Glioblastoma Multiforme - Market Insight, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast -2036

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Insights and Trends

• According to analysis, GBM market size was found to be ~USD 900 million in the leading markets (the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan) in 2025.
• GBMs can be classified into primary and secondary GBMs. Primary GBM occurs de novo without evidence of a less malignant precursor while secondary GBM develops from initially low-grade diffuse astrocytoma (WHO grade II diffuse astrocytoma) or anaplastic astrocytoma (Grade III).
• Despite advancements in characterizing GBM pathogenesis and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities, the standard of care for newly diagnosed GBM of maximally safe surgery followed by radiation therapy with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy has remained largely unchanged for decades.
• Upon recurrence, only about one in four patients can undergo repeat surgery due to concerns of morbidity, and other treatment options include repeat chemoradiation, anti-angiogenic agents (bevacizumab), tumor treating field therapy, and inclusion into clinical trials.
• GBM therapy development faces significant hurdles, with few FDA approvals in two decades. Challenges include the blood-brain barrier's protective role and the tumor microenvironment's immunosuppressive effects, limiting the clinical translation of novel discoveries.
• The FDA granted a fast-track designation to olaptesed pegol with bevacizumab and radiotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma that is resistant to chemotherapy and where measurable tumor remains after surgery.
• Novocure’s new FDA-approved Head Flexible Electrode (HFE) arrays for OPTUNE GIO offer enhanced comfort with a lighter, thinner design.
• Targeted therapies for GBM often focus on molecular pathways like EGFR, mTOR, PI3K, and VEGF. AVASTIN (bevacizumab), a VEGF inhibitor, has five FDA-approved biosimilars, including MVASI, ZIRABEV, ALYMSYS, VEGZELMA (launched), and AVZIVI (approved December 2023).
• According to the Italian Association of Medical Oncology guidelines, STIVARGA (regorafenib) is the preferred treatment for recurrent GBM.
• Encouraging results have sparked hope for GBM immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T cells, oncolytic virotherapy, and vaccines, with ongoing studies exploring combinations to enhance efficacy and reduce side effects.
• Numerous cancer vaccines for 1L and 2L+ GBM are in the development phases. Northwest Biotherapeutics, TVAX Biomedical, Aivita Biomedical, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, and many others are developing cancer vaccines for GBM.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Market Size and Forecast in the 7MM

• 2025 GBM Market Size: ~USD 900 million
• 2036 Projected GBM Market Size: ~USD 4.80 billion
• GBM Growth Rate (2026-2036): 13.2% CAGR

The ‘Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - Market Insights, Epidemiology and Market Forecast - 2036’ report delivers an in-depth understanding of the GBM, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the GBM market trends in the United States, EU4 (Germany, Spain, Italy, and France) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

The Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) market report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the current treatment landscape, including standards of care, clinical practices, and evolving therapeutic algorithms. It evaluates, GBM patient burden trends, revenue & market share dynamics, peak patient share & therapy uptake analysis, and provides an in-depth market size assessment, and growth rate projections (Historical & Forecast 2022-2036) across global regions. The report highlights key unmet medical needs in GBM and maps the competitive and clinical landscape to uncover high‑value opportunities, providing a clear outlook on future market growth potential.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Understanding and Treatment Algorithm

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Overview and Diagnosis

GBM is often located in a region of the forebrain known as the cerebrum, which controls some of the most advanced processes such as speech and emotions. While GBM is highly locally invasive (invading normal brain tissue), it rarely spreads to other organs beyond the brain. A highly aggressive, fast-growing cancer, and treatment is often limited by the tumor location and the ability of a patient to tolerate surgery. Consequently, it is a particularly difficult cancer to treat. GBM may develop due to abnormal changes in the structure and orientation of cells secondary to oncogenes or the loss of tumor suppressor genes.

A patient with any neurological symptoms will first be given a physical exam that includes neurologic function tests (reflexes, muscle strength, eye and mouth movement, coordination, and alertness). If a tumor is suspected, the patient will have imaging tests so that doctors can look into the brain for any abnormality. Procedures that can be used for this purpose include MRI, CT, and MR spectroscopy. Surgical biopsy is also used for the diagnosis of GBM.

