Research Antibodies Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Primary, Secondary), By Type, By Technology, By Source, By Application, By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global research antibodies market size was valued at USD 1.41 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.93% from 2022 to 2030. B cells produce the proteins known as antibodies, which are a component of the immune system in the human body. These molecules are ideal probes for studying cells since they can attach themselves to particular molecules and can be employed to separate or identify important chemicals found in cells. These attributes of antibodies are anticipated to drive their adoption in various research applications in the near future. The COVID-19 outbreak has created lucrative opportunities in the market. Several leading pharmaceutical companies are significantly investing in R&D to create brand-new vaccinations, treatments, and testing tools for this pandemic.

The need for research antibodies has greatly increased as a result of these intense R&D operations for the development of novel vaccination and therapy techniques. Additionally, a number of public and commercial entities are making significant efforts to fund the development of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. For instance, in April 2020, Emergent BioSolutions, a biopharmaceutical company, received USD 14.5 million from the federal government to work on an antibody therapy study for COVID-19.

In addition, antibodies are currently one of the most crucial tools for research projects exploring the functions of various proteins in cells. The prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions including Huntington's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease is fueling research prospects aimed at a better understanding of such diseases. Furthermore, the growth of the geriatric population and a dearth of remedies for chronic diseases have contributed to a sharp increase in the demand for research antibodies to create customized medicines, cutting-edge pharmaceuticals, and novel and effective treatments.

One of the key reasons fueling the growth of the market is the increase in the demand for high-quality antibodies for reproducible research. The market is also witnessing growth due to the expanding landscape of proteomics and genomics research and increased research and development efforts in the life sciences domain. Furthermore, the market is influenced by the rise of industry-academia partnerships and the expanding stem cell research and neurobiology research fields to fulfill unmet medical needs across the globe.

In addition, an increase in funding for research initiatives from for-profit and nonprofit groups and a rising focus on biomarker development and outsourcing interests are driving the market. Moreover, the growing demand for protein therapies and personalized medicines are opening new market opportunities and presenting lucrative growth prospects for the market players over the forecast period. For instance, in 2021, Thermo Fisher acquired PPD in order to extend its value proposition for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients with the addition of PPD's top clinical research services. Such endeavors by biotechnology corporations are anticipated to boost market growth.

Product Insights

The primary antibodies segment captured the largest revenue share of over 75.0% in 2021 and is also projected to grow at the fastest rate throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to the  increasing availability of primary antibodies using rabbits, mice, goats, and other species as hosts and the wide range of utility offered by such antibodies for applications in the R&D space. Also, owing to the usage of primary antibodies for frequently performed laboratory procedures, such as staining and imaging, the segment is predicted to grow at an exponential rate.

The secondary antibodies segment is expected to grow at a constant rate as these antibodies are more convenient and cost-effective to develop. Demand for secondary research antibodies is also anticipated to increase due to the availability of ready-to-use conjugated antibodies that can improve product development activities by assisting in the identification, grouping, and purification of targeted antigens. For instance, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. provides fluorescent dye-conjugated secondary antibodies that make it easier to identify proteins in a variety of applications, including immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and fluorescent cell imaging.

Type Insights

The monoclonal antibodies segment accounted for a dominant share of over 60.0% in 2021 due to a sharp increase in the number of cancer research projects that demand high specificity antibodies. As monoclonal antibodies can efficiently adhere to or block antigens on cancer cells, these are employed in the identification and development of new medicines for various cancer types. This factor is expected to expand the growth prospects for the segment in the near future.

Polyclonal antibodies are projected to grow over the forecast period as these antibody structures are essential for the research aspects focusing on the purification of antigens and examination of histopathological tissue. Furthermore, polyclonal antibodies provide benefits like stability, practical storage methods, strong affinity, and excellent compatibility for ELISA and western blotting technologies, thereby propelling market growth.

Technology Insights

The western blotting segment accounted for a dominant share of over 25.0% in 2021 due to the widespread availability and adoption of the technique. In addition, due to the increased accuracy that the western blotting technique offers, it is typically chosen over alternative technologies for applications involving the detection of important protein entities. These attributes are expected to positively affect the segment growth.

Immunohistochemistry accounted for the second-largest share in 2021. The segment is anticipated to expand steadily due to its significant applications in the detection of enzymes, antigens, tumor suppressor genes, and tumor cell growth for cell-based research. Additionally, rising R&D spending and a high level of scientific awareness regarding the technique have led to increasing growth prospects for immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, benefits provided by the technique such as high sensitivity and simplicity of use are some of the factors anticipated to drive the market.

