Protein Binding Assay Market Overview

The protein binding assay market is projected to grow significantly, reaching US$ 694.63 million by 2028, up from US$ 340.14 million in 2021. This growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% from 2021 to 2028.

Market Drivers

Several factors are contributing to the expansion of this market, notably the increase in drug discovery initiatives and the pressing need to lower the costs associated with drug development. Despite this growth, the market faces challenges due to limitations in current technologies. Protein binding assays play a vital role in examining the interactions between different proteins and are extensively utilized in the development of new pharmaceuticals.

Importance of Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are essential for assessing the safety and efficacy of medical treatments, devices, and strategies before they receive regulatory approval. These trials are crucial for identifying the most effective medical approaches for specific therapeutic areas. The rising incidence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases is driving the demand for new drugs and medical devices, thereby increasing the need for protein binding assays. According to the US National Library of Medicine, there were approximately 280,801 clinical studies underway in 2018 across 50 states and 204 countries. The following table illustrates the growth in the number of registered clinical trials from 2015 to 2020.

Source: Clinical Trials.gov and the Insight Partners Analysis

Research and Development Focus

Pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology firms are increasingly prioritizing research and development (R&D) to create new therapeutic molecules with significant medical and commercial potential. These companies allocate substantial resources to R&D to introduce innovative and high-quality products to the market.

Source: PhRMA, The Insight Partner's Analysis

Role of Protein Binding Assays

Protein binding assays are developed during the initial phases of drug development. The binding of drug candidates to plasma proteins is critical for determining drug distribution, efficacy, and safety margins, as only unbound circulating drugs can effectively access targets and excretion pathways. In 2017, approximately 7,493 drugs entered the preclinical stage, with estimates suggesting this number would rise to 8,040 in 2018. Consequently, the number of drug candidates screened annually is on the rise, making protein binding studies a crucial component of the preclinical phase. The increase in drug discovery activities, along with heightened pharmaceutical R&D spending, is driving the growth of the protein binding assay market.

Technological Insights

The global protein binding assay market is categorized by technology into ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration, equilibrium dialysis, surface plasmon resonance, and others. In 2020, the equilibrium dialysis segment dominated the market. However, the ultrafiltration segment is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Equilibrium dialysis is favored for its reliability in evaluating protein binding, often utilizing rapid equilibrium dialysis (RED) devices, which minimize the impact of extraneous factors on research outcomes.

End User Insights

The protein binding assay market is segmented by end user into contract research organizations (CROs), pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and research and diagnostic laboratories. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies segment is expected to maintain the largest market share in 2021 and continue to lead by 2028. These companies are significant users of CRO services, outsourcing drug and molecule research and development. Understanding protein binding is essential for studying drug mechanisms and their pharmacological effects, further driving the market growth in this segment.

Sources

Key sources referenced in the preparation of this report include the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), National Institute for Health Research (NHS), International Trade Administration (ITA), and various national health and regulatory bodies.