PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS MARKET ANALYSIS

The Global Peptide Synthesis Market size is expected to reach US$ 702.1 Mn by 2030, from US$ 425.3 Mn in 2023, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period.

Peptide synthesis is the process of creating short sequences of polypeptides by adding one amino acid at a time. This process is useful for creating specific sequences that represent epitopes of certain protein domains that may or may not be modified by moieties, such as phosphate groups.

Global Peptide Synthesis Market- Regional Insights

• North America is expected to be the largest market for peptide synthesis during the forecast period, accounting for over 35.7% of the market share in 2023. North America has remained the dominant region in the global peptide synthesis market over the past decade. The presence of major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the U.S. and Canada has fueled research and development activities in this field. These companies are actively investing in developing novel peptide-based drugs and therapeutics. Furthermore, strong government funding for healthcare and life sciences research provides impetus to peptide-based drug discovery and drives regional market growth.
• The pricing of synthesized peptides in North America is among the highest globally due to the advanced technologies and production capabilities of players in this region. For instance, most American companies offering peptide synthesis services employ sophisticated techniques like solid-phase peptide synthesis, which enable the production of complex peptides. This sophisticated production comes at a premium but ensures the highest purity and yield for customers. Several North American companies also have extensive custom peptide libraries that allow academic researchers to screen millions of peptide sequences at once for their studies.
• Asia Pacific market is expected to be the second-largest market for peptide synthesis, accounting for over 25.2% of the market share in 2023. Asia Pacific has emerged as the fastest-growing regional market for peptide synthesis in recent times on account of increasing investments by international manufacturers to tap into the opportunities in this region. Countries like China, India, and South Korea have emerged as global hotspots for outsourced drug discovery and manufacturing activities due to the availability of a low-cost and highly skilled scientific workforce. Domestic players in Asia Pacific are gaining expertise in custom peptide synthesis, which is attracting several multinational pharmaceutical companies to outsource their peptide needs to this region. Moreover, governments across Asia Pacific are promoting investments in biotech and biopharma sectors through initiatives like tax rebates and the easing of regulations, which is positively impacting the regional peptide synthesis market.
• Europe market is expected to be the fastest-growing market for peptide synthesis, with a share of 19% during the forecast period. The growth of the market in Europe is attributed to the increasing prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in the region.

Analyst View: The global peptide synthesis market is poised to grow significantly over the coming years. The market is driven by several factors, such as rising investment in research and development activities for novel drug discovery and increasing demand for personalized medicine. Furthermore, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes is expected to propel the demand for peptide-based drugs and boost market growth. North America currently dominates the global peptide synthesis market owing to major biopharma companies investing heavily in peptide-related R&D. However, Asia Pacific is likely to be the fastest-growing region due to increasing government support for drug development research and rising biotech investments.

While the market opportunities are plentiful, high capital requirements and costs associated with peptide synthesis equipment and reagents pose challenges to market players. Stringent regulatory norms also increase the time and costs involved in developing and commercializing peptide-based drugs. However, the growth of outsourcing activities to contract manufacturing organizations is expected to provide opportunities for market expansion. Key players are making efforts to introduce innovative technologies like automated peptide synthesizers to streamline the synthesis process and reduce production costs. Additionally, greater adoption of oral drug delivery methods could help address major restraints in the market. In conclusion, the future prospects for the global peptide synthesis market appear bright, driven by demand for novel therapeutics.

Figure 1. Global Peptide Synthesis Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

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Global Peptide Synthesis Market- Drivers

