Animal Model Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2033

Animal Model Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033

The global animal model market size surpassed USD 2.48 billion in 2023 and is estimated to hit around USD 5.72 billion by 2033 growing at a CAGR of 8.71% from 2024 to 2033.

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Key Takeaways

• North America led the market with the largest market share of 50% in 2023.
• By application type, the cancer segment has held the largest market share of 44% in 2023.
• By animal type, the mice & rat segment held the largest share of 53% in 2023.
• By end use, in 2023, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment has captured more than 40% of market share in 2023.

Animal Model Market Size in the U.S. 2024 To 2033

The U.S. animal model market size was valued at USD 0.93 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach around USD 2.15 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 8.80% from 2024 to 2033.

North America led the market with the biggest market share of 50% in 2023, fueled by robust research activities and a diverse range of animal models, including those for cystic fibrosis (CF). Various species, such as mice, rats, ferrets, rabbits, pigs, sheep, zebrafish, and fruit flies, are employed to model CF disease, underscoring the region's comprehensive approach to biomedical research.

The United States accounts for a significant portion of animal usage in research, education, and testing, with an estimated annual utilization of 17 million to 22 million animals. Mice and rats constitute approximately 85% of these research animals, reflecting their widespread use in scientific investigations. Notably, federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conduct intramural animal research, with NIH being the largest contributor to animal experimentation among federal entities.

Animal Model Market Overview

Animal model market serves as invaluable tools in biomedical research, mirroring human biology and disease processes to facilitate a deeper understanding of human health. Through species such as mice, rats, and zebrafish, researchers can conduct experiments that are impractical or ethically restricted in humans, leading to insights critical for medical advancement. Spontaneous animal models, like dogs for prostate cancer, offer unique insights into naturally occurring diseases. Moreover, biomedical research benefits animals, aiding endangered species through embryo transfer, parasite elimination, illness treatment, and anesthetic advancements, thus improving overall animal welfare.

With anatomical and physiological parallels between humans and animals, particularly mammals, researchers can explore mechanisms and test novel therapies in animal models before human application. Despite ethical considerations, a substantial portion of research, approximately 47 percent of NIH-funded endeavors, involves animal experimentation, reflecting the significant investment, with nearly $42 billion allocated in 2020 for research and development.

• In September 2022, Infosys completed its acquisition of BASE Life Science, a leading consulting and technology provider in the life sciences industry.
• In June 2023, IPA unveiled its new HYFT-powered In Silico Humanization Platform with the aim of disrupting the transgenic animal model market.

Growth Factors

• The utilization of animal models in early pharmaceutical research contributes significantly to market growth by providing crucial data for assessing the effectiveness and safety of potential medicines. This practice, rooted in established scientific traditions, aids pharmaceutical researchers in making informed decisions regarding drug development, ultimately expanding the market for new therapeutics.
• Animal research serves as a key driver of growth in the biomedical science market despite ethical challenges, as it offers essential insights into the physiopathology and treatment alternatives for both animal and human diseases. By advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and treatment strategies, animal models foster innovation and drive market expansion in the medical sector.
• In modern biological research, including alcohol research, animal models play a pivotal role in elucidating disease causes and mechanisms, as well as in developing novel treatment approaches. This contribution fuels market growth by facilitating the development of innovative therapies and enhancing the effectiveness of medical interventions.
• Despite the complexities involved in translating therapeutic strategies, such as stem cell therapeutics, from preclinical models to clinical trials, animal models remain instrumental in overcoming regulatory requirements and funding challenges. Their use, though not perfect in mirroring human disease complexity, provides a platform for achieving therapeutic success, thus bolstering animal model market’s growth.
• As foundational tools for studying basic biological processes, disease pathogenesis, novel therapies, and toxicology, animal models drive market growth by enabling scientific advancements across various research fields. Their versatility and reliability make them indispensable resources for driving innovation and expanding market opportunities in the life sciences sector.
• In infectious disease research, the use of animal models is vital for understanding complex temporal relationships between the host, its neuroendocrine and immune systems, and the infectious organism. By incorporating knowledge of species-specific responses, well-designed animal models facilitate research goals, ultimately contributing to market growth in infectious disease therapeutics and interventions.

Animal Model Market Scope

Animal Model Market Dynamics

Drivers

Growing necessity of animal models

The expanding necessity of non-human primates and other animal models in various areas of research, including AIDS, hepatitis, dentistry, orthopedic surgical techniques, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular surgeries, psychological disorders, drug development, vaccine development, toxicological studies, and other acts of significant importance drive the growth of the animal model market. Their utilization has led to the discovery of vaccines and diagnostic modalities, benefiting both humans and animals by enhancing lifespan and preventing zoonotic diseases.

