Difficult-to-Express Proteins Global Market Report 2024

The difficult-to-express proteins market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $4.11 billion in 2023 to $4.63 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6%. The growth observed in the historical period can be attributed to increased market demand for protein therapeutics, challenges encountered in drug development, advancements in the biopharmaceutical sector, limitations in existing technologies, and the evolution of gene editing and engineering practices.

The difficult-to-express proteins market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.09 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%.The anticipated growth in the forecast period is expected to result from the development of novel expression systems, advancements in next-generation gene editing tools, improvements in cell-free systems, enhanced protein engineering, and the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Key trends expected in the forecast period include the adoption of innovative protein folding technologies, increased utilization of synthetic biology, targeted protein modification, advancements in biophysical characterization, and the expanded use of CRISPR/Cas technology.

The anticipated surge in demand for recombinant proteins is poised to drive the expansion of the difficult-to-express protein market in the foreseeable future. Recombinant proteins, synthesized using modified DNA, play a crucial role in generating the genetic codes necessary for desired proteins. These difficult-to-express proteins, integral in recombinant protein synthesis, enable the exploration of specific activities, protein-protein interactions, and the advancement of novel therapeutics targeting complex medical conditions. For instance, as highlighted in Amgen Inc.'s 2022 annual report, Prolia (Denosumab), a recombinant human monoclonal antibody, experienced a notable 12% growth in annual sales, reaching $3,628 million in 2022 compared to $3,248 million in 2021. Thus, the escalating demand for recombinant proteins acts as a driving force behind the growth of the difficult-to-express protein market.

The burgeoning need for biopharmaceuticals is forecasted to fuel the expansion of the difficult-to-express protein market moving forward. Biopharmaceuticals, derived from biological sources rather than chemical synthesis, are at the forefront of this demand surge. Companies investing in advanced technologies and innovative strategies to overcome expression challenges are generating high-quality, functional proteins. For instance, data from the International Trade Administration in July 2022 indicated that the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) reported approximately $97 billion in research and development spending by biopharmaceutical firms in the U.S. Consequently, the escalating demand for biopharmaceuticals is a significant driver behind the growth of the difficult-to-express protein market.

The difficult-to-express protein market is witnessing a significant trend focused on the development of pioneering technologies. Key companies within this sector are directing their efforts towards innovating technologies to maintain their market foothold. For instance, in January 2023, Evozyne, a biotechnology firm based in the United States, introduced a groundbreaking AI model named Protein Transformer Variational AutoEncoder. This technology serves as a framework adept at effectively training and deploying large language models tailored for biology. The resulting model represents an innovative application of deep learning, presenting new prospects for the data-driven creation of engineered proteins designed with specific functionalities.

A prevalent trend gaining momentum in the difficult-to-express protein market is the substantial increase in investment directed toward enhancing production capacities. For example, in July 2023, Biovian Oy, a Finland-based Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in biopharmaceuticals, disclosed a significant investment exceeding €50 million ($53.249 million) to expand its manufacturing facility in Finland. This strategic investment aims to meet the escalating demand for top-tier biopharmaceutical manufacturing services, further solidifying Biovian's position as a reliable partner in the biopharmaceutical industry. The expansion, in conjunction with Biovian's existing facility, will amplify the total area to 111,500 square meters, positioning the company to cater effectively to market demands.

In March 2022, Cobepa Inc., a privately held investment company based in the United States, successfully acquired Reaction Biology Corporation for an undisclosed amount. This strategic acquisition by Cobepa Inc. is intended to provide additional capital and resources to further strengthen Reaction Biology Corporation's capabilities in addressing the dynamic requirements of the biopharmaceutical industry. Reaction Biology Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company based in the United States, specializing in the production of difficult-to-express proteins.

Major companies operating in the difficult-to-express proteins market report are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Merck KGaA, Lonza Group Ltd, Catalent Inc., Sartorius AG, Charles River Laboratories International Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Samsung Biologics Co. Ltd., Bio-Techne Corp., GenScript Biotech Corporation, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services, Novasep Holding SAS, Rentschler Biopharma SE, BioLegend Inc., Codexis Inc., Enzo Biochem Inc., Sino Biological Inc., Horizon Discovery Ltd., Creative Biolabs Inc., OriGene Technologies Inc., Celonic AG, Cube Biotech GmbH, Lucigen Corporation, Batavia Biosciences Inc., Cytovance Biologics Inc., Alloy Therapeutics Inc., Aragen Bioscience Inc., Selexis SA, LifeSensors Inc., Bionova Scientific Inc.

North America was the largest region in the difficult-to-express proteins market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the difficult-to-express proteins market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the difficult-to-express proteins market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The primary categories of difficult-to-express proteins encompass proteases, kinases, membrane proteins, and others. Proteases, for instance, are enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of peptide bonds in proteins. They serve as essential tools in peptide research, showcasing proficiency in breaking down proteins into smaller peptide fragments. This capability facilitates simultaneous mass spectrometry analysis and contributes to the understanding and treatment of various diseases such as inflammation, sepsis, digestive disorders, cystic fibrosis, and retinal disorders. The expression of difficult proteins involves diverse techniques, including disulfide-bonded protein expression, membrane protein expression, toxic protein expression, and addressing target protein insolubility. Various technologies, such as cell-free protein synthesis, prokaryotic expression systems, small ubiquitin-such as modifier (SUMO) fusion systems, and gene fusion systems, are employed to address these challenges. The applications span across critical areas such as drug discovery, protein purification, protein therapeutics, and disease diagnostics and monitoring.

The difficult-to-express proteins market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides difficult-to-express proteins market statistics, including difficult-to-express proteins industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a difficult-to-express proteins market share, detailed difficult-to-express proteins market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the difficult-to-express proteins industry. This difficult-to-express proteins market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The difficult-to-express proteins market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing code optimization, fusion tags, post-translational modification, inducible expression systems, and co-expression chaperones. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The difficult-to-express protein market also includes the sales of toxoids, antibody fragments, multi-domain proteins, and post-translational modified proteins. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).


The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.