Radiopharmaceuticals Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Growth and Change

Major players in the radiopharmaceuticals market are Siemens Healthcare Private Limited, Bayer, GE Healthcare, Novartis AG, Cardinal Health, Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., Bracco Imaging S.p.A., Nordion, Inc. (A Subsidiary of Sterigenics International), Mallinckrodt plc and Curium.

The global radiopharmaceuticals market is expected to decline from $5.07 billion in 2019 to $4.78 billion in 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -5.72%. The decline is mainly due to the COVID-19 outbreak that has led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of industries and other commercial activities resulting in operational challenges. The entire supply chain has been disrupted, impacting the market negatively. The market is then expected to recover and reach $5.88 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 7.13%.

The radiopharmaceuticals market consists of sales of radiopharmaceuticals and related services by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that produce radiopharmaceuticals used in treating cancer, cardiovascular, and other diseases. Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive compounds administered to the patients, monitored via specific imaging devices, and used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

North America was the largest region in the radiopharmaceuticals market in 2019. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period.

In December 2019, Curium, a nuclear medicine solution provider, completed the acquisition of MAP Medical Technologies Oy, a Finnish radiopharmaceutical company, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is expected to expand the geographical footprint of Curium in Europe along with the product portfolio expansion. Medical Technologies Oy is a Finnish company founded in 1991 and develops and manufactures radiopharmaceuticals. The products of the company are developed to meet the needs of nuclear medicine professionals.

The radiopharmaceuticals market covered in this report is segmented by type into diagnostic; therapeutic; others. It is also segmented by application into oncology; cardiology; gastroenterology; neuroendocrinology; neurology; nephrology; others and by end user into hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; diagnostic centers; cancer research institutes; others.

The high cost of radiopharmaceuticals is anticipated to limit the growth of the market. High costs and short half-life of radiopharmaceuticals are reducing their implementation in hospitals and clinics. The development cost of radiopharmaceuticals is very high compared to that of therapeutic drugs and also undergoes a very lengthy and expensive regulatory process. For instance, the cost of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals development is $100 to $200 million for 8-10 years in comparison with the cost of pharmaceuticals, which ranges between $600 million to $1.2 billion for 10-12 years. Therefore, the high cost of radiopharmaceuticals is likely to act as a major restraint for market growth.

Research collaborations and partnerships are gaining significant popularity in the radiopharmaceuticals market over recent years. Major companies operating in the radiopharmaceuticals market are collaborating with other industry players to conduct R&D activities to expand their business. For instance, in March 2020, Debiopharm, a Switzerland-based biopharmaceutical company, signed a research agreement with 3B Pharmaceuticals (3BP), a Germany-based biotechnology firm, to develop the Debio 0228 radioligand program, targeting CAIX (Carbonic Anhydrase 9) enzyme to fight the progression of cancer.

Many companies are adopting various strategic initiatives such as opening a new manufacturing facility and plant capacity expansion, which is gaining significant popularity in the radiopharmaceuticals market. For instance, in May 2019, ITM Isotopen Technologien Munchen AG (ITM) announced the launch of its new manufacturing facility in the Munich area to increase the production capacity of high-purity (n.c.a.) Lutetium-177 and no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) Lutetium-177 containing radiopharmaceuticals. Lutetium-177 is popular under brand EndolucinBeta and is an innovative isotope used in cancer therapy. This is the company’s step towards meeting the high demand for quality medical isotopes for precision oncology worldwide.

The increasing prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases is projected to drive the demand for the radiopharmaceuticals market. Radiopharmaceuticals are emerging as a safe and effective therapeutic option over conventional medicines. Radiopharmaceuticals provide an upper hand to radiologists to treat cancer and cardiovascular diseases due to their benefits such as targeted therapy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide with an estimate of 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Moreover, the number of new cancer cases in the USA is predicted to increase by 24% cases (1 million) in men and 21% cases (0.9 million) in women annually, between 2010 and 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thus, the rising cases of cancer and cardiovascular diseases are expected to surge the demand for radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of these diseases.