Top 6 Companies in the Pancreatic Cancer Market in 2024

The pancreatic cancer market was valued at USD 2.9 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% during the forecast period of 2024-2032, with values likely to reach USD 6.6 billion by 2032. The market is driven by the increasing cancer prevalence and rise in research and development across the 8 major markets.

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal form of cancer that originates in the pancreas, impacting digestion and blood sugar regulation. Adenocarcinoma, which is the most prevalent form, is challenging to identify in its early stages and is associated with low survival rates. Symptoms such as jaundice, weight loss, and abdominal pain become apparent in advanced stages. Abnormal cell growth leads to cancer, and it can spread to other tissues. Factors that increase the risk of pancreatic cancer include smoking, obesity, and genetic mutations.

Possible treatment choices consist of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted drug therapy. Increased government support for research, treatment development, and public health initiatives has accelerated advancements in therapy and growth in the market. Pharmaceutical companies are also focusing on creating targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors.

The pancreatic cancer market is shaped by a growing emphasis on patient support programs and collaborative efforts. Partnerships between pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy groups have enhanced patient care, outcomes, and participation in clinical trials. Integrating supplementary services into treatment plans can help reduce the burden, improve compliance, and boost survival rates.

The growing number of pancreatic cancer cases, driven by factors such as an aging population and lifestyle changes, is leading to a higher need for diagnostic tools, treatments, and care services for patients. In the UK, approximately 10,800 new cases are diagnosed annually, with projections indicating a rise in the coming years. The increasing incidence indicates the necessity for enhanced research to improve detection and treatment outcomes. Moreover, growth in clinical trial activity is likely to lead to advancements in therapeutic strategies and aid in market expansion.

In January 2024, Novartis revealed that its radioactive drug candidate Lutathera® can reduce the risk of disease progression by 72% in GEP-NETs while in March 2024, funding was announced by the United States Department of Defense for the pancreatic cancer research program. Further, in July 2024, AstraZeneca Plc conducted Phase II clinical trials for Durvalumab for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Such advancements in research and development are poised to elevate the market value in the coming years.

Let’s explore the profile of top companies leading the pancreatic cancer market in 2024.

1.    AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca Plc, established in June 1992 in the United Kingdom, focuses on developing pharmaceutical products for a range of therapy areas including oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and respiratory. Their focus is on creating specific treatments and immuno-oncology for pancreatic cancer, such as Lynparza (olaparib), a PARP inhibitor that enhances survival rates.

2.    Pfizer, Inc.

Pfizer Inc. is a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City. Their focus is on identifying, creating, and marketing biopharmaceuticals for multiple health issues. Pfizer is a key player in pancreatic cancer research, actively advancing ponsegraromab, which shows potential in enhancing body weight and muscle mass.

3.    Novartis AG

Novartis AG is dedicated to healthcare innovation, focusing on developing medications and products for eye care, with a specific emphasis on cancer, cardiovascular, immune, and infectious diseases. In 2024, the company introduced Lutathera ® to decrease the risk of disease progression by 72% when used as the initial treatment for advanced gastroentero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). Lutathera has been authorized in the United States, Europe, and Japan for the treatment of adult patients with SSTR-positive GEP-NETs.

4.    Amgen Inc.

Amgen is a biotechnology company focusing on developing innovative medicines for serious diseases. It creates treatments for a variety of conditions by analyzing disease challenges and utilizing advanced human genetics knowledge. Their drug lumakras (sotorasib) showed promising anticancer activity in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced pancreatic cancer. It has demonstrated a positive benefit-risk profile with rapid, deep, and durable anticancer activity in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring the KRAS G12C mutation with a once-daily oral formulation.

5.    F-Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Roche, a Swiss multinational healthcare company, is commonly called F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG. Roche is actively participating in the pancreatic cancer market by conducting the morpheus pancreatic cancer trial to evaluate immunotherapy combinations for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

6.    Bayer AG

Bayer AG is partnering with Atara Biotherapeutics to create CAR-T cell treatments targeting mesothelin for solid tumors, such as pancreatic cancer. This collaboration supports Bayer's objective of progressing medicine and agriculture through Atara's specialization in allogeneic cell therapy. Bayer's dedication to enhancing treatment for mesothelin-expressing cancers is demonstrated through the creation of ATA3271 and the expansion of its oncology pipeline via a profitable partnership.