Cell-free Protein Expression Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2033

The global cell-free protein expression market size accounted for USD 249.86 million in 2023 and it is expected to hit around USD 545.68 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.16% during the forecast period 2024 to 2033.

Cell-free Protein Expression Market Key Takeaways

• North America dominated the market with the largest market share of 32.12% in 2023.
• Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest rate of growth throughout the forecast period.
• By Product, the expression system segment dominated the market in 2023. The wheat germ cell-free protein expression system segment is expected to increase market growth during the forecast period.
• By Application, the enzyme engineering system segment dominated the market in 2023. While the high throughput production system segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the predicted timeframe.
• By Method, the transcription and translation system segment dominated the market in 2023, the segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.
• By End-use, the pharmaceutical & biotechnological companies segment is expected to sustain its dominance throughout the forecast period.

Cell-free Protein Expression Market in the U.S. 2024 to 2033

The U.S. cell-free protein expression market size accounted for USD 56.26 million in 2023 and is estimated to reach around USD 129.38 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.72% from 2024 to 2033.

North America dominated the market in 2023. The growth of the market in the region can be attributed to the substantial number of pharmaceutical companies and research centers present in countries, especially in the United States. The availability of venture capital, government grants and funding agencies that support biotechnology research and development in North America has played a crucial role in the growth of the cell-free protein expression market.

The region has strong intellectual property laws and a supportive regulatory environment, which encourages companies to invest in developing and commercializing cell-free protein expression technologies. North America fosters collaboration among industry and government agencies, leading to the exchange of knowledge and expertise in protein expression technologies.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest rate of growth during the forecast period. Collaborations between local and international biotech companies and academic institutions have fostered knowledge transfer and technology adoption, contributing to the growth of the cell-free protein expression market. Asia Pacific carries a well-educated and skilled workforce in the fields of biotechnology and molecular biology, making it easier for companies and research institutions to adopt and optimize cell-free protein expression technologies.

Countries such as Singapore, Japan and South Korea have actively supported biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors through funding, infrastructure and regulatory incentives. This has further stimulated the growth of the cell-free protein expression market.

Cell-free Protein Expression Market Size in Europe 2023 to 2033

The Europe cell-free protein expression market size surpassed USD 78.58 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 178.44 million by 2033.

Cell-free Protein Expression Market Overview

Protein expression is the process in which the proteins are synthesized, modified, and managed in living organisms. The in-vitro process of protein by the use of transaction and compatible extraction of whole cell is known as the cell-free protein expression. It allows the production of target protein without use of living cells. The process of cell-free protein expression is done by researchers for manufacturing and expressing small quantities of functional proteins rapidly.

Cell-free protein expression market offers techniques for protein engineering and synthesis for biopharmaceutical and molecular biology sectors. Proteins are made frequently in these processes and are well-maintained compared to the conventional ones. Cell-free protein expression is a time-saving process for the development of proteins. Cell-free protein synthesis helps revolutionize the healthcare sector by transforming the manufacturing of medicinal products.

Cell-free Protein Expression Market Growth Factors

• Cell-free protein expression is finding applications in emerging fields such as synthetic biology, metabolic engineering and point-of-care diagnostics, which are driving the market’s growth.
• Ongoing research and innovation in cell-free expression technologies, including cell-free lysates, cell-free extract preparation and novel expression vectors are expanding te market’s capabilities.
• Cell-free synthesis of proteins provides the ability to incorporate the nonstandard amino acids (NSAAs) which allows the control over the potent toxins as loads, and prototyping of the proteins. The rising emphasis on personalized medicines and the rising requirement for biological therapies for cancer management are significantly driving the growth of the cell-free protein expression market.

Cell-free Protein Expression Market Scope

Cell-free Protein Expression Market Dynamics

Driver

Rapid expansion of pharmaceutical industry

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) methods have advanced from being lab-scale research tools to being used to manufacture biopharmaceuticals at a scale that adheres to good manufacturing practices (GMPs). With CFPS-based products, numerous clinical trials on humans are currently underway. Additionally, CFPS research applications have developed significantly over time and are now crucial to the discovery and development of new biopharmaceutical products.

The distinct and open character of CFPS has made it possible for non-natural amino acids (nnAA) to be effectively incorporated into protein products, broadening the pool of biotherapeutics that can be taken into account for innovative treatments. As the pharmaceutical industry expands in the upcoming period along with the rising requirement for novel therapeutics, the market for cell-free protein expression is observed to grow.

Restraint

Limited resources

Cell-free protein expression requires specific reagents and equipment, which can be expensive. Limited access to funding or resources can hinder research and development efforts in this field. Operating and optimizing cell-free expression systems requires knowledge and expertise. A shortage of skilled researchers and professionals can limit the market’s expansion. Expanding cell-free protein expression from research to industrial-scale production can be resource-intensive. Scaling up often requires significant investments in infrastructure and resources. Thereby, limited resources for the technique act as a major restraint for the market.

Opportunity

Rising emphasis on personalized medicine

Personalized medicine often requires the development of specific therapeutic proteins, such as personalized cancer vaccines or patient-specific antibodies. Cell-free protein expression systems offer the flexibility to rapidly produce customized proteins, aligning perfectly with the individualized nature of personalized medicine. Cell-free protein expression enables quick and efficient production of proteins, reducing the time needed to develop personalized treatments. This aligns with the need for timely interventions in personalized medicine, where treatment decisions must be made promptly based on a patient’s unique genetic profile. The emphasis on personalized medicine creates a definite opportunity for the cell-free protein expression market as it aligns with the tailored protein production essential for advancing personalized therapeutic approaches and diagnostics.

Product Insights

The expression system dominated the market in 2023. In the expression system, the E. coli system expression sub-segment carried the leading position. E. coli is one of the highly used expression systems for artificial protein production. The major advantages of E. coli for protein expression are high expression levels, lower cost, short turnaround time, and ease of scaling. E. coli is suitable for producing a large variety of proteins.

On the other hand, the wheat germ cell-free protein expression system sub-segment is expected to grow at a significant rate. In protein research, the wheat germ is a preferred choice which includes options like protein labeling and the expression of proteins like membrane proteins and multiple protein complexes. The wheat germ cell-free protein expression is used in a variety of expression studies such as the production of labeled proteins for protein mass spectroscopy and structural genomics, screening of enzymatic activities, and automated protein synthesis.

Application Insights

The enzyme engineering system segment dominated the market in 2023, the segment will continue to generate significant growth during the forecast period. Enzyme engineering systems have been optimized to improve protein expression efficiency. This allows researchers to produce higher yields of target proteins, making it a preferred choice for applications requiring large quantities of proteins, such as drug development and biotechnology.

Enzyme engineering systems offer versatility in terms of the types of proteins that can be expressed. They can accommodate a wide range of protein targets, including complex and difficult-to-express proteins, making them suitable for a broad array of research and industrial applications.

The high throughput production system segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Researchers can tailor high throughput cell-free systems to specific protein expression needs, optimizing conditions for individual proteins or applications.

Method Insights

The transcription and translation system segment is expected to grow at a significant rate, the segment held a dominating share in 2023. Cell-free systems can produce proteins with fewer containments, as there are no living cells that could contribute unwanted biomolecules to the final product. Transcription and translation systems are amendable to incorporating modified amino acids, isotopic labels and other post-translational modifications, making them valuable for various research applications.

End-Use Insights

The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment dominated the market in 2023, the segment is expected to sustain the position throughout the forecast period. These companies often require customized protein production for their research and development efforts. Cell-free systems offer flexibility and scalability, allowing for tailored protein expression, which is crucial in drug development.

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies demand high-quality protein for their research and clinical trials. Cell-free expression systems can produce proteins with high-purity and functionality, meeting these stringent requirements. Therefore, the segment is expected to continue to grow throughout the forecast period.

Cell-free Protein Expression Market Recent Developments

• In September 2023, a pharmaceutical discovery and development company “CCM Bioscience” which is currently confirming its launch of stealth announced the CCM Protein Upregulation its latest business unit. The launch of the new unit is dedicated to the advancement in the drugs that lead to conditions such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and infertility as for the cases of genetically inherited diseases like cystic fibrosis by the use of highly technology platforms for the development of expression level of a rare protein implicated in the pathogenesis of this kind of disorders.
• In September 2023, VantAI a major key company that works in drug discovery by the application of artificial intelligence, announced the launch of its latest “Scientific Advisory Board” (SAB). The Scientific Advisory Board members have expertise in whole-proteome structural interactomics, generative AI for small molecule drug design, and protein design.
• In October 2023, scientists Louis Brus, Moungi Bawendi, and Alexei Ekimov won the Noble price in Chemistry 2023 for the discovery of the synthesis of quantum dots which lighten up television screens and computer monitors used by physicians or doctors for the detection of tumors.

Cell-free Protein Expression Market Companies

• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
• Takara Bio Company
• Merck KGaA
• New England Biolabs
• Promega Corporation
• Jena Bioscience GmbH
• GeneCopoeia, Inc.
• Biotechrabbit GmbH
• Cube Biotech GmbH
• CellFree Sciences Co., Ltd.

Segments Covered in the Report:

By Product

• Expression Systems
  • E. coli Cell-free Protein Expression System
  • Wheat Germ Cell-free Protein Expression System
  • Rabbit Reticulocytes Cell-free Protein Expression System
  • Insect Cells Cell-free Protein Expression System
  • Human Cell-free Protein Expression System
  • Others
• Reagents

By Application

• Enzyme Engineering
• High Throughput Production
• Protein Labeling
• Protein-Protein Interaction
• Protein Purification

By Method

• Transcription and translation systems
• Translation systems

By End-User

• Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies
• Academic and Research Institutes
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa