The global cancer immunotherapy market size was valued at USD 129.5 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group estimates the market to reach USD 271.2 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.6% from 2025-2033. North America currently dominates the market, holding a market share of over 45.2% in 2024. The growing number of cancer cases, favorable government initiatives, and easy availability of medical insurance represent some of the key factors driving the market.
Global Cancer Immunotherapy Market Analysis:
Major Market Drivers: The increasing cases of cancer on account of a poor balanced diet and consumption of toxic substances is one of the primary factors driving the growth of the market. In addition to this, the growing awareness about various cancer treatment options among the masses across the world is also contributing to the market growth.
Key Market Trends: The wide availability and easy access to medical insurance, along with the increasing healthcare expenditures, is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors. In addition to this, the emerging preference for advanced treatment solutions with fewer side effects, like immunotherapy, is creating a positive outlook for the market.
Geographical Landscape: On a regional level, the market has been classified into North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa, where North America currently dominates the global market.
Competitive Landscape: Some of the leading players in the global cancer immunotherapy market include Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Bayer AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, GSK plc, Johnson & Johnson, Merck KGaA, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi S.A, and Seagen Inc., among others.
Challenges and Opportunities: Different tumor types respond differently. However, in some cases, especially cold tumors immunotherapy is unresponsive, suggesting the presence of resistance. Hence, the development of intrinsic or acquired resistance is a big challenge as well as a significant opportunity for the market players in the immunotherapy field.
Global Cancer Immunotherapy Market Trends
Increasing Prevalence of Cancer
The rising number of cancer cases across the world is primarily driving the market for cancer immunotherapies. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimated that, in the year 2020, there were about 19.29 million cancer cases. These cases are projected to increase to 24.58 million cases by 2030. Such a substantial growth in cancer cases is augmenting the demand for effective treatment solutions like immunotherapies. According to GLOBOCAN, in 2020, there were approximately 2,281,658 new cancer cases diagnosed and 612,390 deaths due to cancer alone in the United States. In addition to this, lung cancer and breast cancer are two of the most common cancers found among individuals. The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) stated that in 2020, nearly 29,800 Canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer, which accounted for 13% of all new cancer cases. About 21,200 Canadians were expected to die from lung cancer, which represented 25% of all cancer deaths in 2020. This indicates an inflating need for effective and more advanced cancer immunotherapy. Thus, the increasing demand for effective and lasting cancer treatment is anticipated to offer lucrative growth opportunities to the overall market.
Rising Approval of Novel Immunotherapies
Various key market players are extensively investing in research and development activities to develop and introduce advanced and more effective immunotherapies. According to the National Clinical Trials (NCT) Registry, as of September 8, 2020, there were more than 1,000 ongoing clinical trials across the world for the development of cancer treatment with immune-based therapies. Moreover, government authorities and concerned regulators of numerous nations are taking initiatives to expedite the approval process of novel immunotherapies, which is anticipated to further catalyze the market growth. For instance, according to an article published by the American Association for Cancer Research, in July 2023, the FDA approved quizartinib (Vanflyta) for treating different phases of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Quizartinib focuses on FLT3, a kinase that goes twisted in about one-third of AML cases. Similarly, in May 2021, the US FDA approved Amgen's LUMAKRAS (Sotorasib) for the treatment of patients with KRAS G12C, which involves mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). LUMAKRAS is the first and only targeted treatment for NSCLC. Such developments are expected to propel the cancer immunotherapy market growth in the coming years.
Partnerships and Collaborations between Pharmaceuticals and Research Institutions
Various Strategic initiatives are being undertaken by major players to launch new products, which is creating a positive outlook for the overall market. For instance, in September 2023, Immatics and Moderna strategically collaborated to develop Oncology Therapeutics. The collaboration includes an assessment of Immatics investigational PRAME203 TCRT in combination with the MARTE mRNA cancer vaccine being developed by Moderna. Moreover, in August 2023, FBD Biologics Limited and Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. entered into a strategic collaboration to boost the development of new immunotherapies. Similarly, in December 2023, BioMed X, a German research institution, announced a new joint research project with Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, to design next-generation immunotherapies by leveraging the antitumor effects of neutrophils. Several market players, such as Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Bayer AG, and Eli Lilly and Company, are involved in merger and acquisition activities. Through M&A activity, these companies are expanding their geographic reach and entering new territories. This, in turn, is projected to bolster the cancer immunotherapy market revenue over the forecasted period.
Key Market Segmentation:
IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global cancer immunotherapy market, along with forecast at the global, regional, and country levels from 2025-2033. The market has been categorized based on therapy type, application, and end user.
Breakup by Therapy Type:
Learn how to effectively navigate the market research process to help guide your organization on the journey to success.
Download eBook