Preclinical Imaging Market: Growth, Size, Share, and Trends

Market Growth Outlook Summary

The global preclinical imaging market growth forecasted to transform from $3.997 billion in 2024 to $5.101 billion by 2029, driven by a CAGR of 5.0%. The market's growth is driven by increasing demand for low-cost imaging systems, growing funding for preclinical research, and the rising need for new drug development. Key market trends include the shift toward non-invasive imaging techniques in small animal studies, primarily for drug testing and disease research, which aligns with ethical standards in animal research. However, challenges include strict regulations and technological limitations of standalone imaging systems. Opportunities arise from the growing adoption of imaging systems in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, particularly for oncology applications. North America dominates the market due to strong research infrastructure and government support. Key players include Medikor, Bruker Corporation, and Fujifilm Visual Sonics, among others. The market is segmented by product type, application, end user, and region, with oncology leading the application segment and pharmaceutical companies being the largest end users.

Preclinical Imaging Market Trends

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Preclinical Imaging Market Dynamics

DRIVER: Increasing market demand for non-invasive small animal imaging techniques

The increasing demand for non-invasive small animal imaging techniques is a significant driver for the growth and development of preclinical imaging. Preclinical imaging involves the use of imaging technologies to study disease processes and test potential treatments in animal models, primarily mice and rats, before they are used in humans.

Non-invasive imaging techniques reduce the need for euthanizing animals to study disease progression and treatment effects. This aligns with the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in animal research, which aim to minimize animal use and suffering. It also allows for longitudinal studies, where the same animals can be imaged multiple times over the course of a study. This enables researchers to monitor disease progression and treatment responses in real-time, providing more comprehensive data compared to endpoint analyses.

The push towards non-invasive small animal imaging is driven by the need for ethical, efficient, and detailed preclinical research methods that provide valuable insights while reducing the reliance on invasive procedures. This trend is expected to continue driving advancements in preclinical imaging technologies and methodologies.

RESTRAINT: Strict regulations governing preclinical research

Strict regulations governing preclinical research can act as a restraint for preclinical imaging. Adhering to stringent regulatory requirements can be time-consuming and complex. Researchers must ensure that their imaging protocols and animal handling procedures meet all legal and ethical standards, which often involves extensive documentation, obtaining multiple approvals, and undergoing periodic inspections.

Regulatory compliance can significantly increase the costs of preclinical research. This includes costs associated with obtaining necessary certifications, conducting regular audits, training staff to adhere to regulations, and implementing and maintaining compliance systems. These additional financial burdens can limit the resources available for actual research activities and technology investments.

While strict regulations are essential to ensure the ethical treatment of animals and the integrity of research data, they also pose significant challenges and constraints for preclinical imaging. Balancing the need for rigorous oversight with the flexibility to innovate is crucial for advancing preclinical research and imaging technologies.

OPPORTUNITY: Increasing Adoption of Imaging Systems for Preclinical Purposes

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are constantly seeking new drug candidates to address unmet medical needs. Preclinical imaging enhances the understanding of these potential drug candidates by visualizing their effects on living organisms. This capability helps identify promising candidates and discard those with unfavorable characteristics earlier in the drug development process, thereby saving time and resources. Additionally, the shift towards personalized medicine necessitates a deeper understanding of individual patients' conditions. Preclinical imaging can assess disease heterogeneity and customize treatment approaches, leading to more effective therapies.

Preclinical imaging techniques are typically non-invasive or minimally invasive, which benefits both research animals and the accuracy of the data collected. This non-invasive nature enables longitudinal studies, reducing the need to sacrifice animals at multiple time points.

Therefore, the increasing adoption of imaging systems for preclinical purposes is likely to drive market growth in the forecast period.

CHALLENGE: Technological and procedural limitations associated with standalone preclinical imaging systems

Standalone imaging systems are typically designed for a single imaging modality, such as MRI, PET, or CT. Each modality has its own strengths and limitations, and relying on just one can result in incomplete or less accurate data. For instance, MRI provides excellent soft tissue contrast but lacks functional information that PET can provide.

Combining data from different standalone imaging systems can be technically challenging and time-consuming. Researchers often need to manually align and correlate images from different modalities, which can introduce errors and reduce the overall accuracy of the results. Operating different standalone imaging systems requires specialized training and expertise. Ensuring that staff are proficient in using multiple modalities can be challenging and resource-intensive. Lack of expertise can lead to suboptimal use of the systems and affect the quality of the data collected.

Addressing these challenges requires investment in integrated imaging solutions, advanced data management systems, and comprehensive training programs to optimize the use of preclinical imaging technologies.

Preclinical Imaging Market Ecosystem

The preclinical imaging market ecosystem is a complex and multifaceted network involving various stakeholders, technologies, and processes.

The ecosystem comprises of Imaging Modalities and Technologies, Equipment Manufacturers, Software and Data Analysis Tools, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Regulatory Bodies, Ethical and Animal Welfare Committees, Funding Agencies and Institutions, and Training and Education Providers.

