Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Global Market estimated to be worth $12.9 billion by 2025

PCR is an enzymatic reaction process in which multiple copies of desired DNA sequence is obtained in a short period of time. This technique involves three steps namely denaturation, annealing and extension which are repeated at every cycle to obtain the required gene amplification. PCR technology global market is rapidly advancing at a steady rate with major applications in clinical diagnostics, industrial applications, and biomedical research. According to IQ4I Research analysis, the PCR global market is expected to grow at a high single digit CAGR to reach $12,910.1 million by 2025.

The factors driving the growth of PCR market are increasing demand for early detection of chronic diseases, increasing demand for genetic and molecular testing, high prevalence of infectious diseases, expiry of PCR patents of major players, increased investments in the field of companion diagnostics using PCR, increasing qPCR based food safety testing, technological advancements and growing demand for rapid diagnostic tests. However, factors like high cost of commercial PCR assays in clinical diagnostics, lack of awareness and requirement of skilled labor, development of alternate technologies and stringent regulatory framework are hampering the market.

The PCR market is classified by techniques, products, application, end-users and geography. Among PCR Techniques, RealTime/qPCR segment accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a high single digit CAGR from 2019 to 2025 due to its specificity, sensitivity, rapidity, cost effectiveness, no requirement for post PCR processing and data processing, ability to quantify DNA or RNA. The digital PCR segment is the fastest growing market in 2019 and is expected to grow at a double digit CAGR from 2019 to 2025 due to its potential and substantial impact on research as well as diagnostic applications like the detection and quantification of low-level pathogens, rare genetic sequences, copy number variations, relative gene expression in single cells, development of personal genomics by reducing the time and cost of many of the “next-generation sequencing” methods. Droplet digital PCR is one of the new and alternative technologies for qPCR for the quantification of DNA templates. The massive partitioning of the sample is the main aspect of this technology making it unique from other PCR technologies.

The PCR global market by product is segmented into instruments, reagents and consumables and software and services. Among the products, reagents and consumables segment accounted for largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a high single digit CAGR from 2019 to 2025 due to high consumption of reagents in various kinds of tests that require different types of reagents and the expanding molecular diagnostic industry. Reagents and consumables include enzymes, dNTPs, template DNA, primers and probes, buffers, master mixes, nuclease free water and others (tracking dye and wax beads). Software in the PCR market comprises primer designers and sequence softwares, PCR data analysis software, integrated software and others.

The PCR global market by application is segmented into clinical diagnostics, industrial applications and others. Among the applications, industrial segment accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a mid single digit CAGR from 2019 to 2025 due to exploring many environmental issues like water safety, bioremediation, biodegradation, development of disease-resistant and high-yield varieties of plants and animals, production of therapeutic proteins and production of human vaccines from transgenic plants. Industrial applications are divided into agricultural biotechnology, environmental, applied testing, animal husbandry and biomedical research. Applied testing includes forensic and food safety testing while biomedical research includes DNA sequencing, genotyping, biomarker discovery, gene expression and genetic mapping, DNA cloning and others. The clinical diagnosis segment is the fastest growing market in 2019 and is expected to grow at a high single digit CAGR from 2019 to 2025 due to shift in the disease management paradigm from a focus on treatment to a stronger focus on prevention through early diagnosis, the high morbidity and mortality rate associated with infectious diseases and various cancers, the growth of the biomarker market, the development in genomics and proteomics, and precision medicine and the expanded availability of Point of Care (POC) testing.

The PCR global market by end-users is segmented into hospitals and laboratories, pharmaceuticals, CRO’s and biotech companies, academics and others. Among PCR end-users, academics segment accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a mid single digit CAGR from 2019 to 2025 as PCR has become an indispensable research tool in creation, detection and monitoring of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), genetic engineering, gene modification, transgenics, cloning, hybridisation, synthetic biology and directed evolution. The hospitals & laboratories segment is the fastest growing market in 2019 and is expected to grow at a high single digit from 2019 to 2025 due to high infectious and chronic disease burden compounded by diagnostic challenges in developing countries.

Geographically, PCR market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the world regions. Among these North America accounted for the largest revenue in 2019 and is expected to grow at a mid single digit CAGR from 2019 to 2025, due to its high healthcare expenses, research and development expenditure, increasing awareness about medical care, increasing demand for molecular diagnostic and genetic tools for effective management and prevention of highly prevalent chronic non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases. APAC region is the fastest growing market in 2019 and is expected to grow at a high single digit CAGR from 2019 to 2025 as the market is driven by low manufacturing and labour costs, high unmet medicinal requirements in infectious and chronic disease segment such as cancer and HIV diseases. India and China are expected to be future investment destinations because of their large patient populace base and intact market, demand for affordable, quick and accurate diagnostic tests in healthcare segments.

PCR manufacturers are keen on developing new technologies, with reliable features and high tech software services to the PCR devices like multiplexing, advanced optical technology, precise temperature control with thermal gradients with statistical analysis, facial authentication login, small footprint (size of the PCR), traceability control of PCR, voice commands, and RFID reader with remote access to monitor diagnostic and life science research. For instance, BJS Biotechnologies LTD (U.K.) offers xxpress NGx qPCR system, which utilizes resistive heating technology and forced air cooling to deliver rapid temperature cycles. Combining this technology with a unique, ultra-low thermal mass consumable makes the xxpress NGx the world’s fastest and most thermally uniform qPCR thermal cycler as 40 cycles of qPCR is possible in 10 minutes. In April 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 6 and 7 Pro Real-Time PCR Systems, the world’s first Smart qPCR instruments with features like facial authentication, voice commands, radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled plate scanning, and quick access to service and support with a single touch. 

The major players in the global PCR market include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc (U.S.), Abbott Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), Hoffman La Roche (Switzerland), Agilent Technologies (U.S.), Qiagen N.V. (Netherlands), Becton, Dickinson and Company (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), GE Healthcare (U.K.), Promega Corporation (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Takara Bio, Inc (Japan) and BioMerieux SA (France).