Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Market Report 2025

This Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) market report delivers an in-depth analysis of the market’s key characteristics, including size, growth potential, and segmentation. It provides a detailed breakdown of the market across major regions and leading countries, highlighting historical data and future growth projections. The report also examines the competitive landscape, market share insights, emerging trends, and strategic developments shaping the market.

The head and neck cancer (HNC) market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.0 billion in 2024 to $2.17 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. The growth observed in the historic period can be attributed to the increasing incidence of HPV-related cancers, a rise in smoking and alcohol consumption, growing investment in cancer research, heightened awareness and early diagnosis, and an aging population.

The head and neck cancer (HNC) market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.93 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. In the forecast period, growth is expected to be driven by the expansion of healthcare infrastructure, rising patient demographics, the growing geriatric population, increased healthcare expenditures, and the continued prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use. Key trends in the forecast period include advancements in immunotherapy, targeted therapies, technological integration, the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI), and the growth of precision medicine.

The rising incidence of cigarette smoking is expected to drive the growth of the head and neck cancer (HNC) market. Cigarette smoking, the act of inhaling and exhaling smoke from burning tobacco, is associated with various health risks and addiction. The increase in smoking rates is often influenced by factors such as stress, social pressures, aggressive marketing, and the easy availability of tobacco products. HNC drugs help mitigate the harmful effects of smoking by targeting molecular changes caused by tobacco use and treating cancers linked to it, while also emphasizing the importance of reducing exposure to carcinogens for better treatment outcomes. For instance, in October 2024, a study by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) revealed a notable increase in smoking among young people, with 22.5% of respondents smoking in 2022 compared to 40.1% in 2024. This rise in smoking rates is driving the growth of the HNC market.

Companies in the HNC market are focused on developing innovative treatments, such as immuno-oncology drugs, to enhance treatment effectiveness, improve survival rates, and address unmet medical needs in managing advanced cancers. Immuno-oncology drugs utilize the body's immune system to target and combat cancer cells. These treatments include checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapies, and cancer vaccines. For example, in November 2024, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, an India-based pharmaceutical company, introduced toripalimab, an immuno-oncology drug for adults with a rare form of head and neck cancer originating in the nasopharynx, the upper part of the throat. This drug, marketed as Zytorvi, is used for treating recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It has shown a 48% reduction in the risk of progression or death when combined with standard chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin).

In September 2023, Coherus BioSciences, a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company, acquired Surface Oncology Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition was aimed at strengthening Coherus' immuno-oncology portfolio by incorporating Surface Oncology’s promising drug candidates, including SRF114 and SRF388, which are being developed for various cancers, including head and neck cancer. This move enhances Coherus' competitive position in the oncology market and expands its therapeutic offerings in immunotherapy treatments. Surface Oncology Inc. is a U.S.-based company that specializes in the development of cancer therapies.

Major players in the head and neck cancer (hnc) market are Pfizer Inc., Siemens Healthcare Private Limited, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Merck KGaA, AbbVie Inc., Bayer Healthcare AG, Sanofi S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, AstraZeneca Plc, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Eli Lilly and Company, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Boehringer Ingelheim, Fresenius Kabi AG, Incyte Corporation, Exelixis Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Rakuten Medical Inc., Merus N.V.

North America was the largest region in the head and neck cancer (HNC) market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in head and neck cancer (HNC) report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the head and neck cancer (HNC) market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) encompasses a group of epithelial malignancies that develop in the head and neck region, including the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, and salivary glands. The majority of these cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, with major risk factors including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

The main types of head and neck cancer (HNC) include laryngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer, salivary gland cancer, lip and oral cavity cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, and others. Laryngeal cancer, which develops in the larynx (also known as the voice box), affects functions such as sound production, breathing, and swallowing. Treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and others. Diagnostic methods include biopsy, screening tests, blood tests, dental diagnosis, imaging, and endoscopy. These diagnostic tools and treatments are distributed through various channels such as hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and e-commerce platforms, and are utilized by different end users such as hospitals, specialty clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others.

The head and neck cancer (HNC) market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides head and neck cancer (HNC) market statistics, including head and neck cancer (HNC) industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a head and neck cancer (HNC) market share, detailed head and neck cancer (HNC) market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the head and neck cancer (HNC) industry. This head and neck cancer (HNC) 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 head and neck cancer (HNC) market consists of revenues earned by providing services such as systemic therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and combined modality therapy. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The head and neck cancer (HNC) market also includes sales of targeted therapy drugs, and combination therapy products. 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.

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