are projected to account for the large application of these products. The presence of leading healthcare companies, availability of advanced products along with a well-developed healthcare infrastructure in these regions contributes to market growth.

The air filtration market is anticipated to witness a significant growth rate during the study period. It is a vital process in all pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. The FDA has issued regulations and standards with respect to the manufacturing of drugs and biologics. According to 21 CFR 211.46(c) regulation, air filtration systems shall be used in production areas to control the recirculation of dust from manufacturing. Various advanced products such as cartridges and capsules are being used by manufacturers for air purification. For instance, the Steridyne PVDF Membrane filter provides broad chemical compatibility, which is ideal for filtration of aggressive process gases such as fermentation air, sterile tank venting, and compressed air & gases.

Scale of Operation Insights

The pharmaceutical filtration processes are divided on the basis of the scale of operations into manufacturing scale, pilot scale, and R&D scale. The manufacturing scale of operations held the largest market share owing to the increase in the production of biopharmaceuticals, generic drugs, and vaccines which are being used for the treatment of various diseases.

The manufacturing scale of operations is expected to continue to flourish during the forecast period as well on the account of increased demand for novel biologics and therapeutic proteins for the treatment of chronic diseases. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer, arthritis, and diabetes is expected to boost the segment's growth. According to the data provided by CDC, around 54 million individuals in the U.S. are suffering from arthritis. Thus, there is a high demand for efficient and productive downstream processing products, which is projected to boost growth.

Dominant pharmaceutical companies are largely investing in the production of biologics and therapeutic proteins generating an added demand for filtration products and accessories. Developing healthcare infrastructure in emerging countries like Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, China, and India along with rising demand for innovative therapeutics have spurred the demand for these products. The focus on the development of novel drugs and biological products by manufacturers along with the availability of advanced technologies are expected to drive the application of filtration in the pharmaceutical manufacturing procedure.

The research and development scale segment is estimated to witness significant CAGR over the forecast period due to the rising investment in R&D for new technology and product development. For instance, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)member companies have invested around USD 58.8 billion in 2015 for R&D.

Regional Insights

The North American region contributed the largest share by virtue of large dominant pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies including Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pfizer Inc., Merck KGaA, and Amgen Inc. in this region. Well-developed healthcare infrastructure and accessibility to advanced products in this region have fueled the growth of the regional market.

The European region is another dominant region in the market as a result of advanced healthcare infrastructure and the availability of technologically advanced products in the region. Increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals is also expected to drive growth in this region. European-based leading market players like Merck KGaA and Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A. have a wide distribution network in the region. This enables the European region to capture a considerable share owing to the development of new systems and devices.

The Asia Pacific pharmaceutical filtration market is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to untapped market potential in the region. The proliferation of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies in this region has resulted in immense growth. Heavy investments by CMOs (Contract Manufacturing Organizations) and CROs (Contract Research Organizations) for the production of drugs and biologics as well as less stringent government regulations act in the favor of these companies fueling the growth of the market. Developing healthcare infrastructure and the availability of large genome pools are major attributes causing the growth of the market.

Pharmaceutical Filtration Market Share Insights

The market is highly fragmented with the presence of various small, large, and medium-sized players. The market is diversified with the presence of leading companies including Eaton Corporation Plc; Merck KGaA; Amazon Filters Ltd.; GE Healthcare; Parker Hannifin Corporation; 3M; Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A.; Graver Technologies, LLC; and Danaher Corporation, Inc. that share market with several small players.

The dominant players provide an extensive product range and are constantly engaged in the expansion of their existing portfolios. The majority of these players have an intensified distribution network across a wide geographical region. The strong distribution channels, large product portfolio, and new product launches have led to intense competition among vendors. This has resulted in high pressure on pricing strategies that are expected to affect the profit margin of the vendors. 

The leading players are involved in collaborations, new product development, mergers & acquisitions, and regional expansions to gain a larger share in the industry. Mergers & acquisitions help the companies to increase their existing product portfolio and geographical grasp. For instance, in August 2015, Danaher Corporation completed the acquisition of Pall Corporation and entered the filtration, separation, and purification solutions sector.  

Pharmaceutical Filtration Market Report Scope

Segments covered in the report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global pharmaceutical filtration market on the basis of product, technique, application, the scale of operation, system, type and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014- 2025)

  • Membrane filters

    • MCE membrane filters

    • Coated cellulose acetate membrane filters

    • PTFE membrane filters

    • Nylon membrane filters

    • PVDF membrane filters

    • Other membrane filters

  • Prefilters & depth media

    • Glass fiber filters

    • PTFE fiber filters

  • Single-use systems

  • Cartridges & capsules 

  • Filter holders 

  • Filtration accessories 

  • Others

• System Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Single Use

  • Reusable

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Sterile

  • Non Sterile

• Technique Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Microfiltration

  • Ultrafiltration

  • Crossflow filtration 

  • Nanofiltration

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Final product processing

    • Active pharmaceutical ingredient filtration

    • Sterile filtration

    • Protein purification

    • Vaccines and antibody processing

    • Formulation and filling solutions

    • Viral clearance

  • Raw material filtration

    • Media buffer

    • Pre-filtration

    • Bioburden testing

  • Cell separation

  • Water purification

  • Air purification

• Scale of Operation Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • Manufacturing scale

  • Pilot-scale

  • Research & development scale

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • UK

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • MEA

    • South Africa

    • UAE

    • Saudi Arabia