Bioluminescent Imaging Reagents accounted for the largest share in the market in 2023, by preclinical optical imaging reagents.

Based on the technology used in optical imaging, the preclinical optical imaging reagents market has been categorized into two segments—bioluminescent and fluorescent imaging reagents. The bioluminescent imaging reagents segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the global preclinical optical imaging reagents market. Its large share is attributed to the wide use of bioluminescence imaging in small-animal preclinical research.

The oncology segment accounted for the largest share of the preclinical imaging market, by application

Based on application, the preclinical imaging market is segmented into cardiology, neurology, oncology, immunology and inflammation, infectious diseases, and other applications. The oncology segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2023, The development of new cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies, benefits immensely from preclinical imaging. Imaging allows researchers to monitor tumor response to treatments, assess drug distribution and pharmacokinetics, and evaluate therapeutic efficacy in animal models.

The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies are the largest end user in the brain preclinical imaging market during the forecast period.

Based on end user, the preclinical imaging market is segmented into imaging centers, academic and research centers, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and other end users. The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment accounted for the largest share in the market in 2023. This rising demand in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors can be attributed to the spread of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Preclinical imaging is crucial for gaining a better understanding of pathogens and for aiding the development of new therapeutics and vaccines. Additionally, the ongoing experimentation on small animals and laboratory research activities have led to an increased demand for PET and SPECT imaging technologies, further fueling market growth.

North America accounted for the largest share of the preclinical imaging market in 2023.

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Based on the region, the preclinical imaging market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. North America accounted for the largest share of the preclinical imaging market in 2023. The major drivers of the market in North America include a well-developed research infrastructure, the availability of skilled professionals, a high volume of preclinical projects, and the higher adoption rates of advanced technological devices. Additionally, government initiatives are fostering new clinical research and development projects in the region. For instance, the Canadian R&D tax credit program is a government initiative that significantly boosts R&D efforts in the country.

Prominent players in preclinical imaging market include Medikor (US), Trifoil Imaging (US), IVIM Technology Corp. (South Korea), Cubresa, Inc. (Canada), Berthold Technolgies GMBH & CO.KG (Germany), Miltenyi Biotech GmbH (Germany), AI4R (France), Bruker Corporation (US), Aspect Imaging Limited (US), Li-Cor Biosciences (US), ICONEUS (Paris), Advanced Molecular Vision (UK), MR Solutions (UK), Mediso Ltd. (UK), Sofie (US), Fujifilm Visual Sonics (Canada), MILABS B.V. (Netherlands), Viewworks (Korea), Kub Technologies (US), and Revvity, Inc. (US).

Scope of the Preclinical Imaging Industry

The study categorizes the preclinical imaging market to forecast revenue and analyze trends in each of the following submarkets:

By Product Type

• Imaging systems
  • Optical imaging systems
    • Bioluminescence imaging systems
    • Fluorescence imaging systems
    • Other optical imaging systems
  • Nuclear imaging systems
    • micro-pet imaging systems
      • Standalone pet imaging systems
      • Pet/CT imaging systems
      • Pet/MRI imaging systems
    • Micro-spect imaging systems
      • standalone spet imaging systems
      • spet/ct imaging systems
      • spet/ MRI imaging systems
    • Trimodality (spect/pet/ct) imaging systems
  • Micro-MRI systems
  • Micro-ultrasound systems
  • Micro-ct systems
  • Photoacoustic imaging systems
  • Magnetic particle imaging (mpi) systems
• Reagents
  • Preclinical optical imaging reagents
    • Preclinical bioluminescent imaging reagents
      • Luciferins
      • Coelenterazne
      • Furimazine
    • Preclinical fluorescent imaging reagents
      • Green fluorescent proteins
      • Red fluorescent proteins
      • Infrared dyes
  • Preclinical nuclear imaging reagents
    • Preclinical pet tracers
      • Fluorine-18-based preclinical pet tracers
      • Carbon-11-based preclinical pet tracers
      • Copper-64-based preclinical pet tracers
      • Other pet tracers
    • Preclinical spect probes
      • Technetium-99m-based preclinical spect probes
      • Iodine-131-based preclinical spect probes
      • Gallium-67-based preclinical spect probes
      • Thallium-201-based preclinical spect probes
      • Other spect probes
    • Preclinical MRI contrast agents
      • Gadolinium-based preclinical contrast agents
      • Iron-based preclinical contrast agents
      • Manganese-based preclinical contrast agents
    • Preclinical ultrasound contrast agents
    • Preclinical CT contrast agents
      • Iodine-based preclinical ct contrast agents
      • Barium-based preclinical ct contrast agents
      • Gold nanoparticles
      • Gastrografin-based preclinical ct contrast agents
• Software

By Application

• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Infectious diseases
• Immunology & inflammation
• Other Applications

By End User

• Pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies
• Academic & research centers
• Imaging centers
• Other end users

By Region

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • Japan
  • China
  • India
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC Countries
  • Rest of the Middle East & Africa

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