Rat and mouse models demonstrate exceptional importance in biomedical research, while other small domestic animals such as guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, birds, amphibians, fishes, flies, and worms also exhibit anatomical and physiological resemblances to humans, further expanding the scope of research. Additionally, large animal models offer unique anatomical and physiological characteristics relevant to specific research areas, further stimulating growth in the animal model market.

Animal models drive preclinical drug screening advancements, fueling market growth

In recent years, the utilization of animal models has emerged as a pivotal strategy in the realm of pre-clinical drug screening, serving as indispensable tools prior to the commencement of clinical trials. Recognized as the foremost in vivo models, animal models play a crucial role in assessing fundamental pharmacokinetic parameters such as drug efficacy, safety, and toxicological profiles, prerequisites for the translation of pharmaceutical interventions into human applications.

Animal models are instrumental in conducting a spectrum of toxicological tests, encompassing assessments for general toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and teratogenicity, as well as evaluating potential irritant effects on the eyes and skin. Often, a comprehensive approach is adopted, where both in vitro and in vivo models are synergistically employed to corroborate findings before advancing to medical trials. Predominantly conducted in mice, rats, and rabbits, the utilization of in vivo models not only ensures the integrity and validity of preclinical data but also acts as a significant driver for growth in the animal model market.

• In September 2022, Zoetis announced the completion of its acquisition of Jurox, a prominent provider of products for livestock and companion animals.

Restraints

Emerging technologies 

The advent of innovative technologies such as 3D cell culturing, human-induced pluripotent stem cells, and gene editing is reshaping the landscape of biomedical research by offering alternative solutions that replace, refine, and reduce the dependence on animal models. While these advancements hold promise for improving drug testing methodologies, they also present challenges to the growth of the animal model market. 

Patients often encounter toxic or ineffective drugs due to the imperfections inherent in animal models used for preclinical testing. Indeed, statistics reveal that only about 10% of drugs entering clinical trials are ultimately approved, with the remaining 90% failing due to various reasons such as off-target effects, problematic dosing, and lack of efficacy. This high failure rate, particularly attributed to issues like toxicity, serves as a significant restraint on the expansion of the animal model market.

Limitations in establishing disease-specific animal models 

The establishment of disease-specific animal models encounters significant hurdles, primarily due to incomplete pathway annotation in animals and a lack of understanding of organism-specific pathway regulation. While animal models can detect similarities and differences in pathway activity compared to humans, challenges arise in identifying deviations from the human version due to a dearth of organism-specific pathway data. Additionally, while cellular models of human disease offer mechanistic insights, they often fail to replicate in vivo biology accurately.

Model organisms remain central to aging research due to ethical concerns, long natural lifespans, and genetic heterogeneity, as using human subjects poses challenges. Despite being utilized in pharmaceutical and industrial research to predict mortal toxicity, animal models have been shown to be poor predictors of drug safety in humans. The growth of the animal model market is further limited by the high cost of animal research, both financially and in holds in drug approval procedures, coupled with the loss of potentially beneficial drugs for human use.

Opportunities

Rising life expectancy

Advancements in pharmaceuticals and medical technology have revolutionized healthcare, leading to a decline in deaths from infections and other ailments, consequently driving up the average life expectancy. However, this positive trend has given rise to a new medical challenge: aging diseases. Chronic age-related diseases, which manifest as individuals age, pose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, affecting quality of life and increasing disability rates. To address this challenge, researchers have turned to animal models of adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases, facilitating the evaluation of new therapeutic strategies.

Recent breakthroughs in genomic and proteomic technologies have further bolstered the study of aging-related diseases. Genome-wide approaches for analyzing protein localization in model organisms such as Drosophila, along with proteomic profiling techniques, have enabled systematic analysis of protein expression and localization in various cellular and developmental contexts. These advancements provide a solid foundation for further mechanistic studies, paving the way for targeted therapeutic interventions.

• In April 2023, CareDx and Miromatrix announced an exclusive partnership to advance research utilizing bioengineered organs for human transplantation.
• In August 2023, the translational value of humanized animal models received a significant boost.

