Market Trends of Peptide Drug Conjugates Industry
The Therapeutic Segment is Expected to Dominate the Peptide Drug Conjugates Market During the Forecast Period
Oncology remains a primary therapeutic focus in the peptide drug conjugates market. The targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents to cancer cells, leveraging the specificity of peptides, continues to drive advancements in precision oncology. For instance, in May 2024, Novartis and PeptiDream bolstered their peptide discovery collaboration, signing a new deal valued at more than USD 2.8 billion. Under this multi-program agreement, PeptiDream will leverage its proprietary Peptide Discovery Platform System to pinpoint and enhance macrocyclic peptides tailored explicitly to Novartis’ selected targets.
Similarly, in December 2023, Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl (NMS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a member of the NMS group, inked a licensing deal with Italfarmaco SpA (ITF), a specialized pharmaceutical firm. The agreement focuses on developing and commercializing a cutting-edge peptide-drug conjugate (PDC). As per the terms, ITF will leverage NMS's exclusive linker-payload technology to craft a pioneering PDC product. NMS has already set up GMP manufacturing and supply of the linker payload through a CDMO, as recommended by NMS. Meanwhile, ITF will spearhead the production of the target peptide and oversee all pre-clinical, clinical, and commercialization endeavors for the resultant proprietary products. Such trends are anticipated to promote the application of peptide drug conjugates and drive the market's growth.
Additionally, the market's dominance is mainly due to the availability of approved PDCs like Lutathera and Pepaxto, which specifically target tumor cells. The ongoing clinical trials for targeting therapeutic drugs such as ANG1005 (Angiochem Inc.) and BT5528 and BT1718 (Bicycle Therapeutics) are anticipated to contribute to the market's growth during the forecast period. Also, pharmaceutical companies are focusing on developing targeted therapeutic PDCs for metabolic and COVID-19 diseases, recognizing the considerable advantages of PDCs in therapeutics.
Moreover, according to an article published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry in February 2024, peptide drug conjugates have expanded the therapeutic window, improved the therapeutic effect, and changed people's understanding of drug therapy for cancer compared with traditional chemotherapy drugs. Additionally, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and artificial intelligence (AI) of computer technology play an increasingly important role in the research and development of peptide drug conjugates, such as researching mechanisms of action and discovering new targets.
North America is Expected to Dominate the Peptide Drug Conjugates Market
North America’s leadership in the peptide drug conjugates market is driven by factors such as high chronic disease prevalence, the need for new therapies for treatment, strategic collaborations, and a commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies in the healthcare industry. Cancer is a significant global public health issue and ranks as the second most common cause of death in the United States. For instance, according to the American Cancer Society, 2.0 million new cancer cases are projected to occur in the United States in 2024. These factors collectively position the region as a frontrunner in shaping the future of peptide drug conjugate solutions for precision medicine.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) often engages in strategic initiatives to facilitate the development, production, and commercializing of peptide drug conjugate products, contributing to market leadership and playing a pivotal role in regulating and approving medical products. For instance, in September 2023, the FDA unveiled a draft guidance delineating its clinical pharmacology and labeling considerations for peptide drug products. The primary objective of this guidance was to articulate the FDA’s stance on development programs for new drug applications (NDAs) related to peptide drugs and to offer advice to the industry in executing these programs. Furthermore, the FDA advised against conducting radiolabeled mass balance studies for peptide drugs with well-understood metabolism and elimination pathways.
Hence, North American companies and institutions have been at the forefront of developing advanced technology. Key product launches, high concentration of technological advancement, or manufacturer’s presence are some of the factors driving the growth of the peptide drug conjugates market in the country. For instance, in March 2024, ProteinQure, a computational peptide drug design startup, unveiled a groundbreaking peptide drug conjugate. This conjugate showcased remarkable efficacy across a range of Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) models. The experiments were conducted at the esteemed Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, affiliated with the University Health Network, recognized as one of the world’s top five cancer research hubs. Therefore, owing to the factors above, the market’s growth is anticipated in North America.