Current Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Treatment Landscape

Treatment for glioblastoma multiforme usually includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or stereotactic radiosurgery. Surgery is usually one of the most important aspects of treatment, although rarely used alone. Since glioblastomas develop very rapidly, they are often difficult to remove in their entirety. Therefore, surgery is performed to achieve a maximum safe resection - removing as much of the tumor as possible while preserving the patient’s brain function and sparing healthy tissues. Residual cancer cells can be targeted with additional treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, after surgery. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy usually follow surgery once the diagnosis or name of the tumor is determined. These treatments are called adjuvant treatments. Because this multispecialty approach can cause several side effects, steroids are often provided as another essential part of glioblastoma treatment, used to help alleviate the side effects of other therapies. Steroid treatment can be used to reduce swelling or anti-seizure medication.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Unmet Needs

The section “unmet needs of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)” outlines the critical gaps between the current state of patient care, diagnosis, and the ideal & effective management of the disease. It highlights the obstacles experienced by patients, clinicians, and researchers and identifies potential solutions for future progress.

• Lack of effective treatment options
• Lack of diagnostic accuracy
• High clinical trial failure rate and lack of larger multicenter studies with a wide patient pool
• Need for successful target inhibition and drug delivery strategies
• Low overall survival, and others…

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Epidemiology

Key Findings from GBM Epidemiological Analysis and Forecast

• According to the publisher’s estimates, the total number of incident cases of GBM in the 7MM was nearly 38,000 cases in 2025 and is projected to increase during the forecasted period.
• The total number of incident cases of GBM in the United States was nearly 15,500 in 2025.
• In 2025, BRAF V600E mutation cases accounted for the largest share of incident GBM cases in the United States.
• The total number of cases of Primary GBM was found to be the highest than Secondary GBM in the United States and was estimated to be nearly 14,000 in 2025
• GBM is associated with a higher disease burden in men than in women. Roughly 60% of the total GBM cases in the United States are men. When compared with the adults, Glioblastoma in children is relatively rare.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Drug Analysis & Competitive Landscape

The GBM drug chapter provides a detailed, market-focused review of approved therapies and the emerging pipeline across Phase I/II-II clinical trials. It covers mechanism of action, clinical trial data, regulatory approvals, patents, collaborations, strategic partnerships upcoming Key catalyst for each therapy, along with their advantages, limitations, and recent developments. This section offers critical insights into the GBM treatment landscape, supporting market assessment, competitive analysis, and growth forecasting for the GBM therapeutics market.

Approved Therapies for GBM

TEMODAR/TEMODAL (temozolomide): Merck

The active pharmaceutical ingredient in TEMODAR/TEMODAL is an imidazotetrazine derivative of the alkylating agent dacarbazine. It is used for treating several brain cancer forms, e.g., as a second-line treatment for astrocytoma and a first-line treatment for GBM. The therapeutic benefit of TEMODAR is its ability to alkylate/methylate DNA. This alkylation/methylation destroys the DNA and triggers the death of the tumor cells. TEMODAR targets tumoral tissues selectively; it has an anti-neoplastic effect; it has minimum influence on adjacent brain tissues; it has no severe systemic toxicity; and it is eliminated rapidly. In March 2005, the US FDA approved TEMODAR for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed GBM concomitantly with radiotherapy and then as maintenance treatment.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Pipeline Analysis

AV-GBM-1: Aivita Biomedical and TAE Life Sciences

AV-GBM-1 is a personalized dendritic cell-based immunotherapy developed by AIVITA Biomedical, designed to generate a broad, patient-specific immune response by targeting multiple tumor-associated antigens derived from autologous glioblastoma tumor-initiating cells. Administered as a series of subcutaneous injections, the therapy is being evaluated as an adjunct to standard-of-care treatment in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM).

As of 2025, AV-GBM-1 is under investigation in a randomized Phase III clinical trial initiated in 2024, with large-scale patient enrollment and overall survival as a key endpoint. The study remains ongoing, with completion timelines extending toward 2028, and no Phase III efficacy results have been disclosed to date.

In parallel, AIVITA Biomedical and TAE Life Sciences are collaborating to address challenges related to the availability and quality of glioblastoma tumor tissue, aiming to enhance the development and manufacturing of advanced, patient-specific therapies such as AV-GBM-1.

Eflornithine: Orbus Therapeutics

Eflornithine (α-difluoromethylornithine, DFMO) is an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, a key enzyme involved in polyamine synthesis that supports tumor cell proliferation and survival. By selectively targeting this single enzyme, eflornithine differs from multi-targeted kinase inhibitors and has demonstrated the ability to suppress tumor growth and enhance the activity of cytotoxic therapies in preclinical models, including high-grade gliomas.

