Explore the Recombinant Proteins Market-Key Drivers & Top 5 Companies

Introduction

A recombinant protein is a protein expressed by genetically engineering DNA containing the gene of interest. The engineered DNA is introduced into the host cell to regulate and control desired protein expression. Recombinant protein manufacturing offers the benefit of large-scale production of proteins with high purity. Recombinant proteins have broad applications in biomedical research, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other industrial applications. They offer the advantages of high purity, high yield, customization, and cost-effectiveness.

This blog provides you with the top key drivers, future market projections, and the leading companies that fuel recombinant proteins market.

Top Key Drivers

Drivers are factors that boost the growth of a market. Key drivers of the market for recombinant proteins include the increasing R&D investments and clinical activities in biopharmaceuticals and growing demand for animal-free recombinant products.

Growing R&D Investments in Biopharmaceuticals - Recombinant proteins have applications in therapeutic areas, including cancer, metabolic disorders, diabetes, blood disorders, and hepatitis. Many companies such as Roche, Amgen, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk have a strong R&D pipeline for recombinant proteins. These companies spend a significant share of their net sales on R&D expenses every year.

For example, Lilly spent 27.3% of its net sales for R&D activities in 2023 (Lilly annual report, 2023). Companies are venturing into concepts of technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in biologics discovery and development. Companies are engaging in research collaborations to develop novel protein drugs. For instance, Amgen and Generate Biomedicines signed a research partnership to use Generate’s machine learning-enabled platform to develop new protein drugs.

Increasing Demand for Non-Hybridoma Techniques - Growing ethical concerns about using animals in hybridoma techniques drive the need for alternate techniques. Growing ethical concerns about using animals in hybridoma techniques drive the need for alternate techniques. The production of monoclonal antibodies is highly time-consuming and relies on the use of animals. The antibodies produced through recombinant technology do not involve passive immunization in animals.

rDNA technology minimizes various limitations of the hybridoma technique, such as higher timelines, batch-to-batch variations, heterogeneous batches, etc. Recombinant antibodies can be generated in large quantities within just a few weeks. Increasing ethical concerns over animal use and a growing preference for animal-free protein production are other factors driving the growth of the market.

The recombinant therapeutics market is fragmented, with many biologics companies making a foray into the market every year. However, large biopharmaceutical companies currently dominate the market. Many companies have recombinant products based on hormones, enzymes, antibodies, blood products, and cytokines.

The top five companies in the recombinant protein therapeutics market are listed below:

Novo Nordisk A/S (1923) - Novo Nordisk operates in two business segments: Diabetes and obesity care and rare diseases. Diabetes and obesity care includes therapeutics for diabetes, cardiovascular, obesity, and emerging therapy areas. The rare disease includes products for rare blood disorders, endocrine disorders, and hormone replacement therapies.

The company has a strong pipeline in technology platforms, including proteins and peptides, stem cells, oligonucleotides, and gene therapy. The company has a presence in nearly 80 countries.

Lilly (1876) - The company operates one business segment—human pharmaceutical products, in which it offers products across a range of therapeutic areas, including diabetes, obesity, and other cardiometabolic, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.

The company manufactures and distributes its products through United States, Puerto Rico, Europe, and Asia facilities. The company’s products are available in over 105 countries.

Sanofi (1994) - Sanofi is a global healthcare company. Since January 1, 2023, its operations have been split into two operating segments: Biopharma and Consumer Healthcare. The Consumer Healthcare operating segment comprises operations relating to Consumer Healthcare products.

The Biopharma operating segment includes commercial operations, research, development, and production activities relating to its Specialty Care, General Medicines, and Vaccines franchises. Sanofi operates in over 90 countries and markets its products in over 180 countries.

Amgen Inc. (1980) - Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures, and distributes innovative human therapeutics. The company offers therapeutics for diseases like cancer, kidney disease, bone disease, and other serious illnesses. Amgen focuses on developing novel products based on recombinant DNA and molecular biology advances. It has a presence in over 100 countries. The company has the most significant sales and marketing network in the U.S. and Europe.

However, Amgen is expanding its commercial operations in Latin America, Japan, China, and the Middle East. In March 2022, the company introduced a new manufacturing plant in North Carolina, U.S., to increase its manufacturing network capacity.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (1781) - Takeda focuses on five key business areas: Gastroenterology, Rare Diseases, Plasma-Derived Therapeutics (PDT) Immunology, Oncology and Neuroscience. Takeda supports dedicated R&D efforts across three areas: Innovative Biopharma, PDT, and Vaccines.

The company has over 75 years of experience producing plasma-derived therapies for rare diseases. The company operates over 200 collection centers globally and has eight manufacturing plants. The company offers its products in more than 80 countries.

Future Market Trends

According to BCC Research, the global market for recombinant proteins was valued at $132.4 billion in 2023. The market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% to reach $203.6 billion through 2029. In terms of applications, the therapeutics and vaccines segment are forecast to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period (2024 to 2029). Recombinant protein products are primarily used as therapeutics, vaccines and in drug research. Recombinant protein production in the future could very well involve cell-free synthesis that is entirely animal-free.

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