The global CAR-T cell therapy market size was estimated to be US$ 1.63 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% by 2032.
CAR T cells (chimeric antigen receptor T-cells) are genetically engineered T cells receptors that allow the targeting of a particular protein on the target cell. Once delivered into the body, these genetically altered T cells act as a living medicine against the target cells. Due to their capacity to provide long-lasting therapeutic results, CAR T cell therapy has become a ground-breaking technology, especially for cancer treatment.
CAR T cells continue to display cytotoxic properties and replicate indefinitely which eventually causes targeted cell death. The pharmaceutical industry is very interested in them due to their innovative method of action. Novartis AG. was the pioneer company in this type of technology and currently holds a big share of this experimental market.
Due to its application as a precision medicine which has shown significant results against cancer cells, several companies have started investing in the CAR T cells therapy market. Extensive R&D ventures have been set up by large global corporations. Monotherapy or combination drug-based approaches are also being investigated by leading pharmaceutical across the world. Clinical trials for various anti-cancer drugs and therapies are on the rise. CAR T cell therapy is also expected to enter the clinical trials phase due to the growing demand for immune therapies against cancer.
Rise of CAR T cell therapy in hematologic cancer treatments:
Patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), multiple myeloma (MM), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), have seen beneficial effects from CAR T cell therapies. The usage of this technology is also expected to help other hematologic cancers or indications. Increased lymphoma and leukaemia cases along with a bigger geriatric population will translate into higher demands for this therapy.
A cocktail of CAR T cell therapies for haematological malignancies like lymphoma, leukaemia, and multiple myeloma has received approval from national regulatory bodies across the world. New developments are also paving the way for monotherapy-based tools and approvals for patients at advanced stages.
CAR T cell therapy has been significantly utilized against lymphoma having a high number of approvals and robust sales. Kymriah (Novartis) and Breyanzi (Bristol-Myers Squibb) are some examples of CAR T Cell-mediated treatments for large B-cell Lymphoma. The growth of Lymphoma specific treatments is expected to rise as technology gets standardized and more players to enter the existing sector.
Limitations of the technology:
Despite being effective in treating haematological cancers, CAR T cell therapy currently faces obstacles in treating solid tumours. To make CAR T an effective treatment for solid tumours, scientists are constantly looking for appropriate markers and pathways for targeting. Several different solid tumours have upregulation of the protein OR2H1, according to a new analysis.
Approximately 4% of colorectal cancer specimens and 69% of gallbladder tumour tissues exhibit protein markers. Only the testicular cells are physiologically capable of expressing the protein under normal conditions, which implies that targeting this binding site may be a way forward. Even though it is very early to expect anything significant, we will see new targets along with increased target specificity against solid tumours. This in turn will translate into increased CAT T cell-based solutions for tissue-specific cancers.
As of now, several challenges need to be addressed regarding CAR T cell therapies as effective tools. However, irrespective of their current limitations, investors, clinicians, and researchers have a very positive outlook for this technology. Researchers are trying to reduce the safety issues arising from non-specific or cross-reactivity and make them more potent against targeted cells. CAR T cell therapy is also being assessed for its role in viral diseases like HIV, autoimmune disorders, and other cell disorders which will amplify the potential growth of this technology.
Growing investment in CAR T cell therapies:
Large pharmaceutical companies are rushing to invest in CAR T cell research and development. As the cancer treatment sector is proposed to become the biggest revenue generator for the healthcare industry, cancer R&D is seeing increased funding. Several strategic partnerships between pharma companies and research organizations have come up in recent years to develop novel CAR T cell therapies.
The rising prevalence of cancers, especially hematologic malignancies has given a boost to CAR T cell-based treatment alternatives. Rising demands for an alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy have also resulted in more demand for immunotherapy-based approaches like CAR T cells. The resultant increase in CAR T cell therapies owing to huge investment along with increased adoption will further propel this sector to new heights.
Regional segmentation for CAR T Cell Therapy:
North America has the biggest CAR T cell therapy market in the world. The prominent drivers for the large share of CAR T cell therapy in this region are due to improved healthcare technology, higher per capita income, faster approval, and early adoption of such technologies. As most of the companies and laboratories involved in this particular research are present in the USA, they see a quicker dispensation of newer CAR T cell therapies than the rest of the world. Apart from North America, CAR T cell-based cancer treatments have seen a better adoption across the Asia-Pacific region as well.
Companies that are currently leading the CAR-T cell therapy market are Novartis AG (Kymriah), Yescarta (axicabtagene), Tecartus (brexucabtagene), Kite Pharma Inc., (a Gilead subsidiary), and Bristol-Myers Squibb (breyanzi) are leading companies involved in the CAR T cell therapy market.
Market Segmentation:
By Product Type
- Axicabtagene Ciloleucel
- Tisagenlecleucel
- Brexucabtagene Autoleucel
- Lisocabtagene Maraleucel
- Idecabtagene Vicleucel
- Others
By Indication
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia
- Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma
- Mantle Cell Lymphoma
- Follicular Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Others
By End
- Hospitals
- Cancer Treatment Centers
By Geography
- North America
- United States
- Canada
- Rest of North America
- Europe
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Rest of Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Japan
- India
- China
- Australia
- Rest of Asia Pacific
- Middle East & Africa
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Rest of the Middle East & Africa
- South America
- Brazil
- Rest of South America
