Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market Size (2024 to 2029)

The global immune checkpoint inhibitors market size is valued at USD 52.45 Billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach USD 136.79 Billion by 2029 with a CAGR of 15.8% during the forecast period.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses components developed by the body or in the laboratory that boost the immune system and help the body locate and kill the cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that is used for treating various cancers like melanoma, skin cancer, and lung cancer. These drugs block the protein checkpoints, which are stopping the immune system from attacking the cancer cells. Drugs that block the checkpoint proteins are said to be checkpoint inhibitors. These block the proteins in cancer cells, and then T cells locate and attack the cancer cells. These drugs are prescribed depending on the type and stage of cancer the patient is experiencing. 

Market Drivers:

The rising prevalence of cancer across the world and increasing investments in cancer research are propelling the market growth. According to WHO, cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 10 million deaths in 2020, where lung cancer holds 2.21 million cases. The market players are collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to focus more on cancer therapies and diagnostic methods, of which checkpoint inhibitors are part. Various FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors are in the market for treating various types of cancer, which include melanoma, lung, kidney, hepatocellular, and other conditions. These checkpoint inhibitors can be used alone or with other cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy for effective therapeutical responses against the cancer.

Moreover, these drugs show low adverse effects compared to other chemotherapy drugs as these drugs target only specific immune systems. All these factors enhance the adoption of checkpoint inhibitors over chemotherapy drugs, boosting market growth. Researchers are working hard to introduce novel immune checkpoint inhibitors with minimal side effects for effective cancer therapy, which will fuel the market expansion. 

The growing market for immunotherapy is enhancing the market value of checkpoint inhibitors. The increasing successful outcomes from cancer research and improving success rate influence the market players and healthcare system to invest in R&D activities to get a better version of the existing therapeutic methods. The rising government initiatives by collaborating with public organizations for developing cures for cancer and educating people regarding cancer and the treatment methods where early detection helps eradicate cancer in the person. All these initiatives by the organizations are positively impacting the immunotherapies as these have minimal adverse effects, which enhances the adoption of checkpoint inhibitors by raising market revenue.

The research on immune checkpoint inhibitors is expected to continue by adapting advancements, leading to the development of effective and safer immunotherapies. Few researchers focus on discovering new inhibitors, combining therapy, and exploring various other cancers. These research initiatives are estimated to provide lucrative growth opportunities for the checkpoint inhibitors market. The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors is leading to the development of personalized medicine approaches where the patients receive adequate treatment. These developments in healthcare are expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period.

Market Restraints:

The primary restraining factor for the market expansion is the high cost of immuno-oncology therapies, which are difficult to afford for populations in low- and medium-income countries and are expected to hamper market growth. The chance of higher-risk complications with the expensive oncology treatment hinders market growth. These drugs show side effects as they boost all the immune cells, not only the targeted cells, where the overactive T cells cause possible side effects. The side effects include fatigue, skin rashes, loss of appetite, and dry cough, which are commonly observed in most patients. In rare cases, checkpoint inhibitors have caused severe effects such as cardiotoxicity and inflammation in the intestines or lungs. These side effects are expected to impede market growth due to the reduced adoption of checkpoint inhibitors. 

The adoption of alternative cancer therapies is challenging for the growth of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Chemotherapy and radiation are the most preferred therapies for cancer treatment compared to immune checkpoint inhibitors due to the cost-effective process, which may hamper the market expansion. Another hurdle in market expansion is hyperprogression. Some cases experience accelerated tumor progression early after immune-checkpoint blockade therapy, which is challenging for market growth in the healthcare sector. 

Impact of COVID-19 on the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market:

The Pandemic negatively impacted the immune checkpoint inhibitors market due to lockdown regulations; there were disruptions in the distribution channels, delays in production, and an overall impact on financial markets. Due to the Pandemic, there has been a decline in patients visiting hospitals for treatment, which has led to a decrease in immune checkpoint inhibitors. Only emergency cases are considered, keeping aside the other cases that impacted the market growth. Most cancer centers are entirely converted to COVID-19, affecting the market value.

Report Coverage:

This research report on the immune checkpoint inhibitors market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on the type, indication, end-use, and region.

By Type:

• CTLA-4 Inhibitors
• PD-1 Inhibitors
• PD-L1 Inhibitors

The PD-1 Inhibitors segment dominated the global immune checkpoint inhibitors market and is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period. The checkpoint inhibitors block PD-1, which is first-line for melanoma skin cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-small lung cancer, and urinary tract cancers. The rising product approvals and growing research activities, product approvals are boosting the global market growth in this segment. For Instance, in 2021, the FDA approved pembrolizumab, a PD-1 Inhibitor, in combination with chemotherapy for patients with persistent, metastatic cervical cancer where the tumors show PD-1 as determined by the FDA test.

The increasing collaborations and acquisitions by the market players for the development of products with CTLA-4 and PD-L1 inhibitors are expected to propel the global market revenue during the forecast period. The CTLA-4 inhibitors segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period due to the increasing adoption of immunotherapy drugs. In May 2021, Xilo Therapeutics collaborated with Merck to evaluate Xilo's tumor-selective, anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody product candidate. 

By Indication:

• Lung Cancer
• Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Bladder Cancer
• Melanoma
• Others

The lung cancer segment held the largest share of the global market revenue due to the rising prevalence of lung cancer across the world. Checkpoint inhibitors are prescribed as the first-line drugs in treating lung cancer, and the growing research for combination therapies for lung cancer is expected to boost the global market growth over the forecast period. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective in treating advanced lung cancer, whereas most of the drugs released into the market are efficient for lung cancer. 

The bladder cancer segment is estimated to have the fastest growth during the forecast period due to increasing urinary tract cancers across the world. The PD-1 Inhibitors are highly prescribed for urinary tract cancers as they are effective. 

By End-User:

• Hospitals
• Specialty Clinics
• Academic & Research Institutions

The hospital's segment held the largest market share of immune checkpoint inhibitors and is estimated to maintain the domination during the forecast period. The rising healthcare expenditure, the growing customer base, and the presence of healthcare professionals are all factors boosting the market growth in this segment. The rising prevalence of various types of cancer and hospitals are highly equipped with facilities that are fueling the market growth in hospitals. 

The specialty clinics and research institutions are expected to grow steadily during the forecast period due to increasing research activities on cancer worldwide. 

By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific 
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

The North American region dominated the global market in 2023 due to the rising number of oncology patients in the US and Canada. According to research, around 13% of cancer cases are small lung cancer, and 84% are non-small lung cancer in the United States. Increasing government initiatives like funding and campaigns regarding educating people about cancer and its treatment therapies are driving the global market growth. The rising government funding towards new drug developments where the market players are investing in R&D activities for discoveries is fueling the market growth in the region. The growing research to develop novel drug compounds is supporting regional growth. Adopting advanced technology in the healthcare sector and having major cancer R&D centers is creating market growth opportunities. 

The Asia Pacific region is projected to grow fastest over the forecast period. The increasing product approvals by the regulatory authorities are expected to contribute to regional market growth. The presence of market players in the region is providing market growth opportunities. 

Key Market Players:

Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, AstraZeneca plc, Merck & Co. Inc, Hoffmann-La Roche AG, NewLink Genetics Corporation, Novartis International AG, ImmunOs Therapeutics are some of the key market players in the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.