• Growing Demand from Pharmaceutical Industry: The global peptide synthesis market is expected to witness significant growth over the coming years owing to the rising demand from the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. Peptides have emerged as an important class of therapeutic molecules that offer several advantages over conventional small molecule drugs, such as high selectivity and potency. Several peptide-based drugs are already on the market for the treatment of cancer, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic conditions. Moreover, peptides can be customized and modified through chemical synthesis to improve their activity, selectivity, and bioavailability. With increasing focus on developing novel biotherapeutics, pharmaceutical companies are actively involved in peptide-based drug discovery and development programs. Peptide drugs currently under clinical trials or U.S. Food and Drug Administration review have demonstrated efficacy in conditions where conventional treatments have limitations. For instance, peptide drugs show potential in immuno-oncology by stimulating anti-tumor immune response with minimal side effects. Several pharmaceutical giants are investing heavily in setting up in-house peptide synthesis facilities or outsourcing their needs to contract research organizations. As more peptide molecules enter clinical stages and get approved for marketing, it will drive consistent demand for their chemical synthesis in large quantities under regulatory guidelines. Additionally, the market is also witnessing increased adoption of customized peptide services by biotech startups engaged in developing new biologics and vaccines.
• Rising Research in Proteomics and Genomics: Another key driver propelling the peptide synthesis market is the rising academic and industrial research in the areas of proteomics and genomics. Proteomics deals with the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their structures, functions, and interactions. It helps in a comprehensive understanding of physiological and pathological processes in living systems. Peptide synthesis plays a critical role in proteomics, as peptides serve as convenient surrogates for proteins in analytical methods and assay development. They are also used as signature tags for protein identification and biomarker discovery through mass spectrometry. Genomics research involving the identification of protein-protein interactions and protein expression profiling also relies on customized peptide synthesis. With advancements in high-throughput techniques, the scope and scale of proteomics and genomics investigations have grown significantly in recent years. Major academic institutions and contract research organizations have set up core proteomics facilities to support multi-disciplinary research applying these ‘omics’ approaches. As these studies increasingly focus on clinical applications related to precision medicine, healthcare, and disease pathology, it will generate a persistent demand for specialized peptide synthesis services. The market is witnessing new product launches catering to emerging proteomics and genomics applications such as specialized resin beads, novel linkers, and reagent kits for multiplex assays. This increasing adoption of proteomics and genomics technologies by research organizations is driving growth of the global peptide synthesis market.
• Growing focus on customized peptides: The global peptide synthesis market is indeed witnessing a growing focus on customized peptides, which cater to specific research, therapeutic, and commercial needs. Custom peptides are tailor-made to specific sequences and modifications required by researchers and pharmaceutical companies. Here is an overview of why customized peptides are gaining prominence:
  • Precision Medicine: There is an increasing trend towards personalized medicine, which requires peptides to be customized for a specific patient’s genetic makeup, potentially leading to more effective treatments with fewer side effects
  • Therapeutic Research and Development (R&D): Custom peptides are extensively used in drug discovery and development. Their versatility and specificity make them excellent tools for exploring novel therapeutic pathways and targets
  • Vaccine Development: The use of custom peptides in vaccine development, particularly as epitopes to stimulate an immune response, gained significant attention during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be a focus area.

Global Peptide Synthesis Market- Opportunities

• Growing applications of peptides in cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals: The global peptide synthesis market is indeed experiencing an expansion into diverse sectors, including cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals. The unique properties of peptides, such as their biological activity, specificity, and relative safety, make them attractive ingredients for products in these markets. Here is how peptides are being utilized:
• Cosmeceuticals: Cosmeceutical products typically combine cosmetics with therapeutically active ingredients to provide added benefits beyond traditional cosmetics.
  • Anti-aging: Peptides are incorporated into skincare products for their anti-aging properties. They may stimulate collagen production, which improves skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
  • Skin Repair and Protection: Some peptides have been found to facilitate skin repair and regeneration and protect against damage from environmental factors like UV radiation.
  • Targeted Solutions: Peptides in cosmeceuticals can be designed to target specific skin concerns, such as pigmentation, redness, and uneven texture.
  • Delivery Mechanisms: Advances in peptide synthesis technologies have led to the development of more stable peptides and improved delivery systems that enhance the efficacy of cosmeceutical products.
• Nutraceuticals: Nutraceuticals are products derived from food sources with extra health benefits in addition to their basic nutritional value.
  • Functional Foods: Peptides are being added to functional foods to enhance health and well-being. For instance, bioactive peptides can have antioxidant, antimicrobial, or anti-hypertensive effects.
  • Supplements: Peptide supplements are gaining popularity for various applications, including weight management, muscle growth, and immune system support.
  • Health and Disease Management: Specific bioactive peptides may play roles in the management and prevention of diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and type II diabetes.
• Rising Healthcare Expenditure: One of the significant factors influencing the growth rate of the global peptide synthesis market is the growing healthcare expenditure, which helps in improving its infrastructure. For instance, according to the International Health Care System of the U.S., in June 2020, U.S. government organizations aim to improve the healthcare infrastructure by increasing funding, setting legislation and national strategies, and cofounding and setting basic requirements and regulations for the Medicaid program. Similarly, in November 2022, the Canadian Institute for Health Information reported that the total health spending in Canada was US$ 331 billion in 2022, or US$ 8,563 per Canadian, while health expenditure represented 12.2% of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, following a high of 13.8% in 2020.
• Advancements in peptide technologies: Advancements in peptide technologies have been pivotal in catalyzing growth within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. These advancements are broad-ranging and impact peptide synthesis, modification, and utilization in several ways:
  • Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS): Innovations in SPPS, including new resin materials and linker technologies, have improved efficiency and quality of peptide synthesis. This has also enabled the synthesis of longer and more complex peptides with greater purity.
  • Automated Synthesis: The widespread adoption of automated synthesizers has increased the throughput and reproducibility of peptide synthesis, making scalable production more viable for commercial purposes.
  • Peptide Libraries: Development of combinatorial chemistry techniques has facilitated the creation of extensive libraries of peptides for high-throughput screening. This is particularly useful in drug discovery for identifying peptides with favorable biological activities.
  • Peptide Modifications: Advances in chemical ligation techniques, such as native chemical ligation (NCL) and expressed protein ligation (EPL), have allowed scientists to create peptides with post-translational modifications, enhancing their stability and bioactivity.