Source Insights

In 2021, the rabbit segment held the largest share of over 45.0%. Rabbits are extensively used for antibody production owing to several advantages such as higher affinity antibodies provided by rabbits as compared to those obtained from other animal hosts. Furthermore, the higher specificity provided by these antibodies makes them ideal for the detection of small molecules, hormones, toxins, and other biologically important substances.

The mouse segment is anticipated to witness considerable growth over the forecast period. Mice have been predominantly used in the production of antibodies due to their high reproduction rate and smaller size. Furthermore, the main factor influencing their widespread use is the structural similarity between mouse and human antibodies, which can significantly drive their adoption for R&D applications.

Application Insights

The oncology segment accounted for the largest share of over 30.0% in 2021 owing to a rise in the prevalence of cancer in key geographies. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2021, over 1.9 million new cancer cases were recorded in the U.S. Additionally, over 608,570 cancer deaths were also recorded in the same year in the U.S. As a result, more research antibodies will likely be used for designing and evaluating of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the mitigation of cancer.

The stem cells segment is expected to witness significant growth owing to an increase in the number of stem cell research activities globally. The growth is also attributed to an increase in the adoption of stem cells for the treatment of a wide range of chronic ailments such as diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and kidney and lung diseases. Furthermore, antibodies are used for stem cell research areas that include disease modeling, developmental biology, drug screening, reprogramming techniques development, and cell therapy that can positively affect market growth.

End-use Insights

The academic and research institutions segment captured the largest revenue share of over 60.0% in 2021 and is projected to grow at the fastest rate throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to the increase in scientific initiatives by such centers for the development of novel therapies and tests for chronic diseases. For instance, in January 2021, researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Health) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) discovered two novel antibodies CoV2-06 and CoV2-14 for a potential novel antibody therapy for COVID-19 infection. Such initiatives can positively affect segment growth in the near future.

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are expected to grow at a significant rate over the forecast period due to the increase in R&D activities in the life sciences domain. Furthermore, the increasing importance of antibodies for the development of novel biologic products and rising demand for quality control applications for various techniques, such as PCR and electrophoresis, are likely to boost segment growth.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the market in 2021 with a revenue share of over 35.0%. Growing focus on biomedical, stem cells and cancer research is a major contributor to the industry's growth. The regional growth is also favored by the presence of key players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. and PerkinElmer, Inc. There is also an increasing number of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical firms in the region that are focusing on life sciences innovations, which is expected to fuel the industry expansion.

The market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period as a result of an increase in collaborative activities carried out by academic institutions. For instance, in June 2019, scientists from Tsinghua University, China Medical University, and the Vaccine Research Center at the NIH started a research study on the identification and characterization of HIV-1 strains and their robust and widespread resistance to a variety of neutralizing antibodies. The National Natural Science Foundation Award, China's Ministry of Science and Technology, and Gates Foundation Grand Challenges China all supported this project. As a result, such government-funded scientific activities in the region are anticipated to drive the market.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key players in this market are implementing various strategic initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, research collaborations, and geographical expansion to expand their market presence. For instance, in February 2022, Abcam and Twist Bioscience Corporation entered into a licensing deal to use the Twist VHH phage library for antibody development, discovery, and commercialization for diagnostic and research applications. Some prominent players in the global research antibodies market include:

• Abcam Plc.

• Merck KGaA

• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

• Cell Signalling Technology, Inc.

• Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc.

• PerkinElmer, Inc.

• Becton, Dickinson and Company

• Bio-Techne Corporation

• Proteintech Group, Inc.

• Jackson ImmunoResearch Inc. 

Research Antibodies Market Report Scope 

Global Research Antibodies Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this report, Grand View Research has segmented the global research antibodies market report on the basis of product, type, technology, source, application, end-use, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Primary

  • Secondary

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Monoclonal Antibodies

  • Polyclonal Antibodies

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Immunohistochemistry

  • Immunofluorescence

  • Western Blotting

  • Flow Cytometry

  • Immunoprecipitation

  • ELISA

  • Other Technologies

• Source Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Mouse

  • Rabbit

  • Goat

  • Other Sources

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Infectious Diseases

  • Immunology

  • Oncology

  • Stem Cells

  • Neurobiology

  • Other Applications

• End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Academic & Research Institutes

  • Contract Research Organizations

  • Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • Spain

    • France

    • Italy

    • Russia

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

    • Singapore

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE