Bioconjugation Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Bioconjugation Market is projected to expand from USD 1.79 billion in 2025 to USD 2.61 billion by 2031, achieving a CAGR of 6.49%. Bioconjugation involves the chemical linking of a biomolecule, such as an antibody, with another substance to create a stable complex that offers improved diagnostic or therapeutic benefits. The primary driver of this market is the rising incidence of chronic diseases, especially cancer, which has fueled the demand for precise targeted treatments like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Additionally, advancements in linker technologies that enhance drug efficacy and stability are further accelerating industry adoption. Highlighting this focus, The Antibody Society reported that in 2024, ADCs accounted for roughly 20% of the clinical antibody pipeline for cancer indications.

Despite this growth, the market faces substantial obstacles due to the high costs and technical difficulties inherent in manufacturing bioconjugated products. Creating these hybrid therapies demands specialized infrastructure and technical expertise to maintain consistency and avoid aggregation, requirements that significantly restrict production capacity. Consequently, the complex supply chain, along with rigorous regulatory standards for safety and efficacy, impedes rapid scalability and creates barriers to entry for smaller pharmaceutical companies.

Market Drivers

Increased R&D spending on biologics and advanced drug delivery systems is a major force propelling the Global Bioconjugation Market, as pharmaceutical firms race to secure pipeline assets addressing cancer prevalence. This heavy capital investment is justified by the high commercial returns of approved therapies, which validate the significant upfront development costs. For instance, in November 2025, Pharmaphorum reported in 'AZ's Q3 sales reach record $15bn' that AstraZeneca saw an 18% rise in oncology sales to $6.64 billion, largely driven by the success of the antibody-drug conjugate Enhertu. This potential has triggered a surge in licensing deals; according to Express Pharma in May 2025, the total value of deals for monoclonal antibodies and ADCs licensed from Chinese biopharma companies hit $30 billion, illustrating fierce global competition for innovative candidates.

Simultaneously, the industry is increasingly relying on specialized Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) to navigate technical production barriers. The development of bioconjugates requires complex processes involving potent cytotoxic payloads and precise linker chemistry, capabilities that often surpass the internal resources of biotech companies. As a result, innovators are outsourcing these critical tasks to speed up development. This trend is highlighted by WuXi XDC’s August 2025 'Interim Results 2025' announcement, which reported a 62.2% year-over-year revenue jump attributed to strong demand for integrated ADC and bioconjugate manufacturing services.

Market Challenges

The Global Bioconjugation Market is significantly hindered by the extreme technical complexity and high costs involved in manufacturing these hybrid therapies. Producing stable bioconjugates necessitates highly specialized infrastructure capable of safely managing both biologic materials and toxic payloads under strict containment protocols. This requirement for dual-handling capabilities results in a shortage of qualified production facilities, making it difficult for manufacturers to scale operations efficiently to meet growing demand.

As a consequence, the lack of internal capacity creates a heavy dependence on a fragmented supply chain, introducing risks regarding product consistency and timing. According to the Drug, Chemical & Associated Technologies Association, approximately 70% of antibody-drug conjugate manufacturing was outsourced in 2024 because developers lacked sufficient in-house capabilities. This reliance on third-party vendors increases production costs and prolongs development timelines, effectively slowing market expansion and preventing smaller pharmaceutical entities with limited capital from entering the sector.

Market Trends

A transformative trend in the Global Bioconjugation Market is the expansion of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) beyond oncology into non-cancer indications, specifically autoimmune disorders. Developers are increasingly utilizing bioconjugation to deliver immunomodulatory payloads that restore immune tolerance rather than causing cell death, offering more precise treatment for chronic conditions. This diversification is attracting significant investment, as demonstrated in October 2025 when Pharmaceutical Executive reported in 'Pharma Collaborations Focused on Advancing Antibody-Drug Conjugates' that Sanofi formed a partnership worth up to $500 million with EVOQ Therapeutics to develop bioconjugates for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus using nanodisc technology.

Concurrently, the market is seeing strong growth in radioimmunoconjugates and theranostic applications, which link radioisotopes to antibodies for dual diagnostic and therapeutic roles. This method allows clinicians to image disease burden before administering a targeted radioactive dose, greatly enhancing treatment personalization. The commercial potential of this segment is driving aggressive acquisitions by multinational firms seeking next-generation radioligand pipelines. For example, Radiology Business reported in June 2025 that Bristol Myers Squibb agreed to pay over $350 million upfront to license exclusive global rights for a clinical-stage prostate cancer imaging and radiopharmaceutical agent from Philochem.

Key Players Profiled in the Bioconjugation Market

• Danaher Corporation
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Lonza Group Ltd.
• Merck KGaA
• Sartorius AG
• Abbvie, Inc.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
• Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Catalent, Inc.
• Becton, Dickinson and Company

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Bioconjugation Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Bioconjugation Market, by Product:

• Reagents & Kits
• Labels
• Others

Bioconjugation Market, by Application:

• Therapeutics
• Research & Development
• Diagnostics

Bioconjugation Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Bioconjugation Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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