Global Peptide Synthesis Market- Trends

• Increased outsourcing of peptide synthesis: The trend of increased outsourcing in the global peptide synthesis market is evident as pharmaceutical and biotech companies are often seeking to expedite drug development processes and reduce costs. There are several reasons behind this trend:
  • Specialization: Peptide synthesis requires a high degree of specialization, and dedicated peptide synthesis companies possess the needed expertise, facilities, and technology
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Outsourcing peptide synthesis can be more cost-effective than in-house production, especially for companies without the necessary infrastructure or for short-term projects
  • R&D Focus: By outsourcing, companies can focus their internal resources on research and development, as well as on their core competencies, leaving the complexities of peptide synthesis to specialized vendors
  • Rapid Turnaround: Contract Research Organizations (CROs) can offer rapid turnaround times due to their focus on peptide synthesis, enabling faster progression from research to clinical phases
• Growing preference for automated peptide synthesis: The global peptide synthesis market is indeed witnessing a growing preference for automated peptide synthesis, which presents several advantages over manual synthesis methods. The following points highlight the key factors behind this trend:
  • Efficiency and Throughput: Automated synthesis machines can produce multiple peptides simultaneously at a rapid pace, greatly increasing the throughput and efficiency of peptide production.
  • Reproducibility and Accuracy: Automation minimizes human error, leading to highly reproducible peptides with consistent quality, which is crucial for research as well as therapeutic applications.
  • Scalability: Automated synthesizers can often be easily scaled to accommodate larger or smaller synthesis scales, allowing for flexible production volumes as needed.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Over time, automation can reduce the cost per peptide synthesis by optimizing the use of reagents and reducing labor costs, especially for large-scale or high-volume productions.

Global Peptide Synthesis Market - Restraint

• High capital investment for equipment and technology: The high capital investment required for equipment and technology is one of the major restraints hindering the growth of global peptide synthesis market. Developing specialized peptide synthesis equipment and facilities entails huge upfront costs running into millions of dollars. This poses significant challenge for small and mid-sized peptide synthesis companies to invest in the latest technologies. Most of the equipment used for peptide synthesis such as automated peptide synthesizers, Lyophilisers, HPLC instruments etc are very expensive with the cost of single machine ranging from hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars. Additionally, maintaining stringent safety and quality standards as prescribed by regulatory authority’s demands investment in setting up costly in-house infrastructure and facilities. The need for specialized laboratories equipped with advanced technologies such as recombinant techniques, chiral chromatography etc further escalates the overhead costs. Developing in-house R&D capabilities to cater to customized needs of research institutes and pharmaceutical companies is also a costly affair for players. This hampers the capability of small market players to scale up operations and expand to new segments. As a result, many small businesses hesitate to invest heavily and focus only on conventional peptide synthesis methods. This acts as an entry barrier for new players and also restricts the innovation and development of complex peptides in the market.

Figure 2. Global Peptide Synthesis Market Share (%), By Product, 2023

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Global Peptide Synthesis Market- Recent Developments

Research and Development Activities

• In June 2022, Evonik, a specialty chemicals company, announced the launch of its new peptide to boost the productivity of cell-culture-based biopharmaceuticals and to improve productivity of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, viral vectors, and therapeutic cells
• In January 2022, Novo Nordisk India division, a leading global healthcare company, launched a peptide in a pill, oral semaglutide, for diabetes management. A GLP-1 receptor analogue (GLP-1 RA), one of the drug classes to treat diabetes, was until now available only in the form of injections. Oral semaglutide is a co-formulation of GLP-1RA semaglutide with the absorption enhancer SNAC, which protects semaglutide from undergoing degradation in the stomach like other peptides and enhances its absorption.

Business Development Activities by the Market Players

• On September 25, 2023, Biosynth, a supplier of critical materials to the life science industry, announced the acquisition of Pepceuticals, a U.K. producer of synthetic peptides with multi-kilogram GMP facilities and fill-finish capabilities designed to support customers from clinical trials to commercial supply.
• In April 2021, ISSAR Pharma, the pioneer in peptide technology and peptide drug innovation, announced licensing their peptide-based New Chemical Entities (NCEs), with pre-investigational new drug (IND) filing and a U.S. patent. The potential collaboration would help ISSAR Pharmaceuticals in their goal to design and deliver novel peptide-based drugs for various unmet healthcare needs of the population, making it affordable and accessible for better health outcomes.

Top companies in Global Peptide Synthesis Market

• GenScript Biotech Corporation
• Merck KGaA
• ThermoFisher Scientific Inc.
• Syngene
• Lonza
• Novo Nordisk A/S
• Bachem Holding AG
• Gyros Protein Technologies
• Creative Diagnostics
• CEM Corporation
• PuroSynth
• AAPPTec
• Biotage AB
• AnaSpec
• ABclonal, Inc.
• Novelgene Technologies

Definition: Peptide synthesis is the process of chemically creating peptides, which are chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. It involves the step-by-step addition of amino acids in a specific sequence to build a peptide of a defined length with a specific structure. This process is fundamental in biochemistry and molecular biology and has significant applications in both research and therapeutic developments.