Personalized medicine development

Animal models play a crucial role in advancing personalized medicine approaches by targeting human mutations and providing insights into intraspecies differences. Personalized medicine, which tailors treatments based on individual genetic variations, relies on understanding how small differences in genetic makeup can significantly impact responses to drugs and diseases. This principle extends to complex systems, where minor changes in initial conditions can lead to vastly different outcomes. This presents a compelling opportunity for researchers and pharmaceutical companies to enhance drug discovery and development efforts, ultimately driving growth in the animal model market.

While personalized medicine leverages intraspecies differences, animal models used in drug development and disease research often exhibit greater disparities from the complex systems they aim to model. Despite these variations, these animal models continue to offer valuable insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic responses, presenting significant opportunities for the animal model market. By addressing the need for models that more accurately reflect human biology and disease processes, there is immense potential for the development of improved animal models that better align with personalized medicine approaches. 

Application Insights

The cancer segment emerged as a dominant force within the application segment of the animal model market in 2023. With cancer ranking as the second-largest cause of morbidity and mortality globally, it remains a focal point of research in the medical field. Consequently, there's been a notable increase in the construction and utilization of animal models for cancer research. Various methods, including chemical induction, xenotransplantation, and gene programming, are employed to create diverse cancer animal models. Patient-derived xenotransplantation (PDX) models, in particular, have gained traction due to their ability to preserve the microenvironment of primary tumors and fundamental cellular characteristics.

Animal models not only facilitate the study of biochemical and physiological processes underlying cancer development but also play a crucial role in drug screening and exploring gene therapy options. Among the plethora of mouse models available for patient-derived xenografts, oncology research, those based on cell line-derived xenografts, and humanized animals are increasingly favored. These models closely mimic tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and the intricate tumor microenvironment, thus driving the growth of the animal model market within the cancer research domain.

Animal Type Insight

The mice and rat segment stood as the dominant force in the animal segment of the animal model market in 2023. Mice are favored for their small size, facilitating easy housing and maintenance, along with their short reproductive cycle and lifespan. Additionally, they possess a mild-tempered and docile nature, coupled with genetics, biology, and a wealth of information available regarding their anatomy. Another significant advantage is the ability to breed genetically manipulated mice and those with spontaneous mutations.

• Together, mice and rats constitute approximately 95% of all laboratory animals, with mice emerging as the most extensively used animal in biomedical research.

Mice serve as versatile research subjects across various disciplines, including biology, psychology, and engineering. They are extensively utilized to model a wide array of human diseases, ranging from hypertension and diabetes to Alzheimer's disease and various cancers. This comprehensive utilization underscores their significance in biomedical research aimed at finding treatments or cures for debilitating conditions such as heart disease, muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord injuries. Consequently, the prevalence of mice and rats as indispensable animal models fuels the growth of the animal model market.

End Use Insight

The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment asserted  dominance within the end-use segment of the animal model market in 2023. Animal utilization in research constitutes a crucial component of the drug discovery process, facilitating scientific advancement and serving as invaluable models for studying diseases. Animals play a pivotal role in the development and testing of potential new medicines and therapies. Their involvement in testing procedures is deemed critical for evaluating the quality, efficacy, and safety of pharmaceutical products, as mandated by regulatory authorities worldwide.

Biopharmaceutical companies are ethically and legally obligated to conduct thorough evaluations of new medicines before administering them to patients. Regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, mandate safety studies in animals as a prerequisite before commencing clinical trials in humans. This stringent regulatory framework underscores the indispensable role of animal models in ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical interventions, thus driving growth in the animal model market.

• In December 2022, Amgen Inc. announced its acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics plc.

Recent Developments

• In September 2022, Solid Biosciences announced its acquisition of AavantiBio alongside a concurrent $75 million private placement.
• In April 2023, Merck bolstered its immunology pipeline with the acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences, Inc.
• In February 2023, AstraZeneca successfully completed the acquisition of CinCor Pharma, Inc. (CinCor), a US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for resistant and uncontrolled hypertension as well as chronic kidney disease.
• In August 2023, Biocytogen established two business divisions to distinguish preclinical models and Services (BioMice) from antibody-drug R&D.

Animal Model Market Companies

• Charles River Laboratories
• The Jackson Laboratory
• genOway
• Taconic Biosciences, Inc.
• Janvier Labs
• Harbour BioMed
• Crown Bioscience
• Inotiv
• BIOCYTOGEN
• BioSpherix, Ltd.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Application

• Cancer
• Immunological Disease
• Infectious Disease
• Others

By Animal Type

• Mice
• Rat
• Guinea Pigs
• Rabbits
• Hamsters
• Others

By End-use

• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
• Academic Research Institute
• Contract Research Organization

By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa