Market Trends of Europe Monoclonal Antibodies Industry
Oncology is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market Over the Forecast Period
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a targeted therapy designed to recognize and bind to specific proteins (antigens) that are overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells. By doing so, they can interfere with various signaling pathways and mechanisms that promote cancer cell growth and survival. Monoclonal antibodies interfere with tumor cell function by blocking growth-promoting signals, inhibiting angiogenesis, and enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and attack cancer cells. Additionally, some mAbs can directly deliver cytotoxic agents to the tumor cells, inducing their destruction. This targeted approach leads to tumor cell death and the inhibition of tumor growth while minimizing damage to healthy cells.
The factors driving the segment growth include increasing incidence of cancer, advancements in monoclonal antibody therapeutics, and rising collaborations and strategic activities amongst key players. For instance, according to data released by the Red Española de Registros de Cáncer (REDECAN) in January 2023, the estimated number of Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer cases is 1,539 in Spain in 2023, an increase from 1,527 cases in 2021. Also, 9,943 cases of non-Hodgkins lymphoma are expected to be diagnosed in Spain in 2023, an increase from 9,055 cases in 2021. As per the same source, approximately 14,400 new diagnoses (men 8,100; women 6,300) were reported for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) in Italy. Monoclonal antibodies used in Hodgkin lymphoma primarily target the CD30 protein, which is often overexpressed on the surface of Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg cells, the abnormal cells characteristic of this type of lymphoma. In addition, according to the July 2023 update of the INSTITUT NATIONAL DU CANCER, more than 433 thousand new cancer cases will be reported in France in 2023, of which 57% will be men and 43% women. Also, as per the same source, in men, the top three most prevalent forms of cancer were prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer, respectively. Similarly, in women, breast cancer was the most prevalent form of cancer, followed by colorectal and lung cancer. Also, as per the source mentioned above, in France, the incidence rate of all cancer types has been increasing in the past few years, with 0.9% in women and 0.3% in men per year. Thus, owing to the rise in cancer cases, the demand for mAbs is likely to rise, thereby expected to boost the market growth over the study period.
Furthermore, prominent regional players' rising number of strategic activities is also projected to drive market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in July 2023, Astellas Pharma Inc. received the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval for regulatory review of the company's marketing authorization application (MAA) for zolbetuximab in Europe. It is a first-in-class investigational Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-targeted monoclonal antibody for first-line treatment of gastric/gastroesophageal cancer patients. Similarly, in January 2023, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo received the European Union approval of its Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) as monotherapy for the treatment of metastatic HER2-low breast cancer adult patients in Europe.
Therefore, the rising incidence of various cancers in the region and the increasing number of strategic activities amongst key players is projected to drive segment growth during the forecast period.
Germany is Expected to Hold the Significant Share of the Market Over the Forecast Period
Germany is expected to register significant growth during the forecast period owing to the rising prevalence of various chronic and infectious diseases and advancements in biotechnology and research.
The rising incidence of cancer in the country is projected to drive market growth during the forecast period. For instance, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) press release of February 2023, about 1.44 million cancer patients were treated in hospitals in 2021, a slight decline from the previous year when about 1.45 million cancer patients were treated in hospitals. However, as per the same source, the number of cancer patients treated in hospitals has declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Hence, the high incidence of cancer is projected to drive the demand for mAbs during the forecast period.
Additionally, according to the data updated by ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer in March 2023, an estimated 4,666 cervical cancer cases are diagnosed in Germany every year, and about 3.2% of women in the general population of Germany are estimated to harbor cervical human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 infection at a given time, and 76.5% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18. Thus, the high prevalence of HPV infection and its related cancers in the country is also expected to drive the demand for mAbs such as Bevacizumab to target Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cervical cancer, thereby inhibiting the new blood vessels formation.
Furthermore, the rising number of strategic activities done by prominent players in the country is also projected to drive market growth during the forecast period. For instance, in March 2023, Merck KGaA, a Germany-based company, strengthened its Oncology franchise by regaining exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody BAVENCIO (avelumab) following the termination of its alliance agreement with Pfizer Inc. BAVENCIO is an anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody that has been approved for the treatment of various cancers, including urothelial carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. With full ownership of BAVENCIO, the company can leverage its strong oncology franchise to promote and expand the use of this therapy in the German market.
Thus, the German monoclonal antibodies market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period due to the rising prevalence of various chronic and infectious diseases and the number of strategic activities by prominent players.
