The atezolizumab market has witnessed significant growth in the past few years owing to the increasing prevalence of cancer globally and growing demand for innovative drug therapies for treatment. Atezolizumab is a type of immunotherapy drug known as a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor. It works by blocking the interaction between PD-L1 and its receptor PD-1, thereby enhancing the immune system's anti-tumor response. It is widely used for treating various types of cancer including urothelial carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and other solid tumors. Atezolizumab has demonstrated promising clinical efficacy and favorable safety profile in clinical trials.
The Global atezolizumab market is estimated to be valued at US$ 308 Million in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.0% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the atezolizumab market are Mycovia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Scynexis, Inc., Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., Grupo Ferrer Internacional, S.A., Pacgen Life Science Corporation, NovaDigm Therapeutics, Inc., Cidara Therapeutics, Inc., Amplyx Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Pfizer, Inc. Among them, Pfizer holds a dominant market share owing to the commercialization of its blockbuster PD-L1 inhibitor drug Tecentriq which contains atezolizumab as the active ingredient.
The market is expected to witness lucrative growth opportunities due to the increasing focus on combination therapies of atezolizumab with other immuno-oncology drugs. Several clinical trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab in combination with drugs such as bevacizumab, chemotherapies etc. in different cancer types.
Key players are actively expanding their geographic presence across major markets to tap the potential opportunities. In April 2022, Pfizer received approval from European Commission to expand the use of Tecentriq in combination with carboplatin and etoposide for the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. This approval enabled access to this new treatment option for more patients in Europe.
Market Drivers
Growing cancer burden worldwide: According to the WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death globally with approximately 10 million deaths in 2020. The increasing incidence of various cancer types is the major factor driving the atezolizumab market growth.
Increasing adoption of immunotherapy: Atezolizumab belongs to the class of PD-L1 inhibitors which are revolutionary drugs in cancer immunotherapy. Rising success of immunotherapy and its advantages over other treatment modalities is boosting the adoption of drugs like atezolizumab.
Market Restraints
High treatment costs: Atezolizumab therapy is very expensive which limits its widespread adoption especially in low and middle-income countries. The costs associated with immunotherapy and proprietary drugs are major challenges.
Patent expiry of major drugs: The atezolizumab patent is set to expire in major markets in late 2020s. The entry of generic competition after patent cliffs of flagship drugs will significantly impact the revenues of leading players. It is also expected to make the therapy affordable for more patients.
Segment Analysis
The atezolizumab market is dominated by the indications sub-segment which accounts for around 60% of the total market share. This is because atezolizumab is majorly used for the treatment of various cancer indications such as non-small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer, etc. Non-small cell lung cancer indication sub-segment holds the largest market share under indications segment owing to high prevalence of lung cancer globally.
Global Analysis
North America is projected to dominate the global atezolizumab market during the forecast period. The large share of this region is mainly attributed to the increasing prevalence of cancer and rising healthcare expenditure in this region. For instance, according to the National Cancer Institute, in 2021, around 1.9 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in the United States. Moreover, growing adoption of targeted cancer therapies and presence of established healthcare infrastructure and key market players in the region are some of the other factors responsible for the high market share of North America. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period due to increasing healthcare expenditures, rising awareness about cancer treatment, and growing disposable income in emerging countries like China and India.