As of 2025, Orbus Therapeutics is actively evaluating eflornithine in glioblastoma (GBM). A Phase Ib clinical study initiated in 2023 is investigating the combination of eflornithine with temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. The study remains ongoing, with no efficacy results publicly reported to date, confirming that the drug is still in active clinical development for GBM but not approved. From a regulatory standpoint, eflornithine was granted Orphan Medicinal Product designation for glioma by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (via CHMP), which remains valid and supports its development in rare brain tumors. Regarding intellectual property, previously granted patents covering oral formulations and therapeutic use of eflornithine in gliomas in both the US and Europe remain part of the asset’s protection strategy; however, no major new patent announcements specific to GBM have been publicly disclosed in 2025 updates.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Key Players, Market Leaders and Emerging Companies

• Novocure
• Roche/Genentech
• Merck
• Daiichi Sankyo
• Novartis
• Bayer
• Avita Biomedical
• TAE Life Sciences
• Northwest Therapeutics and Advent BioServices
• Orbus Therapeutics
• TVAX Biomedical
• Laminar Pharmaceuticals
• Vigeo Therapeutics
• Biohaven Pharmaceuticals
• Eli Lilly and Company
• Merck
• Eisai, and others

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Drug Updates

• In October 2025, the US FDA granted Fast Track Designation to MT-125, a novel NMII inhibitor being evaluated in glioblastoma, with the ongoing Phase I/II STAR-GBM trial expected to complete in 2026
• In January 2025, Imvax announced positive top-line data from its Phase 2b trial of IGV-001, a personalized immunotherapy for newly diagnosed GBM, showing improved survival when combined with tumor-modifying devices.
• In November 2025, CNS Pharmaceuticals advanced its Phase 3 trial of berzosertib for recurrent GBM, with early efficacy signals in combination regimens.In March 2025, the GBM-AGILE platform trial reported that paxalisib, a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, extended overall survival in newly diagnosed unmethylated MGMT GBM patients compared to standard temozolomide.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Market Outlook

Unfortunately, there is no cure for glioblastoma. Glioblastoma treatment is quite challenging as some cells may respond well to certain therapies while others may not be affected at all. Because of this, the treatment plan for glioblastoma may combine several approaches. The treatment often comprises a combination of several therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or stereotactic radiosurgery, followed by additional/adjuvant treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, after surgery.

Most chemotherapy drugs are cytotoxic drugs; cytotoxic drugs are designed to destroy tumor cells and work by making them unable to reproduce. Carmustine (BCNU), Lomustine (CCNU), or Gleostine (Generic), Gliadel wafer (biodegradable discs infused with BCNU), Temozolomide (Temodar), Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Etoposide, and Irinotecan are examples of cytotoxic drugs. They may be given as a single agent or combination, i.e., PCV (Procarbazine, CCNU, and Vincristine), Carboplatin/Etoposide.

Regorafenib is the first-choice treatment for rGBM according to Italian Association of Medical Oncology guidelines; regorafenib has been approved by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) for its use in rGBM as of October 2019, while bevacizumab, although approved by FDA, is not recommended by AIFA and EMA. Key players like Bayer, Chimerix, Aivita Biomedical, Denovo Biopharma, Northwest Therapeutics, and others are evaluating their lead candidates in different stages of clinical development.

• The United States contributes the highest market size in the 7MM. The total market size of glioma in the United States was around USD 900 million in 2025.
• Among the current therapies for glioma Optune ± TMZ captured the highest revenue in 2025 in the United States.
• Among the EU4 and the UK, Germany had the highest market size in 2025, while Spain had the lowest market size.
• The expected launch of potential therapies may increase the market size in the coming years, assisted by an increase in the incident population of GBM. The market is expected to witness a significant positive shift owing to the positive outcomes of several products during the developmental stage by key players such as Bayer, Chimerix, Denovo Biopharma, and others.

Drug Class/Insights into Leading Emerging and Marketed Therapies in GBM (2022-2036 Forecast)

The landscape of GBM drug development involves Multi-kinase inhibitors, PI3K pathway inhibitors, CDK4/6 inhibitors etc. Multi-kinase inhibitor that potently blocks multiple protein kinases involved in tumor angiogenesis (VEGFR1, -2, -3, TIE2), oncogenesis (KIT, RET, RAF-1, BRAF), metastasis (VEGFR3, PDGFR, FGFR) and tumor immunity (CSF1R). It is an inhibitor of multiple membrane-bound and intracellular kinases involved in normal cellular functions and pathologic processes such as oncogenesis, tumor angiogenesis, and maintenance of the tumor microenvironment. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6 are activated by binding to D-cyclins.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Drug Uptake

This section focuses on the uptake rate of potential drugs expected to be launched in the market during the forecast period (2026-2036). The analysis covers the GBM drug’s uptake, performance at peak, factors affecting performance during prime years of growth, patient uptake by therapy, and anticipated sales generated by each drug.

