The antibody discovery market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.8 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 6.3 Bn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% from 2024 to 2031. Advances in antibody engineering technologies like phage display have increased the demand for antibody discovery services. The market is driven by the rising prevalence of chronic and infectious diseases and the growth of therapeutic antibodies to treat such disorders.

The antibody discovery market is expected to witness significant growth due to increasing R&D spending by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Further, the rise in research activities pertaining to antibody-based therapeutics and diagnostics will support the growth of this market. Additionally, the growing focus on development of next-generation antibody therapeutics is anticipated to provide lucrative opportunities for vendors in the coming years.

Market Driver - Increasing demand for targeted therapies

The need for more precise and effective treatments has been driving significant growth in the antibody discovery market. Conventional therapies such as chemotherapy are not able to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy cells, often resulting in harmful side effects. However, with targeted cancer therapies, specifically monoclonal antibodies, doctors are now able to deliver treatments that precisely attack cancer molecules without affecting healthy cells. As the understanding of the molecular basis of diseases improves, targeted therapies are being developed for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardio-metabolic disorders, infectious diseases and more.

Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized the way we treat cancer. These targeted biological drugs arm the body's immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells without collateral damage to normal cells. With fewer side effects than chemotherapy or radiation, monoclonal antibody therapies offer patients an improved quality of life. As the pipeline of antibody drugs targeting different cancer pathways expands, their use in mainstream oncology is increasing by the day. Most pharmaceutical companies now focus on developing antibody-based drugs either alone or in combination with other therapies. The success of blockbuster antibody drugs such as Avastin, Rituxan and Herceptin in generating multi-billion dollar revenues has further spurred investment in this area.

Market Driver - Advancements in biotechnology and antibody discovery methods

Rapid technological advancement is another key factor propelling growth in the antibody discovery market. The application of powerful techniques such as phage display, yeast display, and ribosomal display has enabled researchers to identify antibodies that can specifically bind to almost any antigen or molecular target. High-throughput screening now allows millions of antibody fragments to be screened simultaneously, significantly enhancing the chances of discovering rare antibody sequences with desirable pharmacological properties.

Automated robotics is being utilized for precise liquid handling during processes such as plasmid DNA purification, expression vector construction, and transfection of cells enabling screening of antibody libraries at an unprecedented scale. Advanced laboratory information management systems seamlessly integrate data from various antibody selection and screening experiments, facilitating analysis and selection of lead candidates. Computational tools are also being leveraged to design in vitro evolution experiments and selection strategies for optimizing antibody properties in silico, reducing time and costs.

New technologies are making it possible to humanize monoclonal antibodies by grafting mouse complementary determining regions onto human antibody frameworks. This enhances their safety, immunogenicity and pharmacokinetic profiles. With the ability to derive fully human antibodies directly from human donors, the immunogenicity concerns of previous generation antibodies are also being addressed. Continued advances in recombinant antibody engineering technologies and high-throughput screening methods will only serve to further fuel the antibody discovery market in the coming years.

Market Challenge - High costs associated with antibody discovery

One of the major challenges faced by players in the antibody discovery market is the high costs associated with research and development of novel antibodies. Developing an innovative therapeutic antibody from scratch requires massive investments of both time and capital. It can take up to 5-7 years and over $1 billion to develop a new monoclonal antibody and take it through clinical trials to approval. The complex process involves developing high-throughput screening methods, producing and validating large antibody libraries, conducting thorough testing and characterization of candidate antibodies, undertaking rigorous preclinical and clinical safety and efficacy testing, and navigating regulatory requirements. Additionally, the success rate of an antibody candidate making it from discovery to approval is very low, estimated to be less than 10%. This means much of the invested capital does not generate any returns. The high attrition rates and lengthy development cycles significantly drive up the per-antibody development costs. Such high costs present a major hindrance for players, especially small biotech companies, in advancing more antibody therapies through the pipeline. Ways to reduce development costs and improve success rates remain a key challenge that needs to be addressed to sustain growth in the market.

Market Opportunity - Growing trend for outsourcing antibody discovery to CROs

One major opportunity in the antibody discovery market is the growing trend among pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to outsource their antibody research and development activities to contract research organizations (CROs). The high costs and infrastructure requirements associated with in-house antibody development have encouraged many players to partner with or transfer programs to well-equipped CROs. CROs offer divers expertise across antibody engineering, screening and selection technologies, large antibody libraries, and project management capabilities to aid outsourcing companies in accelerating discovery timelines and reducing costs. This trend allows biopharma companies, especially small players, to focus their resources on other drug development activities while leveraging the specialized technical expertise of CROs. It also helps CROs to expand their service portfolios and gain more projects. The outsourcing market is expected to continue growing owing to increasing complexity of antibody therapies and preference of outsourcing companies to share risks and resources. This presents a major commercial opportunity for large CROs to grow their antibody discovery revenues.

One of the most effective strategies adopted by companies has been forming strategic partnerships and collaborations. For example, in 2021, Sino Biological partnered with GenScript to expand its antibody discovery capabilities using GenScript's transgenic animal platforms. This allows both companies to leverage each other's strengths and accelerate antibody discovery programs.

