Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Natural Killer (CAR-NK) Cell Therapy Market Report 2025

The chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.27 billion in 2024 to $2.42 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to the rising global incidence of cancer, growing emphasis on immunotherapy, early clinical successes of natural killer (NK) cell therapies, increased government funding for cancer research, and the expansion of cell therapy manufacturing infrastructure.

The chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.09 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in cellular immunotherapy, expanding collaborations between biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, rising demand for off-the-shelf cancer therapies, growth in clinical trials for chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) therapies, and greater adoption of precision oncology. Major trends during the forecast period include technological advancements in genetic engineering, innovations in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) design, development of allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell platforms, research in tumor microenvironment modulation, and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in cell therapy development.

The increasing global incidence of cancer is expected to drive the growth of the chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market in the coming years. Cancer comprises a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells that can invade and damage body tissues. Factors such as aging populations and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the rising cancer rates, as older age leads to accumulation of genetic mutations over time, while habits like smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity increase cancer risk. CAR-NK cell therapy supports cancer treatment by engineering natural killer cells to precisely target and destroy cancer cells, enhancing the immune system’s ability to attack tumors. For example, in February 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO), a Switzerland-based intergovernmental organization, estimated that the 20 million new cancer cases reported in 2022 are expected to increase by 77% to over 35 million cases by 2050. Thus, the rising global cancer incidence is fueling the growth of the CAR-NK cell therapy market.

Leading companies in the CAR-NK cell therapy market are developing advanced solutions, such as conditioning chemotherapy-free treatments, to create safer and more effective off-the-shelf cellular therapies. Conditioning chemotherapy-free treatment eliminates the need for intensive pre-treatment chemotherapy to suppress the patient’s immune system before administering cellular therapies, thereby reducing toxicity and side effects. For instance, in November 2024, Fate Therapeutics Inc., a US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, launched FT522, an off-the-shelf CD19-targeted CAR NK cell therapy. This therapy incorporates alloimmune defense receptor technology, allowing CAR NK cells to persist and selectively deplete pathogenic B cells in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma and autoimmune diseases, demonstrating promising safety and efficacy in early-phase clinical trials without requiring intense immune system suppression.

In August 2022, Gicell, a South Korea-based biotechnology company, partnered with HK Inno.N to jointly develop next-generation CAR-NK cell therapies. Through this collaboration, Gicell and HK Inno.N aim to leverage their expertise to advance the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative allogeneic CAR-NK therapies for cancer treatment. HK Inno.N Corporation is a South Korea-based pharmaceutical company.

Major players in the chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market are Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Artiva Biotherapeutics Inc., Nkarta Inc., ImmunityBio Inc., Fate Therapeutics Inc., Acepodia Inc., PersonGen BioTherapeutics Inc., Cartherics Inc., Century Therapeutics Inc., Catamaran Bio Inc., Glycostem Therapeutics Ltd., ImmuneBridge Co. Ltd., ONK Therapeutics Inc., Senti Biosciences Inc., Wugen Therapeutics Inc., Chimeric Therapeutics Limited, East Ocyon Bio, Nuwacell Biotechnologies Co. Ltd., Nkarta Therapeutics Inc., and GICELL Co. Ltd.

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

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sudden escalation of U.S. tariffs and the consequent trade frictions in spring 2025 are severely impacting the pharmaceutical companies contend with tariffs on APIs, glass vials, and lab equipment inputs with few alternative sources. Generic drug makers, operating on razor-thin margins, are especially vulnerable, with some reducing production of low-profit medicines. Biotech firms face delays in clinical trials due to tariff-related shortages of specialized reagents. In response, the industry is expanding API production in India and Europe, increasing inventory stockpiles, and pushing for trade exemptions for essential medicines.

Chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy is an advanced form of immunotherapy that genetically engineers natural killer (NK) cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to target and destroy cancer cells more effectively. This therapy is applied in treating hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and certain viral infections, offering advantages such as a lower risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), reduced potential for graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and feasibility for allogeneic (off-the-shelf) use.

The primary types of CAR-NK cell therapy include cytokine therapy, adoptive NK cell therapy, genetically engineered NK cell therapy, and others. Cytokine therapy uses signaling proteins, such as interferons or interleukins, to modulate the immune system, either enhancing anti-tumor activity or suppressing harmful inflammation in autoimmune conditions. NK cells can be sourced from peripheral blood, cord blood, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), or established NK cell lines. Applications include treatment of solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, and more, with key end users comprising hospitals, cancer research institutes, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

The chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market statistics, including the chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market share, detailed chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy industry. This chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy market includes revenues earned by entities through the research and development, clinical trial management, cell manufacturing, personalized treatment planning, and post-therapy patient monitoring. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

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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