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The small molecule drug discovery market size is projected to reach US$ 106.77 billion by 2031 from US$ 50.93 billion in 2023. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 9.7% during 2023–2031. The growing adoption of artificial intelligence in drug discovery is likely to act as a future trend in the market.
Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Analysis
The small molecule drug discovery market is mainly driven by increasing R&D by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in discovering novel drugs, government initiatives, and the prevalence of cancer. Other factors contributing to the market expansion include the globalization of clinical trials, rapid advancements in associated technologies, and an increase in demand for CROs for conducting clinical trials. In addition, increasing small molecule-based pipeline acts as an opportunity for the growth of the small molecule drug discovery market.
Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Overview
Asia Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. An upsurge in technological advancements, a surge in collaborations (for the development of genomic research) among Asian and Western countries, a decrease in prices of DNA sequencing, and a rising prevalence of genetic and other target diseases are propelling the Asia Pacific small molecule drug discovery market. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to propel owing to the rising GDP resulting in the growth of the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, the increasing disposable income is boosting the adoption of advanced healthcare techniques. Thus, there is a huge potential for the small molecule drug discovery market owing to the aforementioned factors.
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Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market: Strategic Insights
Market Size Value in US$ 24,976.14 Million in 2019 Market Size Value by US$ 50,823.06 Million by 2027 Growth rate CAGR of 9.5% from 2020-2027 Forecast Period 2020-2027 Base Year 2020
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Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market: Strategic Insights
Market Size Value in | US$ 24,976.14 Million in 2019 |
Market Size Value by | US$ 50,823.06 Million by 2027 |
Growth rate | CAGR of 9.5% from 2020-2027 |
Forecast Period | 2020-2027 |
Base Year | 2020 |
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Speak to AnalystSmall Molecule Drug Discovery Market Drivers and Opportunities
Flourishing Pharmaceutical Industry with Surge in R&D Activities
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most R&D-intensive industries in the world. Efforts are being made to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiency in fulfilling patients' needs. The cost of medicines has been a prime concern for pharmaceutical companies as they bank on their R&D activities to achieve intended cost targets. Over the last decade, the number of new small molecule drugs approved yearly has drastically increased. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 55 new drugs in 2023. The small molecules dominated new drug approvals in 2023, accounting for 62% of all new molecular entities (NME) approved. Globally, the US is a leading country in terms of R&D investments, and the country produced over 50% of the world's new molecules in the past decade. An increase in approval has led to growing investments by companies for the development of small molecule drugs due to their potential in treating several severe diseases.
R&D Investments by Major Pharmaceutical Companies
Company | 2022 (US$ Billion) | 2023 (US$ Billion) |
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | 4.2 | 5.08 |
Pfizer Inc | 11.4 | 10.6 |
Grifols SA | 427.05 | 432.71 |
Note: The current conversion rate is considered for presenting the currencies.
Source: Annual Reports and The Insight Partners Analysis
The R&D expenditure is instrumental in companies' efforts to discover, examine, and produce new products; make upfront payments; improve existing outcomes; and demonstrate product efficacy and regulatory compliance before launch. These investments differ as per the need and demand for drug discovery. The cost includes materials, supplies used, and employee salaries, along with the cost of developing quality control. According to PhRMA Member Companies 2021 report, the top 15 largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue invested US$ 133 billion in R&D cumulatively, and ~44% of the total R&D investment was allocated to drug discovery. Thus, the increasing R&D investments by companies are fueling the small molecule drug discovery market growth.
Increasing Small Molecule-Based Pipeline to Offer Opportunity for Market Growth
The pharmaceutical industry is continually evolving and there is always a need for new, innovative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of various chronic indications. Small molecule-based drug approvals have increased over the past five years owing to their effectiveness against a wide range of indications. Small molecule drug candidate-based pipelines are growing for a wide range of therapeutic applications, including oncology, hypertension, diabetes, and inflammatory disorders. Many big and small pharmaceutical companies are engaged in the development of several small-molecule drugs.
The growing pipeline of small molecule-based drugs for various indications is, in turn, boosting drug discovery activities across the industry.
Compound Name | Compound Type | Company Name | Clinical Phase | Indication |
PF-06821497 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Cancer |
PF-06873600 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Breast Cancer Metastatic |
PF-06939999 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Solid Tumors |
PF-06952229 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Cancer |
PF-06826647 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Ulcerative Colitis |
PF-07038124 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Atopic Dermatitis |
PF-06842874 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension |
PF-06865571 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) with Liver Fibrosis |
PF-06882961 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Diabetes Mellitus-Type 2, Obesity |
PF-07081532 | Small Molecule | Pfizer Inc. | Phase 1 | Diabetes Mellitus-Type 2, Obesity |
R835 | Small Molecule | Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Phase 1 | Inflammatory Disorders |
R552 | Small Molecule | Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Phase 1 | Inflammatory Disorders |
SY-1425 | Small Molecule | Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Phase 2 | AML |
Source: Company News and The Insight Partner Analysis
Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Report Segmentation Analysis
Key segments that contributed to the derivation of the small molecule drug discovery market analysis are therapeutic area and process/phase.