SurVaxM by MimiVax is a first-of-its-kind, patented peptide mimic immunotherapeutic vaccine (immunotherapy) that targets survivin, a cell-survival protein in 95% of GBM and other cancers. The drug is expected to enter the US market by 2026, followed by the EU4 and the UK, and Japan.

The GBM pipeline is robust and possesses multiple potential drugs in late and mid-stage developments, which are yet to be launched. The pipeline involves drugs with varied mechanisms of action along with different routes of administration, ranging from oral, IV, intratumoral, SC, etc. It is interesting to note that the emerging market of GBM includes vaccine/immunotherapy candidates such as DCVax-L, VBI-1901, AV-GBM-1, SurVaxM, TVI-Brain-1, VBI-1901, AV-GBM-1, and SurVaxM respectively.

Market Access and Reimbursement of Approved therapies in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)

The report further provides detailed insights on the country-wise accessibility and reimbursement scenarios, cost-effectiveness scenario of approved therapies, programs making accessibility easier and out-of-pocket costs more affordable, insights on patients insured under federal or state government prescription drug programs, etc.

GBM carries a high economic burden for patients and caregivers associated with initial surgery. The high cost of care could also be attributed to the high cost of drugs, the various treatments available for GBM, and the additional costs incurred during the care of the patients.

• AVASTIN

With the Genentech Oncology Co-pay Assistance Program, eligible patients with commercial insurance could pay as little as USD 0 per treatment for AVASTIN. Co-pay assistance of up to USD 25,000 is provided per calendar year.

Genentech Patient Foundation

The Genentech Patient Foundation gives free AVASTIN to people who have been prescribed this medicine and do not have insurance or who have financial concerns and meet specific eligibility criteria.

The patients are eligible if their insurance coverage and income match one of these situations:

• Uninsured patients with incomes under USD 150,000.
• Insured patients without coverage for AVASTIN with incomes under USD 150,000.
• TAFINLAR + MEKINIST

Novartis Oncology Universal Co-pay Program

Patients may be eligible for immediate co-pay savings on their next prescription:

• Eligible patients with private insurance may pay USD 0 per month (USD 0 per month for a 30-day supply of TAFINLAR and USD 0 for a 30-day supply of MEKINIST). Co-pay of USD 0 is only for the TAFINLAR + MEKINIST combination therapy.
• Novartis will pay the remaining co-pay, up to USD 15,000 per calendar year per product.

Patient Assistance Now Oncology (PANO)

PANO is a support center consisting of insurance specialists and case managers who provide access to information regarding an array of services. PANO is considered the first stop for information about Novartis Oncology Patient Support programs.

Support for patients includes:

• Insurance benefits verification, including information on prior authorizations and denial appeals.
• Information about financial assistance that may be available.
• A combination of PANO case managers and/or field reimbursement managers are available to help, depending on the complexity of a patient’s case.

Reimbursement is a crucial factor that affects the drug’s access to the market. Often, the decision to reimburse comes down to the price of the drug relative to the benefit it produces in treated patients. To reduce the healthcare burden of these high-cost therapies, many payment models are being considered by payers and other industry insiders.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Therapies Price Scenario & Trends

Pricing and analogue assessment of GBM therapies highlights evolving price dynamics structures. This section summarizes the cost of approved treatments, closest and most appropriate analogue selection for emerging therapies, and understanding of how pricing influences market access, adherence, and long-term uptake.

• Pricing of GBM Approved Drugs

Kazia Therapeutics is developing paxalisib, a PI3K pathway inhibitor. To estimate the cost of paxalisib, it is benchmarked against approved PI3K pathway inhibitors used in various oncology indications. We calculated the average monthly price by considering the WAC of UKONIQ at USD 15,900, ZYDELIG at USD 11,771, and COPIKTRA at USD 13,617 for a 30-day supply. This average price serves as an analogue for the cost of paxalisib.

Industry Experts and Physician Views for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)

To keep up with GBM market trends, we take Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) opinions working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research. Industry Experts were contacted for insights on the GBM emerging therapies, evolving treatment landscape, patient adherence to conventional therapies, therapy switching trends, drug adoption and uptake, accessibility challenges, and epidemiology and real-world prescription patterns in GBM, including MD, Ph.D, Instructor, Postdoctoral Researcher, Professor, Researcher, and others.

