Drug Discovery Technologies Market Size, Growth, Share & Trends Analysis
Drug Discovery Technologies Market by Product (Instruments, Reagents, Software), Technology (HTS, NGS, PCR, AI-based, Lab-on-chip), Process (Target Identification, Validation, Lead Optimization), Therapeutic Area (Oncology, CVD) - Global Forecast to 2030
OVERVIEW
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
The Drug Discovery Technologies market, valued at US$28.61 billion in 2024, stood at US$30.58 billion in 2025 and is projected to advance at a resilient CAGR of 11.0% from 2025 to 2030, culminating in a forecasted valuation of US$51.51 billion by the end of the period The growth of the drug discovery technologies market is driven by the broader use of advanced screening platforms and rising demand for biologics, cell and gene therapies, and RNA-based drugs. The increased adoption of 3D cultures and organoids requires advanced image-based analysis, which boosts demand for high-content screening systems and drives higher adoption of instruments, software, and services across the market.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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By RegionNorth America accounted for the largest share of the drug discovery technologies market in 2024. The growth in this segment is driven by strong pharmaceutical R&D, advanced infrastructure, high biotech investments, supportive regulations, and the presence of key global players that drive the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
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By ProductBy product, the reagents & consumables segment accounted for the largest share of the drug discovery technologies market in 2024. This growth in this segment is driven by the repeated and routine use of reagents and consumables across screening, assay development, and validation activities in drug discovery.
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By TechnologyBy technology, the high-throughput screening technologies segment accounted for the largest share of the drug discovery technologies market in 2024. This prominence is driven by its ability to rapidly test large compound libraries, reduce drug development time, improve efficiency, and support early-stage target identification, making it essential in modern drug discovery processes.
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By Therapeutic AreaBy therapeutic area, the oncology segment accounted for the largest share of the drug discovery technologies market in 2024. The growth of this segment is driven by the high cancer prevalence, increasing investment in targeted therapies, growing demand for personalized medicine, and intensive research efforts.
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Competitive LandscapeThermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Danaher Corporation, and Agilent Technologies, Inc. were identified as some of the star players in the drug discovery technologies market, given their strong market share and service footprint.
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Competitive LandscapeGenScript, Schrodinger, Inc., and BICO, among others, have distinguished themselves among startups and SMEs by securing strong footholds in specialized niche areas, underscoring their potential as emerging market leaders.
The drug discovery technologies market is growing due to the adoption of advanced screening platforms, a rising focus on biologics, cell and gene therapies, and RNA drugs, as well as increased use of 3D cultures and organ-on-chip models, and ongoing improvements in assay miniaturization and laboratory automation.
TRENDS & DISRUPTIONS IMPACTING CUSTOMERS' CUSTOMERS
The drug discovery market is shifting from conventional low-throughput screening tests to AI/ML-enabled target discovery. Adoption of 3D cell culture models, organoids, and high-content screening is increasing. Additionally, higher demand is projected for faster and more predictive research, with automated analysis of research results and cloud-enabled solutions. Furthermore, improved target identification, accelerated discovery, increased clinical success rate, and better reproducibility fueled growth in this market.
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
MARKET DYNAMICS
Level
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Increasing adoption of advanced screening platforms

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Shift toward biologics and advanced therapeutic modalities
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High up-front investment in instruments, automation, and data infrastructure
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Shortage of skilled personnel
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Growing demand for in-silico based discovery
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Increasing need for specialized ADME/Toxicology testing
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Assay reproducibility and standardization issues
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Driver: Increasing adoption of advanced screening platforms
Pharmaceutical and biotech firms are increasingly adopting advanced screening solutions to improve early-stage discovery. High-throughput screening solutions enable higher accuracy in screening a large number of compounds in a short time. Moreover, these solutions help companies make quicker decisions, which is becoming a norm in a competitive pharmaceutical discovery and development environment.
Restraint: High up-front investment in instruments, automation, and data infrastructure
Implementing advanced screening technologies involves high initial costs. Companies must invest in specialized instruments, automation systems, and supporting software to enhance their operations. Additional spending is needed for data storage, integration, and analysis capabilities. Small business organizations and mid-sized companies face budget complexities because of these expenditures. Even if these solutions have a positive impact in the future, budgetary issues might cause lagged implementation.
Opportunity: Growing demand for in-silico based discovery
In-silico discovery is gaining wider acceptance as companies look to reduce early research costs and timelines. Digital models help screen targets and compounds before lab testing begins. This enables teams to allocate their resources to the most promising candidates. As software tools improve and integrate with lab workflows, in-silico approaches are finding a practical and significant part of drug discovery programs.
Challenge: Assay reproducibility and standardization issues
One of the most important challenges in the drug discovery technologies market is ensuring a standardized outcome from the assay across different laboratories. A small variation in protocols, materials, and handling methods can affect the results. This makes it harder to trust the data and compare results between different studies. The absence of widely accepted standards adds to the problem. Companies must invest time in validation and process alignment to improve consistency and support confident decision-making.
