Global Biodefense Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Growing Threat of Biological Weapons And Increasing Government Funding
The Biodefense market is estimated to be valued at USD 16.51 Bn in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.3% over the forecast period (2024-2031). The market is witnessing high growth owing to growing threat of biological weapons by terrorist organizations and nation states along with increasing funding by governments globally to tackle such threats. Furthermore, rising prevalence of infectious diseases and outbreaks have raised the need for better diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines.
Market Dynamics:
The growth of the global biodefense market is driven by two key factors. Firstly, the threat of biological weapons has been on a rise with terrorist organizations and rogue states attempting to develop biological agents. This has prompted governments to strengthen biodefense preparedness and pour in more funds towards research and developing countermeasures. Secondly, infectious disease outbreaks have become more frequent in the recent past. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps and weaknesses in public health systems. Consequently, governments are now prioritizing the development of antibiotics, antivirals, and vaccines for high threat pathogens. The market is expected to attract more private investments towards the development of novel biodefense products to counter biological threats. However, high costs associated with the development and stockpiling of biodefense solutions continue to restrain the market growth.
Major Driver: Growing incidence of infectious diseases is boosting the demand for biodefense solutions
The increasing incidence of infectious diseases across the globe is a major driver fueling growth in the biodefense market. New and re-emerging pathogens continue to pose significant threats to human health. Diseases like Ebola, Zika virus, anthrax, plague, and smallpox require effective prevention and treatment measures. Biodefense solutions help address these threats by aiding early detection of biological agents and developing medical countermeasures like vaccines and antiviral drugs. Between 2001 and 2020, over 1,200 epidemics occurred worldwide affecting public health and economy. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the need for robust biodefense systems to deal with future outbreaks. The growing disease burden will sustain the demand for biodefense products and services in the coming years.
Government initiatives and funding for biodefense research
Governments across major countries have increased funding for biodefense research and development over the past decade. After the 9/11 terror attacks and anthrax letter attacks, the biodefense budget saw a significant boost, especially in the U.S. Large investments are being made towards developing fast diagnostics, therapies, vaccines, and surveillance systems. For instance, the U.S. government allocates billions annually through agencies like the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to support biodefense initiatives. Growing funding is encouraging private sector participation and fostering innovation in this sector. This driver will propel the global biodefense industry forward during the forecast period.
Major Restraint: Limited commercial viability restrains product development
One key challenge for the biodefense market is the limited commercial viability of products developed for biological threats. Since many pathogens targeted are uncommon or found only in certain regions, achieving large sales volumes can be difficult for companies. Substantial R&D investments are required to manufacture effective diagnostics, vaccines or therapeutics but the customer base may not justify the costs. As a result, pharmaceutical giants have remained reluctant to pursue product pipelines in this niche but high-risk domain. Obtaining regulatory approvals also requires extensive clinical trials involving human subjects which raises ethical issues. These factors restrain the pace of new product introductions and market evolution to some extent.
Doubts over non-military usage of certain biodefense technologies
Another limitation is the debate around possible misuse of some biodefense technologies developed for military purposes. Dual-use issues exist with platforms used for rapid identification of biological agents. There are ongoing discussions on enabling civilian access to such systems while preventing their diversion towards nefarious activities. Concerns have been raised by watchdog groups about privacy, security and implications on public trust. Regulators must strike a delicate balance between facilitating biopreparedness and allaying fears of mass surveillance. Efforts are still ongoing to build consensus on developing capability while ensuring oversight and accountability. The debate slows translation of some defense innovations into widespread civilian applications.
Major Opportunities: Collaboration with government agencies expands into new areas
A major market opportunity lies in partnerships between private companies and government bodies. Rather than work independently, more integrated models are emerging where biodefense solutions are co-developed jointly. This allows leveraging of mutual strengths – government resources and industry expertise. Companies can gain access to federal contracts, testing grounds, and end users. Areas that have significant potential include syndromic surveillance, bioforensics, biosafety, and biosecurity. For instance, firms are helping federal agencies enhance bioarchiving capabilities and develop national research infrastructure. Increased collaboration will accelerate knowledge exchange and open new revenue pools in adjacencies like infectious disease response and bioeconomy. This offers a collaborative way to expand business scope.
Growth in disease outbreak preparedness programs
Another key opportunity arises from rising global commitments to strengthen disease outbreak preparedness programs. Post COVID-19, governments and international health organizations acknowledged the need for robust early warning systems, stockpiles, surge manufacturing abilities as well as emergency response coordination networks. This presents commercial avenues for biodefense vendors. They can provide technology, supplies, training and technical assistance to set up preparedness infrastructure. Areas seeing focus are point-of-care and lab-based diagnostics, personal protective equipment, disinfection systems, and digital tools for modelling spread and impact. Companies well-positioned to support such preparedness building globally will gain sustainable growth prospects going forward.
Link: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/biodefense-market-4516
Key Development
- On January 16, 2024, the U.K. and the U.S. launched a Strategic Dialogue on Biological Security to address growing biological threats. This partnership, building on The Atlantic Declaration, aims to enhance collaboration in research, bio-surveillance, innovation, and countermeasures against biological risks.
- Governor Kathy Hochul, the first female Governor of New York State, U.S. initiated the third round of applications for New York's US$ 40 million Biodefense Commercialization Fund. This fund aims to speed up the development and commercialization of life science innovations addressing infectious disease threats, while fostering job creation and growth in New York's life science sector. Since its launch in September 2021, Empire State Development has granted US$ 25.3 million to 11 start-ups and 13 academic institutions working on diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, and other solutions against infectious diseases.
- In June 2022, Emergent BioSolutions Inc., specialty biopharmaceutical company revealed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the Biologics License Application (BLA) for AV7909 (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted) for review
- In May 2022, Emergent BioSolutions Inc. also announced its definitive agreement with Chimerix, Inc. to acquire exclusive worldwide rights to TEMBEXA (brincidofovir), the first antiviral approved by the FDA for treating smallpox across all age groups
- In February 2022, Appili Therapeutics Inc. unveiled funding exceeding $10 million to progress its biodefense vaccine candidate, ATI-1701, aimed at preventing Francisella tularensis infection. This financial support is anticipated to enhance the company's visibility and stimulate expansion within the biodefense market.
Key Players: XOMA corporation, Altimmune Inc., Emergent Biosolutions Inc., Dynavax Technologies Corporation., SIGA Technologies., Elusys Therapeutics Inc., Ichor Medical Systems., Dynport Vaccine Company., Cleveland Biolabs., Bavarian Nordic., Ology Bioservices., Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Chimerix, Inc., Cleveland BioLabs, Inc., and Pluristem Therapeutics
