Global Market for Glycobiology to Reach Double Digit CAGRS in All Segments

New tools for synthesizing, modifying and studying oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates are charging the global glycobiology market. BCC Research reveals in its new report, Glycobiology: Global Markets for Diagnostics & Therapeutics (BIO153A), that the field of glycobiology offers enormous untapped potential in the discovery of new therapeutics.

Glycobiology is the study of the structure, biosynthesis and function of saccharides (sugar chains), which may exist purely or conjugated to other biological molecules to form glycoconjugates. Saccharides offer potential chemical diversity orders of greater magnitude than their protein and nucleic acid counterparts.

The global market for glycobiology should grow from almost $24.6 billion in 2016 to nearly $50.1 billion by 2021, reflecting a 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3%. Therapeutics, the largest segment and fastest-growing segment (16.1% CAGR) grow from $19 billion in 2016 to $40 billion by 2021. Diagnostics as a segment should reach $5.5 billion and $10 billion in 2016 and 2021, respectively, demonstrating a 5-year CAGR of 12.7%.

The glycobiology approach represents strong commercial potential for the development of novel diagnostics tests based on current biomarker research. Because of their essential function in many cellular processes, carbohydrates are also important biomarkers in diagnostic assay development. Several biotech companies are focusing on glycobiology approaches for further detection of various pathologies, including cancer and neurodegeneration.

However, the glycobiology biomarker segment remains in the preliminary stage of development. As a comparison, the global market for clinical biomarkers used in metabolomics was valued at more than $4.1 billion in 2015. The glycobiology market has a number of challenges, especially from a technical point of view. Glycoanalysis requires unique techniques and special tools and reagents to analyze glycosylation patterns of different proteins or to do carbohydrate profiling. More basic as well as translational glycobiology research is needed to develop efficient diagnostic platforms.

Although glycobiology is a challenging segment in life science research, a fairly large number of glycobiology-related/carbohydrate-based therapeutics became commercially successful drugs.

“Glyco therapeutics have had an impact on different types of conditions ranging from influenza, cancer, metabolic diseases and more. Still, the market for carbohydrate-based drugs remains in an early stage of development,” says BCC Research analyst Marianna Tcherpakov. “In addition to monosaccharide-inspired drugs like Roche’s influenza treatment Tamiflu (oseltamivir), two blockbuster drugs, Bayer’s Glucobay (acarbose) and heparin, stand out. Heparin is the key example of a major carbohydrate-based molecule that has been developed for medical use in anticoagulant therapies.”

Glycobiology: Global Markets for Diagnostics & Therapeutics (BIO153A) analyzes current trends, products, evolving technologies and new glycobiology related platforms in different clinical areas including oncology, immunology, cardiovascular, infectious diseases and neurodegeneration. Global market drivers, with data from 2015, estimates for 2016, and projections of CAGRs through 2021, also are provided.

For more information, contact BCC Research LLC, 49 Walnut Park, Building 2, Wellesley, MA 02481, T: 866-285-7215; E: editor@bccresearch.com.