GLOBAL G-PROTEIN COUPLED RECEPTORS MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2023 - 2030)

Global G-protein coupled receptors market size is expected to reach US$ 7.86 Bn by 2030, from US$ 4.67 Bn in 2023, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7% during the forecast period.

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are integral membrane proteins that detect molecules outside the cell and activate intracellular signal transduction pathways and, ultimately, cellular responses. They are found in all eukaryotes and represent the largest family of cell surface receptors in the human genome. GPCRs have seven transmembrane domains and detect a wide range of molecules including light, hormones, growth factors and neurotransmitters. Upon detection, they activate a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) on the intracellular side of the plasma membrane, which in turn, regulates various physiological functions like vision, taste, smell, neurotransmission, and cardiac and pulmonary functions.

There are several types of GPCRs based on their activation and function. Rhodopsin-like receptors are activated by light-sensitive retinal G proteins and are involved in vision. Glutamate receptors mediate most excitatory neurotransmission in the vertebrate central nervous system. Adhesion GPCRs have an extended extracellular region and are involved in cell-cell/cell-matrix interactions. Frizzled/Taste2 receptors detect Wnt proteins and regulate developmental processes. While GPCRs play a vital role in various physiological processes and developing new medicines targeting them has been challenging due to their structural flexibility. Elucidating their heterogenous structure-function relationship is important for developing more selective ligands and inhibitors with fewer side effects.

Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market- Regional Insights

• North America is expected to be the largest market for workout supplement during the forecast period, accounting for over 35.7% of the market share in 2023. North America has established itself as the dominant region in the global G-protein coupled receptors market. The region is home to top research universities and numerous biotech and pharmaceutical companies that are engaged in GPCR-related research and drug development. Biopharmaceutical companies in the U.S. and Canada are continuously investing in research and development (R&D) to develop novel GPCR-targeting therapeutics. Along with an early mover advantage, these companies have access to venture capital funding and a supportive regulatory environment that encourages clinical research. The region also has a highly skilled workforce with expertise in GPCR structure determination and screening technologies. Several contract research organizations (CRO) specializing in GPCR drug discovery services are based in North America to cater to the evolving needs of pharmaceutical companies. Ongoing academic-industrial collaborations have strengthened the region's product pipelines. Consolidation activities among biotech players have further boosted North America's leadership. The easy access to research talent, infrastructure, and regional clustering of industry players makes North America an attractive destination for companies engaged in GPCR drug development.
• Asia Pacific market is expected to be the second-largest market for workout supplement market, accounting for over 25.2% of the market share in 2023. Among growing regions, Asia Pacific displays high potential due to increased investments by global pharmaceutical majors. Governments in several Asia Pacific (APAC) countries recognize biopharmaceutical as a strategic industry and provide tax incentives as well as regulatory input to foreign companies setting up local operations. For instance, China and India have emerged as leading contract research hubs, thereby providing cost-effective drug discovery services to multinational biotechs. Their large patient pools and clinical trial capabilities are helping to accelerate global clinical programs. The improved protection, market access, and talent availability have prompted global pharmaceutical giants to outsource more work to APAC. This is fueling infrastructure improvements and the region's expertise in GPCR-related areas. The expanding biopharmaceutical manufacturing base and clinical trial pipelines point towards APAC's rise as a key player.

Figure 1. Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

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Analyst View: The G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) market presents promising growth potential in the near future. Growing R&D investments by pharmaceutical companies to develop novel drugs targeting GPCRs will drive revenues. GPCRs play an important role in many diseases and around 30-40% of marketed drugs act through these receptors. The large patient pools for conditions like cancer and cardiovascular diseases indicate opportunities for GPCR-based drugs.

