Gallbladder cancer, also known as cholecyst cancer, is a rare type of cancer that forms in the gallbladder – a small organ in the abdomen that lies just under the liver. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, a fluid produced by the liver to help with digestion of fats. Some of the common symptoms of gallbladder cancer include abdominal pain, jaundice, weight loss and nausea. Gallbladder cancer is more common in older adults and females. Major risk factors associated with gallbladder cancer include gallstones, anomalies of bile ducts, certain parasitic infections, obesity and family history of gastrointestinal cancers.
The global gallbladder cancer market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1,607.47 million in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
Key Takeaways
Key Players
Key players operating in the gallbladder cancer market are Histogen Inc., Cipla Limited, Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Daiichi-Sankyo Co., Ltd., Johnson and Johnson Services, Inc., Lexington International LLC, Vita-Cos-Med Klett-Loch GmbH, PureTech, Vitabiotics, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, HCell Inc., Follica, Inc. and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. These players are focusing on developing new treatment options to improve patient outcomes.
Growing Demand
The growing incidence of gallbladder cancer worldwide due to changing lifestyle habits and ageing population is a major factor driving the demand for treatment and therapeutic options. According to estimates, over 21,000 new cases of gallbladder cancer were reported in the United States in 2022.
Technological Advancements
Newer technologies such as monoclonal antibodies, targeted therapies, immunotherapy and nanotechnology are being explored for more effective treatment of gallbladder cancer. Promising pipeline drugs entering late stage clinical trials are also expected to boost the market growth during the forecast period.
Market Trends
Immunotherapy Emergence: The use of immunotherapy drugs that activate the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells is emerging as a promising treatment trend for gallbladder cancer. Checkpoint inhibitors and cancer vaccines are some of the major immunotherapy drugs under development for this cancer type.
Personalized Medicine Rise: Personalized medicine approach is gaining increased focus with companies striving to develop targeted therapies and companion diagnostics to identify patients likely to respond to specific therapy. This trend allows for selection of most suitable treatment based on individual patient’s genetic makeup and disease characteristics.
Market Opportunities
Pipeline Drugs Commercialization: Several promising drugs are expected to enter the market over 2023-2030, creating significant revenue generation opportunities. Key pipeline candidates include Navicixizumab, Olaparib and Devimistat that could offer new treatment options.
Emerging Markets Growth: Regions such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa currently contributing to rising gallbladder cancer burden are projected to be high growth markets through 2030 owing to economic expansion, healthcare investments, and growing patient access to advanced therapies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the growth of the gallbladder cancer market. With lockdowns and health systems focusing on COVID-19 care, various diagnostic and surgical procedures for gallbladder cancer reduced significantly during the initial months of the pandemic. This led to delayed diagnosis and treatment of many gallbladder cancer cases. However, with the resumption of regular healthcare services as the pandemic came under control, the diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder cancer has picked up pace once again. The market is expected to slowly regain its pre-pandemic growth trajectory over the forecast period.
Going forward, the market players need to focus on broadening access to diagnostic tests and ensuring uninterrupted supply of treatment therapies. Telehealth can play a bigger role in facilitating remote consultations and monitoring of gallbladder cancer patients. Researchers are also working towards developing new targeted drug therapies and immunotherapy options for gallbladder cancer treatment. This will help improve survival rates and drive higher market demand.
In terms of geographical contribution, North America currently accounts for the largest share of the global gallbladder cancer market in terms of value. This is primarily due to established healthcare infrastructure, higher diagnosis rates backed by advanced diagnostic technologies, and availability of comprehensive insurance coverage for gallbladder cancer treatment in the region. Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing regional market over the coming years, fueled by rising healthcare expenditure, growing awareness about gallbladder cancer, and increasing research activities focused on developing novel therapeutics.
The Asia Pacific region is likely to witness the fastest growth in the gallbladder cancer market over the forecast period from 2023 to 2030. This is attributed to factors such as rising urbanization, growing geriatric population, improving healthcare infrastructure and increasing healthcare spending in the region. Countries like India, China and South Korea with developing economies are expected to offer high growth potential for market players. Furthermore, growing awareness about gallbladder cancer diagnosis and rapidly evolving pharmaceutical industry in Asia Pacific will support the regional market expansion during the study period.
