Metagenomics Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The metagenomics market was valued at approximately USD 615 million in 2020, and it is expected to witness a revenue of USD 1,294 million in 2026, with a CAGR of 12.60% over the forecast period, 2021-2026.

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have shifted the focus to the growth of the metagenomics market. Metagenomics is widely used in analyzing the interactions between the microbiome and various pathological interventions associated with COVID-19 infection. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is one of the advanced techniques in detecting SARS-CoV-2 from nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs and also provides information on the composition of the microbiome in the upper respiratory tract and aids in analyzing its relationship to coinfections or the presence of other organisms that may impact SARS-CoV-2 disease progression and prognosis. According to the research article published in Future Science, 2021, pandemic risk calculations make use of technologies such as metagenomics to trace the molecular changes in pathogens during their emergence globally, which could assist in the prediction of hotspots of emergence, populations at risk, and the pathogens under genetic evolution. Thus, given the aforementioned factors, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have a significant impact on the metagenomics market.

This is attributed to the increasing R&D expenditure, declining expenses of sequencing, and technological advancements. Besides, the growing interest of researchers in the field of metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and metaproteomic and investments in bioinformatics to promote metagenomics and microbiome profiling are also some of the factors propelling the growth of the market. Moreover, as DNA sequencing is highly associated with metagenomics, the technological advancement in the field of DNA sequencing results in several advantages compared to conventional methods. The features of accuracy, reducing the number of pre-sequencing, and reliability on sequencing have added to increased dependence on the technology in metagenomics. Hence, the advancements in DNA sequencing are expected to propel the market for metagenomics in the coming years. Furthermore, rising concerns related to viral diseases such as virus-induced diarrhea, influenza, hepatitis B, and HIV/AIDS and a growing number of genes being identified have led to the development of novel metagenome study products. However, the high cost of overall metagenomics may hamper the market to a certain extent.

Key Market Trends

Metagenomics Application in Human Health is Expected to Witness Healthy Growth Over the Forecast Period

Metagenomics in human health is anticipated to show significant growth in the forecast period due to growing demand among researchers to study the relation between microbes and human diseases. The shotgun characterization of total DNA and marker genes is used mainly to analyze the community structure of the human microbiome, which is the genetic material of the microbes associated with humans. According to the research study published in the American Society of Microbiology, 2020, the metagenomic changes of the human gut microbiota was studied and described, that occur with aging, up to extreme longevity, by characterizing the microbiome of semisupercentenarians, i.e., the population aged above 105 years, and thus aids in the development and support of new homeostasis. Additionally, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of RNA and DNA extracted from cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue offers a potential strategy for diagnosing neurological infections. Also, as per the research article published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2020, metagenomics-based surveillance helps in detecting the relation between pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. Metagenomics has been extensively used in the identification of the microbiome associated with the onset of various cancers, such as colorectal cancers. Hence, the high incidence of cancers globally surges the research studies to evaluate the microbiome associated with cancer and the possible diagnostic/treatment options, which is expected to drive the studied segment.

Also, the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the application of metagenomics in the detection and analysis of the SARS-CoV2 virus. Metagenomics plays a vital role in determining and analyzing the microbiome associated with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and COVID-19 disease, which is of great importance during the current pandemic era. A study published in the bioRxiv, 2020, revealed the presence of 30 functional gene groups/classes associated with resistance to antibiotics and toxic compounds (RATC) in both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 microbiomes. Furthermore, a predominant higher abundance of cobalt-zinc-cadmium resistance (CZCR) and multidrug resistance to efflux pumps (MREP) genes were detected in the COVID-19 metagenome. Thus, COVID-19 is expected to positively impact the studied market growth during the current pandemic.

Furthermore, the European Project MetaHIT (metagenomics of human intestinal tract) and the American Human Microbiome Project are some of the research programs working in the field of metagenomics. Moreover, rising investment in the human microbiome and the introduction of advanced sequencing technologies have been driving the metagenomics market over the forecast period.

North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Share of the Market Over the the Forecast Period

North America is expected to hold a significant market due to the presence of a large number of pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies working toward the establishment of novel and efficient metagenomic platforms, along with the increasing research and development expenditure by the key players. Also, the wide adoption of metagenomics diagnostic and an increasing number of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based research and technological advancements are driving the studied market in the region.

The growing application of metagenomics in various COVID-19 studies is also expected to drive the studied market during the pandemic. According to the research article published in the American Society of Microbiology, 2020, China, the United States, and Europe had various levels of coinfection during COVID-19, within regions as well that ranged from as low as 2% to as high as 80%. Metagenomic-based next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has the ability to detect coinfections and determine other organisms that may impact patient outcomes.

The United States owns the largest share of the metagenomics market in the North American region. The rising geriatric population and the high incidence of chronic diseases are also expected to play a vital role in the growth of the studied market. According to the Population Reference Bureau’s Population Bulletin: Aging in the United States, the total number of Americans aged 65 years and older is projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060. Thus, the elderly population is more prone to chronic diseases, which surges the demand for advanced diagnostics and treatment planning. Hence, the rapid adoption of novel sequencing technologies and rising awareness about next-generation sequencing (NGS) based on metagenomic research are also expected to fuel the market in this region.

Competitive Landscape

The metagenomics market is moderately competitive and consists of several major players. Some of the companies currently dominating the market are Illumina Inc., QIAGEN NV, Novogene Co. Ltd, PerkinElmer Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., among others. The key players are involved in strategic alliances such as acquisitions and collaborations, along with investment in research and development activities, for the launch of novel products globally.

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