- Based on therapeutic area, the small molecule drug discovery market is segmented into oncology, central nervous system, cardiovascular, respiratory, orthopedics, immunology, rare diseases, and other therapeutic areas. The oncology segment held the largest share of the market in 2023.
- By process/phase, the market is segmented into target discovery, target validation, lead generation and refinement, and preclinical development. The lead generation and refinement segment dominated the market in 2023.
Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Share Analysis by Geography
The geographic scope of the small molecule drug discovery market report is mainly divided into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, South & Central America, and the Middle East & Africa. In terms of revenue, North America dominated the market in 2023. Increasing research and development by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in discovering novel drugs, growing investments in pharmaceuticals, and prevalence of cancer are among the factors that are projected to accelerate the growth of the North America small molecule drug discovery market. The US is the largest and fastest-growing market for small molecule drug discovery. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer primarily drives the market growth in the country. As per the American Cancer Society, in 2024, ~2 million people are projected to suffer from new cancer cases, and ~611,000 death cases are expected to be registered in the US. Owing to this scenario, the US health system witnesses massive investments in research and developments for novel drug molecules. Further, a strong drug pipeline, along with therapeutic area approvals for small molecule drugs, is expected to drive the regional market. Apart from the rising number of approved drugs, increasing awareness of advanced therapeutics is likely to be responsible for the growth of the small molecule drug discovery market during the forecast period.
Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Report Scope
Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market News and Recent Developments
The small molecule drug discovery market is evaluated by gathering qualitative and quantitative data post primary and secondary research, which includes important corporate publications, association data, and databases. A few of the developments in the market are listed below:
- Oncodesign Services (ODS) acquired ZoBio, a Dutch CRO expert in biophysics-based small molecule drug discovery. This acquisition allows ODS to strengthen and extend its expertise and capabilities in the field of small molecule discovery to a fully integrated offering to support its customers' innovative programs from target validation to candidate selection. (Source: Oncodesign Services, Company Website, January 2024)
- Merck entered into new strategic drug discovery collaborations aimed at harnessing powerful artificial intelligence (AI)-driven design and discovery capabilities, further advancing the company’s research efforts. The partnership of BenevolentAI (London, UK) and Exscientia (Oxford, UK) is expected to generate several novel clinical development drug candidates with first-in-class and best-in-class potential in key therapeutic areas of oncology, neurology, and immunology. (Source: Merck, Company Website, September 2023)
Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Report Coverage and Deliverables
The "Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Size and Forecast (2021–2031)" report provides a detailed analysis of the market covering below areas:
- Small molecule drug discovery market size and forecast at global, regional, and country levels for all the key market segments covered under the scope
- Small molecule drug discovery market trends, as well as market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and key opportunities
- Detailed PEST and SWOT analysis
- Small molecule drug discovery market analysis covering key market trends, global and regional framework, major players, regulations, and recent market developments
- Industry landscape and competition analysis covering market concentration, heat map analysis, prominent players, and recent developments for the small molecule drug discovery market
- Detailed company profiles
Report Coverage
Revenue forecast, Company Analysis, Industry landscape, Growth factors, and Trends
Segment Covered
Therapeutic Area ; Process/Phase ; and Geography
Regional Scope
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South & Central America
Country Scope
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
Frequently Asked Questions
The market is expected to register a CAGR of 9.7% during 2023–2031.
The small molecule drug discovery market value is expected to reach US$ 106.77 billion by 2031.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Merck KGaA, GSK Plc, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, ICON Plc, Danaher Corp, Charles River Laboratories International Inc, Oncodesign Services, and Revvity Inc are among the key players in the market.
The growing adoption of artificial intelligence in drug discovery is expected to be a prime trend in the market in the coming years.
The flourishing pharmaceutical industry with a surge in R&D activities and the growing inclination toward outsourcing are among the most significant factors fueling the market growth.
North America dominated the market in 2023.
The List of Companies - Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co
- Merck KGaA
- GSK Plc
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc
- ICON Plc
- Danaher Corp
- Charles River Laboratories International Inc
- Oncodesign Services
- Revvity Inc
The Insight Partners performs research in 4 major stages: Data Collection & Secondary Research, Primary Research, Data Analysis and Data Triangulation & Final Review.
- Data Collection and Secondary Research:
As a market research and consulting firm operating from a decade, we have published many reports and advised several clients across the globe. First step for any study will start with an assessment of currently available data and insights from existing reports. Further, historical and current market information is collected from Investor Presentations, Annual Reports, SEC Filings, etc., and other information related to company’s performance and market positioning are gathered from Paid Databases (Factiva, Hoovers, and Reuters) and various other publications available in public domain.
