According to the Market Statsville Group (MSG), the Global small molecule targeted cancer therapy Market was valued at USD 83,410 million in 2023 and is expected to grow from USD 91,333 million in 2024 to USD 1,88,780 million by 2033, by exhibiting a CAGR of 9.50 % during the forecast period (2024-2033)
Small-Molecule Targeted Cancer Therapy is a form of cancer therapy in which small molecules target and inhibit the proliferation of cancerous cells. In contrast to chemotherapy, wherein bad and good cells are damaged, targeted therapies by small molecules typically cut off specific molecular pathways that are used in the survival and growth of cancer cells. These therapies generally work to inhibit tumor growth and modulate the immune response, provide an added side effect reduction. The increasing incidence of cancers globally is one of the major forces driving the market. It was estimated by the World Health Organization that in the year 2020, cancer would be one of the leading causes of approximately 19.3 million new cases and 10 million deaths per year. New targets and innovative treatments are being pursued through ongoing research and developments in molecular biology and genetics. Personalized medicine, which has become a growing concept tailored to specific treatment strategies according to individual genetic profiles, is increasingly applied.
Furthermore, Small molecule therapies are integral to this approach because of the specificity towards molecular alterations in cancer cells. The trend in personalized medicine has hastened the development of therapies tailored to individual genetic profiles. This strategy improves small molecule therapies through the better efficiency of their actions and limits adverse effects. This approach of targeting combination with other types of treatments, such as immunotherapy or chemotherapy, has now come out as a mainstream strategy for optimizing the outcome of treatment and countering drug resistance. Since new targets are to be discovered and novel small molecule therapies will be developed, continuous R&D is necessary. Forging ahead comes from progress in genomics, proteomics, and molecular biology. The landscape of regulatory aspects of small-molecule targeted therapies is in flux and witnessed an increase in approvals of the new drugs and indications. Policies for market access and reimbursement also pose a very significant hurdle for adoption in their territories.
Small molecule targeted cancer therapy refers to a class of small molecules designed specifically to target critical biological processes the cancer cells require to survive and to proliferate. They tend to be small molecules in terms of molecular weight, less than 1,000 daltons. Unlike standard chemotherapy that results in the carefree killing of healthy cells along to kill cancerous cells, small molecule targeted therapies have the goal of targeting molecular targets that are often damaged or re-wired in cancer cells.
Another major driver of the growth and expansion of the market for small molecule targeted cancer therapy is the increasing prevalence of cancer in the world. This increasing prevalence of cancer is influencing healthcare priorities, research directions, and treatment approaches. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer deaths worldwide in 2020. These numbers are very likely to increase drastically going forward due to growing and aging populations worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, the global burden of cancer will more than double in the next two decades, with approximately 30 million new cases occurring every year by 2040.
Generally, cancer incidence rates are more frequent in high-income countries, mainly because of a higher life expectancy and more developed diagnostic abilities. For instance, the incidence rates for cancer are higher than those reported at the global average in the United States, Canada, and many European countries. Incidence rates for cancer in developing countries are on the rise, though the rates tend to be much lower than those in developed countries. However, these populations are only growing fast with the processes of urbanization, changes in lifestyle, and advancements in facilities of diagnosis. With improvement in longevity, there is an increase in the proportion of people living into advanced ages. Because cancer incidence is mainly associated with older persons, the increasing elderly population itself forms a major proportion of the causes for increased cancer incidence.
Drug resistance is considered the greatest challenge in small-molecule targeted cancer therapy. The term drug resistance may seem to describe the situation whereby the previously sensitive cells start to adapt after some time such that they have ways that also render the treatment ineffective or unhelpful. In other words, a lot of research has been done to prove that such kind of resistance raises the need to develop alternative therapeutic approaches as treatment may fail. The mutations may arise within the very genes to be targeted. In the case of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) used in the treatment of CML, for example, mutations to the BCR-ABL fusion protein could make the drug less effective at binding to its target, resulting in resistance. Secondary mutations in the cancer cell’s genome can alter the drug-binding site or downstream signaling pathways, diminishing the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug.
For instance, mutations in the EGFR gene can lead to resistance to EGFR inhibitors used in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The cancer cell could activate an alternative signaling pathway to get around an inhibited pathway. For instance, in melanomas treated with BRAF inhibitors, the activation of the MEK pathway bypasses the inhibited BRAF part and thus contributes to resistance. The cells can also compensate for the entry of drugs by increasing the efflux pumps for drugs, such as P-glycoprotein that actively pumps out the drugs from the cells to lower intracellular drug concentrations and, hence, effectiveness. Other mechanisms of resistance include better metabolic processes or inactivation in cancer cells. As an example, overexpression of specific enzymes may lead to the rapid degradation of the drug.
The study categorizes the small molecule targeted cancer therapy market based on drug type, cancer type, route of administration, and end-user area at the regional and global levels.
Based on the drug type, Small molecule targeted therapies are greatly used depending on the nature of the drug, especially in NSCLC patients with certain genetic mutations. As an example, drugs under EGFR Inhibitors include erlotinib and gefitinib - drugs that target mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, which generally occur in NSCLC patients. ALK Inhibitors are Crizotinib (Xalkori) targets rearrangements in the ALK gene, a mutation present in some percent of NSCLC patients. Lung cancer is the most common of any cancer type worldwide. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimated new cases of lung cancer to amount to 2.2 million globally in 2020.
Although less common than their counterpart targeted therapies are being developed for SCLC, especially as scientists continue to unravel the molecular underpinnings of this cancer type. For HER2-positive breast cancer, small-molecule targeted therapies are an important part of the treatment. Drugs such as lapatinib (Tykerb) and neratinib (Nerlynx) disrupt HER2 signaling. They are generally used in conjunction with other therapies to treat this very aggressive subtype. Research still goes on to pinpoint what the more precise targets of TNBC, which has no estrogen progesterone, or HER2 receptors, are. Breast cancer is the leading diagnosis and cause of death due to cancer in women. Of 2.3 million new cases diagnosed worldwide, in 2020, as established by the World Health Organization.
Based on the regions, High incidence rates of cancer, well-established infrastructures in health care, and a strong investment in research and development are the factors driving the U.S. region. Advanced healthcare infrastructure and well-established healthcare systems characterize North America, especially the United States and Canada. Smooth approval processes through the FDA in the U.S. and Health Canada for innovative therapies are further expanding the market. Heavy incidence of cancer, particularly lung, breast, and colorectal cancers, motivates the requirements for targeted therapies.
Small Molecule Targeted Cancer Therapy Market The market of small molecule targeted cancer therapy is one of the huge competitors and highly competitive in the market. It adopts the strategies, such as partnerships, product launches, acquisitions, agreements, and growth, to boost its position in the market. Most sectors of businesses focus on increasing their operations worldwide and cultivating long-lasting partnerships.
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