M&A activity has also been prominent as companies look to enhance their capabilities and portfolio. In 2020, Labcorp acquired Personal Genome Diagnostics, a pioneer in cancer genome testing and antibody discovery. This strengthened Labcorp's oncology diagnostics business. Similarly, in 2018, Danaher acquired GE Healthcare's bioprocess business including its antibody services. Such deals help companies gain access to new technologies and customers.

Leading players are investing heavily in R&D to develop novel antibody discovery platforms using cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, single-cell profiling etc. For instance, Anthropic recently raised $135 million to advance their AI technology for antibody development. Their system has shown promise in speeding up the discovery and engineering of novel antibodies.

Companies with a robust patent portfolio have competitive advantage. For example, Adimab outlicenses their discovery platform which is protected by over 300 patents/applications globally. Their IP reflects continued innovations in library designs and screening methods, helping maintain leadership in the space.

Providing a seamless, high-quality customer experience from target identification to lead development has helped companies like GenScript and Creative Biolabs build loyalty in a highly competitive market. Streamlined processes and project management tools ensure timelines are met as customers expect.

Insights, By Type of Service Offered: Antigen designing: fueling innovation in therapeutic development

In terms of type of service offered, antigen designing sub-segment contributes the highest share of 39.8% in the antibody discovery market owing to its critical role in identifying novel targets for therapeutic development. The specific molecular identity of the antigen dictates whether an antibody can be generated, making antigen design a fundamental first step. As researchers seek to develop treatments against more elusive targets like intracellular and allosteric proteins, the demand for innovative antigen design techniques is growing.

Antigen designers employ the latest computer modeling and protein engineering tools to overcome challenging target properties that may traditionally hamper antibody production. For example, antigens can now be altered to increase stability and immunogenicity without disrupting native structure and function. Inducing minor structural changes can enable binding of antibodies that were previously unattainable. These enhancements expand the universe of "druggable" antigens and help move the most cutting-edge therapeutic programs forward.

The rising complexity of disease biology and greater understanding of pathogenesis at the molecular level are also driving needs for more sophisticated antigens. Developing antigens that mimic disease states or selectively target specific pathogen strains requires highly specialized design skills. Meeting these specific research objectives fuels continued demand for enhanced antigen design support. Additionally, demands to improve assay performance, such as increasing sensitivity and multiplexing abilities, necessitates antigen optimization.

Insights, By Antibody Discovery Method: Hybridoma-based techniques: foundation of established antibody discovery processes

In terms of antibody discovery method, hybridoma-based sub-segment contribute the highest market share of 29.6% due to their indispensable role in historically groundbreaking antibody discoveries. Since their inception in 1975, hybridomas have facilitated the generation of innumerable clinically useful antibodies, such as therapeutic monoclonal antibodies which now represent the largest class of biologics on the market. As a result, hybridoma protocols are deeply entrenched in standard operating procedures across industry and academia.

While other display methods like phage and yeast display offer valuable screening advantages, hybridomas remain the preeminent choice when specific antibodies against crucial antigenic targets are required, such as those involved in critical disease pathways. Their capacity to immortalize individual antibody-secreting B cells enables the reproducible production of full-length therapeutic-grade antibodies with native immunoglobulin structure. No other platform to date fully replicates hybridoma generation of intact monoclonal antibodies.

Even as newer platforms challenge hybridomas' dominance, their essential abilities will sustain important roles in antibody discovery for the foreseeable future. Many complex disease programs still rely on hybridomas to secure the most potent and precise research and clinical tools. Their compatibility with standard monoclonal antibody workflows facilitates seamless integration into existing development pipelines. As long as whole antibody therapeutics remain clinically meaningful, hybridoma-based methods will retain a solid hold on the discovery market. Continuous improvements, like expanding cell fusion efficiency and growing culture stability, will support hybridomas' lasting utility.

The antibody discovery market is poised for significant growth, driven by increasing reliance on CROs for outsourcing, advancements in antibody engineering, and the rising demand for targeted therapies. The integration of innovative technologies, such as transgenic animals and single-cell screening, is expected to enhance the efficiency and success rate of antibody discovery processes.

The major players operating in the antibody discovery market include WuXi Biologics, GenScript, Genmab, Harbour BioMed, ImmunoPrecise, Ablexis, Antibody Solutions, ChemPartner, Creative Biolabs, Mabsilico, Myrio Therapeutics, Nona Biosciences, Rockland Immunochemicals and Synbio Technologies.

• In June 2023, AbTherx launched the transgenic mouse-based antibody discovery platform, Atlas™ Mice. This platform is designed to enhance the discovery of novel antibodies, supporting the development of new therapeutic options.
• In June 2023, Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals introduced its Sanyou Super Trillion Common Light Chain Antibody Discovery Platform, enabling the discovery of bispecific antibody formats, furthering innovation in therapeutic antibody development.
• In March 2023, Twist Bioscience launched its antibody discovery services under Twist Biopharma Solutions, following the acquisition of Abveris. This acquisition enhances Twist’s capabilities in single-cell screening and hybridoma approaches.

• By Type of Service Offered
  • Antigen Designing
  • Hit Generation
  • Lead Selection
  • Lead Optimization
  • Lead Characterization
• By Antibody Discovery Method
  • Hybridoma Based
  • Library Based
  • Single Cell Based
  • Transgenic Animal Based