High Throughput Screening Market by Technology (Cell-based Assays [2D, 3D], Label-free, Lab-on-chip), Offering (Reagents, Liquid Handling, Readers, Sample Prep), Application (Target Identification, Toxicology, Stem Cell), End User - Global Forecast to 2031

The High Throughput Screening Market was valued at $22.15  billion in 2023. This market is expected to reach $47.41  billion by 2031, from an estimated $24.18  billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

High Throughput Screening Market Size & Forecast

High throughput screening (HTS) or high-throughput experimentation (HTE) is used to carry out many reactions simultaneously in parallel synthesis. HTS assays are specifically useful for efficient and rapid screening of compounds to find the ideal reactants for the reaction. High-throughput screening methods frequently use automated systems such as computer programs, robotic plating systems, and automated data collection/analysis for the identification of potential reactants. HTS has transformed the drug discovery process and is used by research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and other end users to identify new potential drug candidates.

Increasing Funding for Drug Discovery is Driving the Market Growth

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies allocate significant resources to drug discovery. For instance, in 2022, the R&D spending of F Merck KGaA (Germany) increased by 10.6% from 2021. The rise in the company’s R&D expenditure was attributed to the increased focus on the cardiovascular drug portfolio. Similarly, Pfizer (U.S.) increased R&D expenditure in 2022 by 10% from 2021. High throughput screening is majorly used for the detection of compounds known as hits with biological or pharmacological activity. The hits are considered as a starting point for drug discovery & development.

Along with the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, government agencies across the globe are also allocating funding for drug discovery, which, in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the high throughput screening market. For instance, according to the National Venture Capital Association, venture capital investments and funding for biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. reached USD 30.7 billion in 2022 from USD 18.7 billion in 2019. Following are some of the recent investments/funding for drug discovery:

• In June 2023, the Commonwealth Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) (Australia) invested USD 9.75 million to establish MedChem Australia, a new national medicinal chemistry initiative. This funding aims to accelerate the identification of early-stage drug candidates.
• In July 2022, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) (India) invested USD 6.73 million in R&D activities for drug discovery and development.
• In November 2021, the Medical Research Agency (Poland) announced USD 73.3 million (PLN 300 million) in funding to help produce vaccines based on mRNA technology in Poland.

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Multiplexed High Throughput Screening Assay is a Recent Trend in the HTS Market

High throughput analysis is a crucial technique frequently used in the early stages of drug discovery to select small subsets of vast chemical libraries that regulate the activity of a biological target. To discover the most promising compounds rapidly, effectively, and affordably, HTS needs scalable, high-quality assays. Multiplex assays analyze several targets in a single well with small amounts of sample, dramatically increasing the data points gathered in HTS. Multiplex assays enable simultaneous measurement of many analytes, giving researchers more information from a single assay. They can reduce a researcher's workload while speeding up and scaling up biomarker profiling.

Multiplexing and high-throughput capabilities combined in high-throughput multiplex assays allow for the collection of more meaningful data and the improvement of early drug discovery decision-making without compromising test performance or data quality.

Performing HTS assay in multiplexed format increases the speed and efficiency of the drug discovery process as more than one piece of information can be obtained from each assay performed. A multiplexed format also lowers costs and variability as assays are completed using the same parameters. The lowering variability of the assay results also decreases the potential incidences of obtaining false positive results, thus increasing the accuracy of the drug discovery process.

Additionally, the key players are launching the multiplexed HTS assay. For instance, in February 2022, Bruker Corporation (U.S.) launched a High-Throughput Multiplex HTS on the Sierra SPR Platform. The microfluidic system of the Bruker Sierra SPR-32 Pro provides a unique 8x4 array for parallel readout of 32 measurement sensor spots per injection at exceptional robustness. This configuration offers high throughput while maintaining flexibility for the development of both biologics and small-molecule drug candidates.

Key Findings in the Global High Throughput Screening Market Study:

Based on Offerings, the Software & Services Segment is Projected to Register the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period

Based on offerings, the high throughput screening market is segmented into consumables & reagents, instruments, and software & services. The software & services segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The high CAGR of the segment is attributed to the increasing adoption of software for the data analysis obtained through the HTS. Additionally, HTS leverages the automation in instruments such as liquid handling systems, which require data processing software.

Based on Technologies, in 2024, the Cell-based Assay Segment is Expected to Account for the Largest Share of the Market

Based on technologies, the high throughput screening market is segmented into cell-based assays, ultra-high throughput screening, label-free technology, and lab-on-chip. In 2024, the cell-based assays segment is expected to account for the largest share of the high throughput screening market. The use of cell-based assays in drug-discovery screening applications and biomedical research to quantify off-target interactions, cytotoxicity, and biochemical mechanisms is attributed to the largest share of the segment. The benefits associated with high throughput cell-based assays, such as physiological relevance, generation of more data, and the ability to simultaneously measure compound characteristics, are also supporting the segment's large share.

Based on Applications, the Target Identification Segment is Expected to Account for the Largest Share of the Market

Based on applications, the high throughput screening market is segmented into stem cell research, toxicology assessment, target identification, and primary screening. In 2024, the target identification segment is expected to account for the largest share of the high throughput screening market. The large share of the segment is attributed to the increased adoption of high throughput products for the efficient, cost-effective, and accurate identification of targets in the early stage of drug discovery. Additionally, increasing drug failure rate during clinical trials due to drug toxicity and lack of drug efficacy is increasing the demand for target identification. Additionally, HTS is also used in cases where the structure information of the target molecule is not known, thus providing the flexibility of target identification from a large number of molecules.

Based on End Users, the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry Segment is Expected to Account for the Largest Share of the Market

Based on end users, the high throughput screening market is segmented into pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, academics and research institutes, and contract research organizations. In 2024, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology industry segment is expected to account for the largest share of the high throughput screening market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the need to develop new therapies owing to increasing disease prevalence and increased spending on pharmaceutical R&D. For instance, global pharmaceutical R&D expenditure is expected to reach USD 213 billion in 2026 from USD 179 billion in 2020 (Source: International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA)). Additionally, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies' shift from traditional screening methods to HTS is contributing to the large share of the segment.

North America: Largest Regional Market

In 2024, North America is expected to account for the largest share of the high throughput screening market. North America's significant market share is attributed to several factors, including substantial R&D investments by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for drug and biomarker development, a growing prevalence of chronic diseases, increased healthcare expenditure, the presence of key market players in the region, and government initiatives supporting research and development. The surge in R&D spending by pharmaceutical companies is anticipated to drive the demand for high throughput screening, driving the market. According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (Belgium), in the U.S., the pharmaceutical R&D expenditure annual growth rate was 15.6% from 2018-2022 compared to 13.6% from 2013-2017.

High Throughput Screening Market: Competitive Analysis

The report offers a competitive landscape based on an extensive assessment of the product offerings and geographic presence of leading market players and the key growth strategies adopted by them over the past few years 2020–2024. The key players operating in the global high throughput screening market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S.), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Merck KGaA (Germany), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), Revvity Inc. (U.S.), Tecan Group Ltd. (Switzerland), Axxam S.p.A. (Italy), Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (U.S.), Hamilton Company (U.S.), Promega Corporation (U.S.), and Aurora Biomed Inc. (Canada).

High Throughput Screening Market Report Summary:

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