DRUG DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES MARKET: GROWTH, SIZE, SHARE, AND TRENDS: COMMERCIAL USE CASES ACROSS INDUSTRIES
| COMPANY | USE CASE DESCRIPTION | BENEFITS |
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Used its AI platforms (e.g., PandaOmics, Chemistry42) to design and generate novel drug candidates for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and advance them into clinical trials in significantly accelerated timelines | Reduced discovery time from years to months | Enabled rapid progression to preclinical/Phase I trials and validated AI-designed drugs in humans |
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Combined machine learning with automated biological experiments at scale to discover treatment candidates for genetic diseases | Increased discovery throughput | Faster identification of novel targets | Scalable platform for multiple indications |
Logos and trademarks shown above are the property of their respective owners. Their use here is for informational and illustrative purposes only.
MARKET ECOSYSTEM
The drug discovery technologies market ecosystem comprises manufacturers (Revvity, Danaher, Agilent, Hamilton), regulatory bodies (European Medicines Agency, US FDA, UK Government), raw material suppliers (Merck, Thorlabs, Hamamatsu), and end users (Novartis, Pfizer, MIT). Raw material suppliers provide reagents, optical components, and consumables used by manufacturers to develop screening, analytical, and automation tools. Regulatory bodies est specifications for data quality, validation, and compliance requirements. End users, such as pharmaceutical firms and research institutes, implement these solutions in order to assist in molecular target identification, screening, and early-stage drug development.
Logos and trademarks shown above are the property of their respective owners. Their use here is for informational and illustrative purposes only.
MARKET SEGMENTS
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
Drug Discovery Technologies Market, By Product
In 2024, reagents & consumables dominated the drug discovery technologies market. This dominance is attributed to the frequent use of reagents and consumables across screening, assay development, and validation steps, their recurring purchase cycle, and consistent demand from ongoing drug discovery and research activities.
Drug Discovery Technologies Market, By Technology
In 2024, the high-throughput screening technologies segment dominated the drug discovery technologies market, driven by the need for faster compound evaluation. They allow large-scale testing, improve productivity in early discovery, and support quicker decisions, making them essential for pharmaceutical and biotechnology research programs.
Drug Discovery Technologies Market, By Therapeutic Area
In 2024, oncology dominated the drug discovery technologies market, driven by the high disease burden and a strong focus on R&D. Continuous target discovery, large clinical pipelines, and heavy use of screening and analytical technologies sustain high demand across drug discovery programs.
REGION
Asia Pacific to be fastest-growing region in global aerospace materials market during forecast period

DRUG DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES MARKET: GROWTH, SIZE, SHARE, AND TRENDS: COMPANY EVALUATION MATRIX
In the drug discovery technologies market company evaluation matrix, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (Star) has a strong presence across early drug discovery activities. The company offers a wide range of instruments, reagents, and basic software commonly used in target research to preclinical work. Its large scale, steady supply, and consistent performance make it a trusted choice for many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Danaher Corporation (Emerging Leader) has been expanding its life sciences businesses and strengthening its role in laboratory research. Its focus on automation, biologics-related tools, and flexible lab systems is helping it increase adoption in drug discovery settings.
Source: Secondary Research, Interviews with Experts, MarketsandMarkets Analysis
KEY MARKET PLAYERS
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US)
- Danaher Corporation (US)
- Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US)
- Illumina, Inc. (US)
- Revvity (US)
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland)
- Bruker (US)
- QIAGEN (Germany)
- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US)
- Tecan Trading AG (Switzerland)
- Takara Bio Inc. (Japan)
- Corning Incorporated (US)
- Hamilton Company (US)
- PacBio (US)
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc (UK)
- Promega Corporation (US)
- Waters Corporation (US)
- Merck KGAA (Germany)
- Sartorius AG (Germany)
- BD (US)
- Eppendorf SE (Germany)
- Shimadzu Corporation (Japan)
- Aurora Biomed Inc. (Canada)
- Standard BioTools (US)
- Jeol Ltd. (Japan)
- Gilson Incorporated (US)
- BIOMÉRIEUX (France)
- Greiner AG (Austria)
- BGI Group (China)
- Porvair (UK)
MARKET SCOPE
| REPORT METRIC | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Market Size in 2024 (Value) | USD 28.61 Billion |
| Market Forecast in 2030 (Value) | USD 51.51 Billion |
| Growth Rate | CAGR of 11.0% from 2025-2030 |
| Years Considered | 2023-2030 |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025-2030 |
| Units Considered | Value (USD Billion) |
| Report Coverage | Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
| Segments Covered |
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| Regions Covered | North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa |
WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU: DRUG DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES MARKET: GROWTH, SIZE, SHARE, AND TRENDS REPORT CONTENT GUIDE

DELIVERED CUSTOMIZATIONS
We have successfully delivered the following deep-dive customizations:
| CLIENT REQUEST | CUSTOMIZATION DELIVERED | VALUE ADDS |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of Europe Breakdown |
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Provides granular country-level insights, enabling clients to prioritize high-growth markets, and tailor portfolio strategies across instruments processing for maximum regional impact |
| Company Evaluation |
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Delivers visibility into competitors, helping clients identify partners, evaluate positioning, and detect market gaps for smarter collaboration, outsourcing, and strategic market entry decisions |
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
- October 2025 : Thermo Fisher Scientific announced a research and development (R&D) partnership with AstraZeneca BioVentureHub, focusing on chromatography, molecular genomics, and proteomics.
