Gallbladder cancer is a rare form of cancer that develops in the gallbladder, a small saclike organ located beneath the liver that stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver. Gallbladder cancer usually develops from preexisting gallbladder conditions that cause chronic inflammation such as gallstones, polyps, or disorders of the bile duct. Symptoms of gallbladder cancer are often vague and include abdominal pain, jaundice, weight loss and lump in the abdomen. Presence of gallstones and chronic inflammation are estimated to account for about 2 out of 3 cases of gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage due to non-specific symptoms, thus limiting treatment options and impacting survival. Cancer involving the gallbladder or bile ducts is generally managed through surgical resection, if the cancer is resectable at diagnosis. However, most patients are not candidates for surgery either because the tumor has extensively spread or because of other factors like age or medical co-morbidities. For unresectable or metastatic gallbladder cancer, treatment relies on chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other local therapies depending on individual case.
The Global gallbladder cancer market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1,607.47 Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the gallbladder cancer are Histogen Inc., Cipla Limited, Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Daiichi-Sankyo Co., Ltd., Johnson and Johnson Services, Inc., Lexington International LLC, Vita-Cos-Med Klett-Loch GmbH, PureTech, Vitabiotics, Dr. Reddyâ€TMs Laboratories, HCell Inc., Follica, Inc. and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
Key opportunities in the gallbladder cancer market include development of novel targeted therapies by leveraging advances in cancer genomics and immune-oncology. Development of patient selection biomarkers can help improve outcomes for gallbladder cancer patients.
Major companies are focusing on expanding their global footprint by setting up manufacturing units and distribution centers across global regions like Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and rest of the world. Greater access to diagnosis and treatment in developing countries will aid in combating gallbladder cancer.
Market Drivers
Rising incidence rates of gallbladder cancer worldwide owing to increasing prevalence of risk factors like gallstones and chronic inflammation is a key driver for the market. According to estimates, around 14,000 new gallbladder cancer cases are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. Increasing healthcare expenditures and improved access to healthcare services globally is also driving market growth.
Market Restrains
Lack of disease-specific symptoms and signs often results in delayed diagnosis of gallbladder cancer negatively impacting treatment outcomes. Most patients are not eligible for surgery at diagnosis. Limited treatment options and low overall survival rates diminish the market potential to a certain extent. Expensive targeted therapies and equipment costs further limit widespread adoption.
Segment Analysis
The Gallbladder Cancer Market is segmented based on chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery. Chemotherapy dominates the market as it is the primary and standard treatment method for gallbladder cancer. It helps kill cancer cells or stop them from growing and dividing. Targeted therapy is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the rising demand for personalized medicine and specific drug therapies. Surgery contributes significantly to this market as it includes cholecystectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy procedures to remove the gallbladder and portions of nearby organs.
Global Analysis
North America accounts for the largest share in the Gallbladder Cancer Market mainly due to a well-developed healthcare system and significant presence of key players in the region. The market in the Asia Pacific is predicted to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. This can be attributed to rising healthcare spending of countries like China and India and the presence of a huge patient pool. Moreover, increasing incidence rates of gallbladder cancer in countries like South Korea, Japan, and China contribute to the regional market growth. Europe holds the second largest share globally led by Germany, United Kingdom, and France on account of robust research infrastructure and government support for cancer research. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa present lucrative prospects for market expansion.