Several associations trade associates, technical forums, institutes, societies and organizations are accessed to gain technical as well as market related insights through their publications such as research papers, blogs and press releases related to the studies are referred to get cues about the market. Further, white papers, journals, magazines, and other news articles published in the last 3 years are scrutinized and analyzed to understand the current market trends.
- Primary Research:
The primarily interview analysis comprise of data obtained from industry participants interview and answers to survey questions gathered by in-house primary team.
For primary research, interviews are conducted with industry experts/CEOs/Marketing Managers/Sales Managers/VPs/Subject Matter Experts from both demand and supply side to get a 360-degree view of the market. The primary team conducts several interviews based on the complexity of the markets to understand the various market trends and dynamics which makes research more credible and precise.
A typical research interview fulfils the following functions:
- Provides first-hand information on the market size, market trends, growth trends, competitive landscape, and outlook
- Validates and strengthens in-house secondary research findings
- Develops the analysis team’s expertise and market understanding
Primary research involves email interactions and telephone interviews for each market, category, segment, and sub-segment across geographies. The participants who typically take part in such a process include, but are not limited to:
- Industry participants: VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers and national sales managers
- Outside experts: Valuation experts, research analysts and key opinion leaders specializing in the electronics and semiconductor industry.
Below is the breakup of our primary respondents by company, designation, and region:
Once we receive the confirmation from primary research sources or primary respondents, we finalize the base year market estimation and forecast the data as per the macroeconomic and microeconomic factors assessed during data collection.
- Data Analysis:
Once data is validated through both secondary as well as primary respondents, we finalize the market estimations by hypothesis formulation and factor analysis at regional and country level.
- 3.1 Macro-Economic Factor Analysis:
We analyse macroeconomic indicators such the gross domestic product (GDP), increase in the demand for goods and services across industries, technological advancement, regional economic growth, governmental policies, the influence of COVID-19, PEST analysis, and other aspects. This analysis aids in setting benchmarks for various nations/regions and approximating market splits. Additionally, the general trend of the aforementioned components aid in determining the market's development possibilities.
- 3.2 Country Level Data:
Various factors that are especially aligned to the country are taken into account to determine the market size for a certain area and country, including the presence of vendors, such as headquarters and offices, the country's GDP, demand patterns, and industry growth. To comprehend the market dynamics for the nation, a number of growth variables, inhibitors, application areas, and current market trends are researched. The aforementioned elements aid in determining the country's overall market's growth potential.
- 3.3 Company Profile:
The “Table of Contents” is formulated by listing and analyzing more than 25 - 30 companies operating in the market ecosystem across geographies. However, we profile only 10 companies as a standard practice in our syndicate reports. These 10 companies comprise leading, emerging, and regional players. Nonetheless, our analysis is not restricted to the 10 listed companies, we also analyze other companies present in the market to develop a holistic view and understand the prevailing trends. The “Company Profiles” section in the report covers key facts, business description, products & services, financial information, SWOT analysis, and key developments. The financial information presented is extracted from the annual reports and official documents of the publicly listed companies. Upon collecting the information for the sections of respective companies, we verify them via various primary sources and then compile the data in respective company profiles. The company level information helps us in deriving the base number as well as in forecasting the market size.
- 3.4 Developing Base Number:
Aggregation of sales statistics (2020-2022) and macro-economic factor, and other secondary and primary research insights are utilized to arrive at base number and related market shares for 2022. The data gaps are identified in this step and relevant market data is analyzed, collected from paid primary interviews or databases. On finalizing the base year market size, forecasts are developed on the basis of macro-economic, industry and market growth factors and company level analysis.
- Data Triangulation and Final Review:
The market findings and base year market size calculations are validated from supply as well as demand side. Demand side validations are based on macro-economic factor analysis and benchmarks for respective regions and countries. In case of supply side validations, revenues of major companies are estimated (in case not available) based on industry benchmark, approximate number of employees, product portfolio, and primary interviews revenues are gathered. Further revenue from target product/service segment is assessed to avoid overshooting of market statistics. In case of heavy deviations between supply and demand side values, all thes steps are repeated to achieve synchronization.
We follow an iterative model, wherein we share our research findings with Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) until consensus view of the market is not formulated – this model negates any drastic deviation in the opinions of experts. Only validated and universally acceptable research findings are quoted in our reports.
We have important check points that we use to validate our research findings – which we call – data triangulation, where we validate the information, we generate from secondary sources with primary interviews and then we re-validate with our internal data bases and Subject matter experts. This comprehensive model enables us to deliver high quality, reliable data in shortest possible time.
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