- May 2025 : Danaher announced a strategic partnership with AstraZeneca to develop and commercialize AI-driven diagnostic and analytical platforms. These tools aim to accelerate target identification, biomarker validation, and patient stratification, supporting more efficient drug discovery and precision therapy development.
- April 2025 : Revvity launched Signals One Unified Data Platform, an integrated software solution designed to accelerate drug discovery by unifying experimental data, enabling AI-driven analytics, and streamlining workflows across design, testing, and decision-making processes.
Table of Contents
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Methodology
The research study involved the wide use of secondary sources, directories, and databases to identify and collect valuable information for the analysis of the global drug discovery technologies market. Widespread interviews were conducted with various primary participants, including key industry members, subject-matter experts (SMEs), C-level managers of leading market players, and industry consultants, to obtain and verify qualitative and quantitative information and evaluate the growth scenarios of the market. The global market size is estimated through secondary research (top-down and bottom-up) followed by data triangulation with inputs from industry experts to arrive at the final market size.
Secondary Research
Secondary research was used mainly to identify and collect information for the technical, market-oriented, and commercial study of the drug discovery technologies market. The secondary sources used for this study include World Health Organization (WHO), Association of International Contract Research Organizations (AICROS), American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Eurostat, Clinical and Contract Research Association (CCRA), Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO), Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Academic Journals and Company Websites, corporate & regulatory filings, such as annual reports, SEC filings, investor presentations, and financial statements; business magazines & research journals; press releases; and trade, business, and professional associations among others. These secondary sources were also used to obtain major information about key market players, and market segmentation corresponding to industry trends, regional/country-level markets, market developments, and technology prospects. Secondary data was collected and analysed to arrive at the market size of the global drug discovery technologies market, which was further validated through primary research.
Primary Research
Extensive primary research was conducted after acquiring basic knowledge about the global drug discovery technologies market scenario through secondary research. Several primary interviews were conducted with market experts from the demand side, such as pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical industries, academic institutes, and others from the supply side, such as C-level and D-level executives, product/ managers, marketing & sales managers of key manufacturers, distributors, and channel partners. The primary interviews were conducted across six major regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Approximately 60% and 40% of the primary interviews were conducted with supply-side and demand-side participants, respectively. This primary data was collected through questionnaires, e-mails, online surveys, personal interviews, and telephonic interviews.
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Market Size Estimation
Both top-down and bottom-up approaches were used to estimate and validate the total size of the drug discovery technologies market. These methods were also used extensively to estimate the size of various subsegments in the market. The research methodology used to estimate the market size includes the following:

Data Triangulation
After arriving at the market size from the market size estimation process explained above, the total market was divided into several segments and subsegments. To complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics for all segments and subsegments, data triangulation and market breakdown procedures were employed, wherever applicable. The data was triangulated by studying various factors and trends from both the demand and supply sides.
Market Definition
Drug discovery is the process of developing a therapeutically active substance for a defined target molecule. Drug discovery is the early phase in which target identification, target validation, hit-to-lead identification, lead optimization, and candidate validation take place to deliver any suitable molecule or candidate for drug development. Drug discovery technologies are provided by contract research organizations (CROs) to pharmaceutical companies.
Stakeholders
- Drug discovery service providers
- Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
- Academic & Research Institutes
- Contract Research Organization
- Market Research and Consulting Firms
- R&D Centers
- Researchers and Scientists
- Regulatory Agencies
- Venture Capitalists
- Government Organizations
- Industry Associations and Professional Societies
Report Objectives
- To define, describe, and forecast the drug discovery technologies market by value by process, type, drug type, therapeutic area, end user and region
- To provide detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the market growth (such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges)
- To analyze the micromarkets1 with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall drug discovery technologies market
- To analyze the opportunities for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for market leaders
- To forecast the size of the market segments with respect to six regions: North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa
- To profile the key players and analyze their market shares and core competencies2
- To track and analyze competitive developments, such as product/service launches, partnerships, agreements, collaborations, and expansions
- To benchmark players within the market using the proprietary “Company Evaluation Matrix” framework, which analyzes market players on various parameters within the broad categories of business and product excellence strategy
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Growth opportunities and latent adjacency in Drug Discovery Technologies Market