Report Overview

Increasing incidence of cancer in India, government support and initiatives, together with increased financing for cancer research and treatment, and collaborations & partnerships between pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and healthcare providers are expected to drive the growth of the India Cancer Immunotherapy market during the forecast period between 2024 and 2030.

India Cancer Immunotherapy Market – Industry Trends & Forecast Report, 2030

The India Cancer Immunotherapy Market size was estimated at USD 98.37 billion in 2023. During the forecast period between 2024 and 2030, the India Cancer Immunotherapy Market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.39% reaching a value of USD 102.11 billion by 2030. The increased incidence of cancer in India is a major cause, needing sophisticated treatment options such as immunotherapy. The Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) predicts 19.3 million incident cancer cases worldwide in 2020. India ranks third after China and the United States of America. GLOBOCAN anticipated that cancer cases in India would climb to 2.08 million by 2040, representing a 57.5 percent increase from 2020. Government support and initiatives, together with increased financing for cancer research and treatment, help to expand the immunotherapy business in India. Collaborations and partnerships between pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and healthcare providers are critical to the advancement and expansion of immunotherapy solutions in the Indian market.

Cancer Immunotherapy – Overview

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that stimulates the immune system to fight cancer. The immune system helps the body fight infections and other disorders. Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy. Biological therapy is a treatment that employs compounds derived from live creatures to combat cancer. As part of its regular function, the immune system discovers and destroys aberrant cells, which most likely prevents or slows the progression of many malignancies. For example, immune cells can be detected in and surrounding tumours. These cells, known as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, or TILs, indicate that the immune system is responding to the tumour. People with TIL-containing tumours frequently perform better than those without.

India Cancer Immunotherapy Market

Growth Drivers

Increasing Cancer Incidence

The rising prevalence of cancer in India is a primary driver, necessitating advanced treatment options like immunotherapy. According to the National Cancer Registry Programme Report 2020, “the expected number of cancer incidents in India for 2022 is 14,61,427 (crude rate: 100.4 per 100,000). In India, one out of every nine people is likely to develop cancer over his or her lifetime. Lymphoid leukaemia (boys: 29.2% and girls: 24.2%) was the most common malignancy in children aged 0 to 14. The number of cancer cases is expected to increase by 12.8% in 2025 compared to 2020”. Thus, as the country's cancer prevalence rises, the market for cancer immunotherapy is rapidly developing. The high incidence of cancer in India has created a significant market opportunity for immunotherapy treatments, reflecting the urgent need for effective remedies.

Challenges

Infrastructure and Expertise

Inadequate infrastructure and a scarcity of competent immunotherapy specialists provide challenges. Establishing and sustaining immunotherapy infrastructure, as well as training healthcare personnel in this discipline, are critical to its wider acceptance. The India Cancer Immunotherapy Market's potential growth is restricted by the requirement for significant expenditures in infrastructure development and medical knowledge. This difficulty is especially important in clinical trials for cancer immunotherapies, which require a strong infrastructure and specialized expertise. Oncology Specialist Nurses (OSNs) are trained to care for patients receiving cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and palliative care. These specialized nurses are proficient in delivering cancer prevention and early detection-related information to the patient’s caretakers. Dr Sanjiv Chopra, CEO of Tata Trusts Cancer Care Programme, told ETHealthworld's that the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports a global nursing shortage. In India, there is a deficit of more than 20 lakh nurses. In India, the nurse-to-population ratio is 1.7:1000, as opposed to the needed 3:1000. To overcome this impediment, healthcare stakeholders must work together, including government initiatives, business sector investments, and cooperation with international organisations, to bridge India's cancer immunotherapy infrastructure and expertise gaps.

Impact of Escalating Geopolitical Tensions on India Cancer Immunotherapy Market

Escalating geopolitical tensions may have a varied impact on the India cancer immunotherapy market. Geopolitical conflicts can disrupt global supply chains, limiting the availability of critical components for immunotherapy medications and equipment in India. This can cause therapeutic delays and may have an influence on patient outcomes. Geopolitical uncertainty may erode investor confidence, reducing healthcare investment, especially cancer immunotherapy research and development. International collaborations in cancer immunotherapy research may be jeopardised, limiting the flow of knowledge and progress in the field. Geopolitical tensions may result in changes in regulatory frameworks, influencing the clearance processes for new immunotherapies in India. Stakeholders in India's cancer immunotherapy business must actively follow geopolitical changes, react to potential hurdles, and cultivate resilience.

India Cancer Immunotherapy Market

Segmental Coverage

India Cancer Immunotherapy Market – By Type

Based on type, the India cancer immunotherapy market is segmented into monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, and immunomodulators. The monoclonal antibody segment dominates India's cancer immunotherapy market. This is owing to the unique features of monoclonal antibodies, which allow them to influence the immune system, resulting in their widespread use in cancer immunotherapy. Significant investments in research and development have been made in monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics, resulting in the creation of novel and successful treatments for many cancers.  Monoclonal antibodies offer fewer adverse effects than other immunotherapeutic methods, resulting in higher patient acceptance and compliance.                                                                  

India Cancer Immunotherapy Market – By Application

Based on applications, the India cancer immunotherapy market is segmented into lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, and others. During the forecast period, the lung cancer is anticipated to hold a significant market share. Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in India, accounting for a major portion of the total cancer burden. The increasing frequency of lung cancer raises the need for effective immunotherapy treatments that target this particular type of disease. In India, lung cancer is responsible for 5.9% of all cancers and 8.1% of all cancer-related fatalities. Nearly 80% of lung cancer patients smoke. Increased awareness of lung cancer symptoms, combined with developments in testing procedures, leads to earlier detection. As a result, there is an increasing demand for targeted immunotherapies that address the unique problems associated with lung cancer treatment.                                                                                                                                                 

India Cancer Immunotherapy Market – By Region

The in-depth research report on the India Cancer Immunotherapy market covers several major countries across the region: North India, South India, East India, and West India. The dominance of a specific region in the market can be influenced by various factors such as the concentration of leading healthcare facilities, and research institutions, and the prevalence of cancer in that region. Some of the top 10 hospitals in India are in states of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Kolkata and so true with the research institutions for cancer such as Tata Memorial Centre - Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) which is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, ACTREC is a top-ranking tertiary cancer research center, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi. According to NIH, the North-Eastern (NE) region has the highest incidence of cancer in India and is also burdened by a higher prevalence of risk factors and inadequate cancer treatment facilities.

Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in the India Cancer Immunotherapy Market include Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc, GSK plc, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi. To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches.

Recent Developments

• In October 2023 - MSD has received approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer and renal cell carcinoma in adults. Keytruda is approved to treat high-risk early-stage and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer in patients at high risk of recurrence. With its approval, Keytruda became the first immunotherapy approved for the adjuvant treatment of select patients with renal cell carcinoma and early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. 

• In January 2024 - Glenmark announced a collaboration with its clinical-stage biotech business Ichnos Sciences to speed novel drug discovery in cancer treatment.

Scope of the Report

By Type

• Monoclonal Antibodies

• Cancer Vaccines

• Checkpoint Inhibitors

• Immunomodulators

By Application

• Lung Cancer

• Breast Cancer

• Colorectal Cancer

• Melanoma

• Prostate Cancer

• Head and Neck Cancer

• Others

By End User

• Hospitals

• Cancer Research Centers

• Clinics

By Region

• North India

• South India

• East India

• West India