The analysts connected with 15+ KOLs to gather insights at country level. Centers such as the Ohio State University, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, and University of Southern California, etc. were contacted. Their opinion helps understand and validate current and emerging GBM therapies, highlight unmet medical needs, provide epidemiological context, and support strategic decisions for market access, therapy adoption, and pipeline prioritization in GBM.

Qualitative Analysis: SWOT and Conjoint Analysis

We perform qualitative and market Intelligence analysis using various approaches, such as SWOT analysis and conjoint analysis.

In the SWOT analysis of GBM, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in terms of disease diagnosis, patient awareness, patient burden, competitive landscape, cost-effectiveness, and geographical accessibility of therapies are provided.

Conjoint analysis analyzes emerging therapies based on relevant attributes such as safety, efficacy, frequency of administration, route of administration, and order of entry. Scoring is given based on these parameters to analyze the effectiveness of therapy.

The team of analysts analyzes promising emerging therapies based on relevant attributes such as safety, efficacy, frequency of administration, route of administration, and order of entry. In efficacy, the trial’s primary and secondary outcome measures are evaluated, whereas the therapies’ safety is evaluated, wherein the acceptability, tolerability, and adverse events are majorly observed. In addition, the scoring is also based on the route of administration, order of entry, probability of success, and the addressable patient pool for each therapy. According to these parameters, the final weightage score and the ranking of the emerging therapies are decided.

Scope of the Report

• The report covers a segment of key events, an executive summary, a descriptive overview of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), explaining their causes, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis, and currently available treatments.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of the diagnosis rate, and disease progression along treatment guidelines.
• Additionally, an all-inclusive account of both the current and emerging treatments, along with the elaborative profiles of late-stage and prominent therapies, will have an impact on the current treatment landscape.
• A detailed review of the Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) market, historical and forecasted market size, market share by therapies, detailed assumptions, and rationale behind our approach is included in the report, covering the 7MM drug outreach.
• The report provides an edge while developing business strategies by understanding trends through SWOT analysis and expert insights/KOL views, patient journey, and treatment preferences that help in shaping and driving the 7MM Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) market.

Report Insights

• GBM Patient Population Forecast
• GBM Therapeutics Market Size
• GBM Pipeline Analysis
• GBM Market Size and Trends
• GBM Market Opportunity (Current and forecasted)

Report Key Strengths

• Epidemiology‑based (Epi‑based) Bottom‑up Forecasting
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Market Research Report
• 11-year forecast
• GBM Market Outlook (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific)
• Patient Burden Trends (by geography)
• GBM Treatment Addressable Market (TAM)

GBM Competitive Landscape

• GBM Major Companies Insights
• GBM Price Trends and Analogue Assessment
• GBM Therapies Drug Adoption/Uptake
• GBM Therapies Peak Patient Share Analysis

Report Assessment

• GBM Current Treatment Practices
• GBM Unmet Needs
• GBM Clinical Development Analysis
• GBM Emerging Drugs Product Profiles
• GBM Market Attractiveness
• GBM Qualitative Analysis (SWOT and conjoint analysis)

FAQs

Market Insights

• What was the GBM market size, the market size by therapies, market share (%) distribution in 2025, and what would it look like by 2036? What are the contributing factors for this growth?
• What are the anticipated pricing variations among different geographies for the emerging therapies in the future?
• What can be the future treatment paradigm of GBM?
• What impact will patent expiry have on the GBM therapy market?
• What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of GBM? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM concerning the patient population with GBM?
• Who is the major future competitor in the market, and how will the competitors affect their market share?
• What are the current options for the treatment of GBM? What are the current guidelines for treating GBM in the US, Europe, and Japan?

Reasons to Buy

• The report will help in developing business strategies by understanding the latest trends and changing treatment dynamics driving the GBM market.
• Bottom up forecasting builds from the affected population to product forecasts, delivering a robust, data driven approach ideal for new therapies and novel classes.
• Insights on patient burden/disease incidence, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• Understand the existing market opportunities in varying geographies and the growth potential over the coming years.
• Identifying strong upcoming players in the market will help devise strategies to help get ahead of competitors.
• Detailed analysis and ranking of class-wise potential current and emerging therapies under the conjoint analysis section to provide visibility around leading classes.
• To understand KOLs’ perspectives on the accessibility, acceptability, and compliance-related challenges of existing treatment to overcome barriers in the future.
• Detailed insights on the unmet needs of the existing market so that the upcoming players can strengthen their development and launch strategy.

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