North America  dominates due to presence of major pharmaceutical companies and biotech research labs. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest gains due to increasing healthcare expenditures, regional innovations, and evolving regulatory guidelines. China in particular can emerge as a high growth market as it aggressively supports indigenous drug research. On the other hand, high costs involved in GPCR-targeting drug development pose a major challenge to widespread commercialization. Success rates are relatively lower as compared to other drug classes, thus necessitating larger upfront investments by companies without assurance of approvals and sales. Complex receptor structures also hamper research progress. Non-exclusive licensing agreements between players could help share risks and costs. In conclusion, while R&D challenges and risks persist in GPCR drug development, the sector offers attractive commercial prospects with growing disease burden and demand for improved treatment options.

Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market- Drivers

• Increasing R&D investment by pharmaceutical companies: Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly investing more resources and funds into research and development (R&D) to discover new drugs targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs represent the largest class of cell surface receptors and are involved in many important physiological processes. Around 34% of marketed drugs act through GPCRs, thus making them highly valuable drug targets. The rise in R&D expenditure is evident from analyses of big pharmaceutical's financial statements. For example, according to reports by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in 2021, the top 10 drug companies spent over US$102 billion on R&D in 2021, a substantial increase from just US$79 billion in 2020. They are dedicating these funds to furthering scientific understanding of GPCRs and developing novel therapies that modulate their signaling pathways. In the clinical trials pipeline, the number of experimental drugs targeting GPCRs has significantly grown over the past 5 years based on data from clinicaltrials.gov. Till January 2023, over 500 clinical trials were actively recruiting for therapies that are related to conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders by targeting specific GPCRs such as serotonin receptors and adrenoceptors. This high investment in GPCR-based projects reflects pharmaceutical companies' belief that modulating these receptor families can yield valuable new treatments for major diseases. As the science around GPCRs advances and more potential drugs are discovered, it is expected that the global G-protein coupled receptors market will experience considerable expansion in the future to commercialize these prospects. The market is driven by the pharmaceutical industry's continuous efforts to enrich the clinical pipelines and bring more GPCR-directed therapies to patients worldwide. This clinical progress and commercialization of new drugs will help sustain market growth.
• Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases: Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases across the world is a major factor fueling the growth of the global G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) market. GPCRs play an important role in many physiological processes and are also involved in various diseases and disorders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases accounted for approximately 60% of total reported deaths globally in 2001, and this number is expected to increase further in the near future. Chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders pose serious health challenges. For instance, diabetes has almost quadrupled since 1980, with an estimated 422 Mn adults living with diabetes, according to the latest data by the International Diabetes Federation. Similarly, there has been a significant rise in Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia globally, it is estimated that over 55 Mn people live with dementia worldwide. The economic burden of these chronic illnesses on patients and healthcare systems is immense. With the aging global population and changing lifestyle trends, the prevalence of such non-communicable diseases is projected to escalate dramatically in the near future. As G-protein coupled receptors play a crucial role in the physiological processes impacted by chronic diseases, drug developers are increasingly focusing on developing novel drugs that target specific GPCRs. For example, there is a concerted effort by pharmaceutical companies to develop improved drugs for asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that target lung GPCRs. Researchers are also exploring GPCRs prevalent in cancer cells to develop newer targeted therapies. The revenues of companies developing GPCR-targeting drugs have witnessed steady growth. Rising focus on GPCRs for developing advanced treatment options for chronic diseases is a major driver proliferating the global GPCR market size. The market is expected to witness lucrative opportunities with the projected increased burden of these diseases worldwide.
• Technological advancements in GPCR assays: Technological advancements in the field of GPCR assays are revolutionizing drug discovery research and positively impacting the growth of the global G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) market. GPCRs are promising drug targets as they are involved in many important physiological processes. Traditionally, GPCR research relied on radioligand binding and signaling assays which were labor intensive, time-consuming, and required the use of radioisotopes. However, recent developments in areas such as label-free detection, AlphaScreen and Time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer (TR-FRET) technologies have enabled real-time, non-radioactive assays with improved sensitivity and throughput. The implementation of these advanced assay platforms in academic and pharmaceutical research laboratories is driving higher adoption of GPCR products. For instance, assays based on AlphaScreen and TR-FRET methodologies have gained popularity as they provide researchers with sensitive and homogeneous formats for detecting ligand-receptor binding and down-stream signaling events without the need for separation steps. Several leading companies have also developed high-throughput compatible AlphaLISA Immunoassay Kits and LanthaScreen assays against clinically relevant GPCR targets like cannabinoid and adenosine receptors to measure pathway modulation. This has facilitated screening of compound libraries at a scale not possible before, thereby accelerating drug discovery efforts.

Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market- Opportunities

• Emerging Asian markets: Emerging Asian markets such as India, China, and Southeast Asian countries can emerge as a major opportunity in the global G-protein coupled receptors market. These nations are experiencing rapid economic growth and witnessing a rise in healthcare investments and expenditure. With growing middle-class population and improving standards of living, diseases like cancer and cardiovascular ailments are on the rise in Asia. This is generating increased demand for innovative treatment options and advanced diagnostic techniques. GPCRs have wide applications across various therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, neurology, and metabolism. They are vital for drug discovery process targeting diseases that have high prevalence in Asia like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. The governments of Asian countries recognize healthcare as a priority sector and are making efforts to enhance healthcare infrastructure, reforms, and funding for medical research. For example, China aims to achieve major progress in key areas such as biologics, rare diseases, and oncology by 2030 under its 'Healthy China 2030' plan. India has also set goals of increasing public health expenditure to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2023 under the National Health Policy. Several global pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations are establishing manufacturing facilities and R&D centers in Asia to benefit from the talent pool and large patient population. In the future, with aging demographic, rising patient awareness, increasing focus on precision medicine and advances in medical technology, the Asian region promises high growth potential for companies involved in drug discovery space leveraging GPCR technology. If current trends continue, G-protein coupled receptors could emerge as the mainstream drug targets unlocking multiple first-in-class therapeutics, catering to unmet needs in Asia. For example, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America projects’ estimates, by 2030, Asia’s biopharmaceutical market will grow to more than US$300 billion, overtaking Europe. Increasing accessibility to quality and affordable healthcare in Asia will play a significant role in fuelling the global GPCRs market growth trajectory in the near future, according to International Trade Administration
• Collaborations between research institutes and pharmaceutical companies: Collaborations between research institutes and pharmaceutical companies provide a huge opportunity for growth in the global G-protein coupled receptors market. GPCRs are extraordinarily important for new drug development due to their involvement in many pathological processes. However, GPCR research is highly complex and requires significant investments of time and resources. Partnerships allow both academic scientists and private firms to leverage their relative strengths for mutual benefit. Research institutes have world-class expertise in GPCR biology but often lack the funding for long drug development cycles. Pharmaceutical companies have deep pockets but can benefit from fresh ideas and targeting new GPCRs. Collaborations thus provide scientists access to industry resources to advance basic research, while also feeding promising leads into corporate pipelines. Some examples include the collaboration between academia and 12 pharmaceutical partners focused on GPCR structures. Another is AstraZeneca's, one of the global pharmaceutical company strategic alliances with International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology to develop treatments for various diseases. As GPCRs remain one of the most sought after targets but also most challenging to drug, these partnerships will be crucial for future innovation. Over 90% of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs interact with GPCRs, yet only 5% of known receptors have been targeted. Ongoing research continues expanding the understanding of novel subtypes and signaling. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported non-communicable diseases accounted for 71% of global deaths in 2016, emphasizing the need for continued progress. Collaborations will be central to address this growing burden by enabling shared risks and rewards across the public and private sectors in GPCR research.

Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market- Trends

• Development of nano body therapeutics targeting GPCRs: Development of nanobody therapeutics targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) is expected to significantly influence the global GPCR market in the near future. Nanobodies are single domain antigen binding fragments derived from camelids that are smaller than conventional monoclonal antibodies but have high binding affinity and specificity. Several pharmaceutical companies are researching and developing nanobody therapeutics that specifically target different GPCRs with the goal of treating various disease conditions. For example, Ablynx, a biopharmaceutical company acquired by Sanofi, one of the global biopharmaceutical company in 2018, has developed a nanobody therapeutic, targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor which is involved in migraine. This nanobody drug, dubbed ALX-0171, has completed phase 2 clinical trials successfully and shown promising results in reducing migraine attacks. Sanofi is further conducting Phase 3 trials and if approved, ALX-0171 will be the first US FDA approved GPCR receptor blocking therapeutic developed by using nanobody technology. This indicates the potential of nanobodies to produce highly specific drugs against GPCR targets that were traditionally difficult to drug. As GPCRs are estimated to be involved in around 30-40% of all drug targets, the commercial success of nanobody drugs targeting these receptors will strongly influence investment and R&D in the GPCR market. Several other pharmaceutical companies like Abcam, Novo Nordisk, Abbvie, Merck and Clementia Pharmaceuticals, global pharmaceutical companies are exploring the use of nanobodies against different GPCRs that are associated with conditions like osteoporosis, hemorrhagic diseases, pain, and others. This trend is likely to drive increased research funding, clinical trials, and contribute significantly to the revenue of the global G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) market estimated to be worth US$54 billion by 2027. Overall, nanobody therapeutics has potential to revolutionize GPCR drug discovery and lead to more effective and safer drugs to treat several diseases.
• Increasing applications of GPCRs in personalized medicine: Increasing focus on personalized medicine and targeted therapeutics is having a significant impact on the global G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) market. GPCRs play a vital role in many physiological functions and diseases, thereby making them important drug targets. With advances in genetic research and precision diagnostics, scientists are gaining deeper understanding of how genetic variations influence individual responses to drugs. This is driving demand for targeted GPCR drugs that can effectual outcomes for uniquely defined patient subgroups. Pharmaceutical companies are leveraging diverse GPCR research approaches like high-throughput screening and structural biology to develop more selective medications. They are generating vast genomic and clinical trial data to recognize biomarkers predictive of a patient's likely response or risk of adverse effects. This allows them to tailor drug regimens according to the genetic and molecular profile of individual patients or small patient populations. For example, researchers from the University of Manchester in collaboration with AstraZeneca, one of the global pharmaceutical company analyzed genetic variants related to GPCR pathways in over 60,000 patients and identified predictors of drug efficacy and safety for multiple disorders including depression and diabetes. Growing shift towards precision medicine has prompted many pharmaceutical giants and biotech startups to focus on developing GPCR drugs targeting rare subtypes or genetic mutations linked to specific diseases. According to statistics by the National Institutes of Health, over 7,000 rare diseases collectively affect over 25 Mn Americans. However, over 90% of these rare conditions still lack US FDA-approved treatments. GPCRs represent potential opportunities for developing orphan drugs to help patients with uncommon diseases. The recent approvals of targeted GPCR orphan drugs to treat conditions such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus reflect this trend, thereby stimulating investment in this domain.

Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market - Restraints

• High costs associated with GPCR drug discovery: High costs involved in GPCR drug discovery is posing considerable challenges for the growth of global G-protein coupled receptors market. GPCR drug discovery is an extremely expensive process requiring massive investments in research and development. Developing a new drug that targets GPCRs and bringing it to market can cost over US$2.5 billion. This high cost is hindering many small pharmaceutical companies from actively pursuing GPCR drug development programs. The process of GPCR drug discovery starts with target identification, followed by lead optimization which requires high-throughput screening of thousands of small molecule compounds. This screening process alone is very capital intensive due to the infrastructure and equipment needed. It then moves to preclinical and clinical trials which span over a decade and involves testing new drug candidates on animal and human subjects. Clinical trials are the most expensive phase where the failure rate is also very high. Even after successful completion, the drug needs to undergo regulatory approvals which add to the significant costs. All these costs have deterred significant investments in GPCR research over the years. According to the statistics by WHO, only 4% of compounds in clinical development target GPCRs, despite their involvement in many diseases. The high risks and uncertain outcomes associated with GPCR drug discovery do not provide a strong incentive for small companies, unlike therapies for oncology or rare diseases, where returns are more assured. This has negatively impacted innovation in the market. However, increased collaborations between large pharmaceutical companies and startups can help share risks and costs to boost research on GPCR drug discovery going forward.
• Ethical issues related to animal testing: One of the key factors restraining the growth of the global G-protein coupled receptors market is the ethical concerns regarding animal testing. There has been a growing debate around the world on the use of animals for research and testing purposes. Animal rights organizations argue that animal testing causes unnecessary pain and suffering to test subjects. They believe that alternate non-animal methods should be explored and developed to replace animal models. This issue is highly debated in the public domain and has led several advocacy groups to campaign against animal testing. Various petitions have been organized online to ban experiments involving animals. There is also rising societal pressure on governments to introduce and enforce stricter laws controlling animal research. For example, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection has been actively lobbying the U.K. government seeking a timeline to end animal testing. In the U.S.as well, groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Humane Society International have increased awareness about the cruelty of animal experiments. The negative publicity and protests has forced many pharmaceutical and biotech companies to reduce their dependence on animal data or switch to alternative methods. This is slowing down the drug discovery and development process involving GPCRs, as targets for many diseases are first explored using animal models. According to a report by the National Anti-Vivisection Society, in 2021, a non-profit organization countering animal experiments, 27% of researchers surveyed said ethical concerns influenced their decision to use non-animal methods over animal tests. Around 15% researchers also reported losing funding opportunities or contracts due to animal welfare policies of sponsors. Such developments are compelling companies to focus more on advancing replacement alternatives like organoids and microfluidics which do not require the use of live animal subjects. Unless widespread adoption of non-animal technologies take place, ethical objections to animal testing will continue restricting commercial development within the GPCR market.

Counterbalance: The key market players should focus on widespread adoption of technologies which will consider alternative replacement methods for GPCR testing instead of animals.

Figure 2. Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market Share (%), By Product Type, 2023

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Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market- Recent Developments

Key Developments

• On June 15, 2023, Confo Therapeutics, one of the leader in discovery of medicines targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with AbCellera, one of the biotechnology company for the discovery of therapeutic antibody candidates targeting two undisclosed GPCR targets.
• In January 2022, Sosei Group Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company that develops drugs by using a proprietary G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targeted StaR technology and structure-based drug discovery (SBDD) platform and Verily, an alphabet precision health company announced that they have entered into a strategic research collaboration. The research agreement brings together the complementary capabilities of Verily’s immune profiling and Sosei Heptares’ G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) structure-based drug design.

Business Development Activities by the Market Players

• In April 2022, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Japan embarked on a collaborative endeavor with Domain Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on GPCR in immuno-oncology and the Universite de Montreal for the purpose of identifying cutting-edge small molecules that modulate G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), with a particular focus on a metabolic disease.
• In January 2022, Septerna, Inc., a biotechnology firm, successfully completed a fundraising event, securing a series A investment totaling US$ 100 Mn. The capital injection is aimed at propelling the development of GPCR-targeted therapeutics through the utilization of their proprietary native complex platform. This advancement is expected to address the historic difficulties that are associated with harnessing the substantial but largely unrealized therapeutic potential of GPCR targets across diverse disease spectrums.

Top Companies in Global G-Protein Coupled Receptors Market

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Eurofins Scientific
• QIAGEN
• WuXi AppTec
• Promega Corporation
• Abcam plc.
• Merck KGaA
• PerkinElmer Inc.
• Enzo Biochem Inc.,

Definition: G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a diverse and significant group of membrane proteins that play a crucial role in cellular signaling. These receptors traverse the cell membrane seven times and transmit signals from outside the cell to within, regulating various physiological processes. GPCRs respond to an array of external stimuli, including hormones, neurotransmitters, light, and odor molecules.