Immunotherapy-based Pediatric Neuroblastoma Treatment Market Size (2024 – 2030)

The global immunotherapy-based pediatric neuroblastoma treatment market was valued at USD 498 million and is projected to reach a market size of USD 826.21 million by the end of 2030. Over the forecast period of 2024–2030, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5%.

Immunotherapy stimulates a child's immune system to combat cancer as a treatment for neuroblastoma. Patients with high-risk neuroblastoma have better overall and event-free survival because of immunotherapy. Immunotherapies can be injected subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or directly into the cavity of the body containing the tumor. In the past, the market had a small scope because of high treatment costs and limited effectiveness. Additionally, traditional treatments like chemotherapy and surgery were preferred. Presently, the market has seen a notable boost owing to advancements in monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T cell therapy, and other combination therapies. In the future, with significant economic growth and R&D activities, immense expansion is anticipated.

Key Market Insights:

Due to their proven efficacy and safety profile, monoclonal antibodies are the most popular and rapidly expanding kind of therapy. They are specifically targeted against the GD2 antigen, as seen in the case of dinutuximab.

The largest and fastest-growing end-users are hospitals, which provide pediatric neuroblastoma patients with modern infrastructure, comprehensive treatment, and supportive services.

Because of its developed economy, strong healthcare system, and large R&D expenditures, North America is leading the industry in growth.

As precision medicine advances, novel endpoints such as minimum residual disease (MRD) status are being used more often in clinical trial design to evaluate treatment response and inform therapy selection.

Immunotherapy-based Pediatric Neuroblastoma Treatment Market Drivers:

The increasing prevalence of pediatric neuroblastoma has been fueling the growth.

Neuroblastoma represents 8–10% of pediatric cancer occurrences and is the most prevalent extracranial solid tumor in children. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Report (SEER) estimates that there are around 9.5 instances of incidence for every million children. Over 90% of instances are diagnosed before the age of ten, with a median diagnostic age of 19 months. The main cause of this disease is hereditary. Recent studies have shown that genetic variations can raise the risk of this cancer in infants. Environmental conditions are changing. This includes factors like chemicals in drinking water, food, and air. Additionally, radiation from the sun has been increasing in the number of cases. These numbers call for the need for immunotherapy. According to research, babies receiving immunotherapy in conjunction with chemotherapy for one month had a 93% survival rate two years after diagnosis, whereas those receiving chemotherapy alone had a 66% survival rate. Consumer awareness about the treatment is increasing. All these factors are helping the market grow.

Advancements in immunotherapy have been boosting the market.

There have been many scientific advancements in cancer therapies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is one such method that includes teaching patients' immune systems to identify and target neuroblastoma cells. These developments provide new possibilities for individualized, tailored treatment plans that may be less harmful and have more efficacy. Secondly, checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated encouraging outcomes in treating a variety of malignancies, including pediatric neuroblastoma. These inhibitors work by releasing the immune system to identify and eliminate cancer cells. Optimizing checkpoint inhibitor medications to increase their efficacy and expand their range of applications in the treatment of neuroblastoma is the main focus of ongoing research. Thirdly, treatments using monoclonal antibodies that specifically target antigens expressed by neuroblastoma cells, including GD2, have gained prominence. The demand for immunotherapy-based pediatric neuroblastoma therapies is anticipated to surge, propelling market development as awareness grows and more patients are looking for treatment choices.

Immunotherapy-based Pediatric Neuroblastoma Treatment Market Restraints and Challenges:

Limited efficacy, adverse toxicity, and cost constraints are the main issues that the market is currently facing.

Immunotherapy might not be effective for all babies. Children with advanced cancer and stage 4 neuroblastoma fall into this category. Tumor heterogeneity and immune invasion mechanisms contribute to treatment resistance. In such cases, parents might choose other treatment options. Secondly, immunotherapy can have serious side effects and toxicity, such as neurotoxicity, cytokine release syndrome, and immune-related events, even with recent improvements. This increases the risk of mortality. It can be difficult to manage these adverse effects without specialist knowledge and supportive care, particularly in young children. Besides, there is always a possibility of relapse. Thirdly, cancer therapies are associated with high costs. The high expenses of manufacturing CAR-T cell therapies and the need for prolonged treatment duration increase the burden.

Immunotherapy-based Pediatric Neuroblastoma Treatment Market Opportunities:

Precision medicine provides the market with an ample number of possibilities. In this method, therapies are tailored to the needs of children. Genetic profiling is done to analyze the variations and sequences in genes. Biomarkers are used to detect the activity of cells at every moment. This concept is anticipated to have a significant future. Secondly, combining therapies is another area where research is being carried out. Multiple treatments like immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are combined to enhance the efficiency of the treatment. Thirdly, studies are being conducted to get a better understanding of the intricate interactions that occur between the immune system and the tumor microenvironment. Targeted immunomodulation strategies can change the tumor microenvironment and promote a more favorable immune response, which can help overcome treatment resistance and boost the effectiveness of immunotherapy. To support all these R&D activities, investments are being raised tremendously. Economic growth and emerging economies in Asia, Latin America, and certain Middle Eastern countries are helping to fund various ongoing projects.

IMMUNOTHERAPY-BASED PEDIATRIC NEUROBLASTOMA TREATMENT MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

Immunotherapy-based Pediatric Neuroblastoma Treatment Market Segmentation: By Type of Immunotherapy

• Monoclonal Antibodies

• Checkpoint Inhibitors

• CAR-T Cell Therapy

• NK Cell Therapy

• Cytokine Therapies

• Others

Monoclonal antibodies are both the largest as well as the fastest-growing treatment type in this market. Treatments for pediatric neuroblastoma that are considered standard of care include monoclonal antibodies that target the GD2 antigen, such as dinutuximab. These antibodies have been approved for use on the frontlines by the regulatory body after undergoing significant clinical trial research. Secondly, because of their well-established safety profile, consistent pharmacokinetics, and convenience of administration, monoclonal antibodies are a popular option among patients and physicians in clinical practice. In addition, they increase the overall survival rate of patients. Moreover, to improve treatment results and lower toxicity, ongoing research focuses on improving monoclonal antibody therapy and investigating new antibody structures, combination regimens, and creative delivery strategies.

Immunotherapy-based Pediatric Neuroblastoma Treatment Market Segmentation: By End-Users

• Hospitals

• Specialty Clinics

• Ambulatory Surgical Centers

• Research Institutes

Hospitals are the largest and fastest-growing end-users. They have the required infrastructure and resources. Comprehensive and supportive care is provided for the children. Trained specialists and oncologists are present in hospitals. Besides, these institutions are backed by funding from companies, prestigious universities, and the government. Advanced equipment for treatments and the diagnosis of neuroblastoma is available. Furthermore, research and developmental activities are conducted through collaborations with research institutions and universities. As a result, patients tend to trust these facilities, increasing revenue generation.

Immunotherapy-based Pediatric Neuroblastoma Treatment Market Segmentation: Regional Analysis

• North America

• Asia-Pacific

• Europe

• South America

• Middle East and Africa

North America currently has the highest market share in 2023. Countries like the United States and Canada are at the forefront. The primary reason for the success is the well-established economy. This provides them access to resources and infrastructure through investments. A lot of companies are funded and encouraged to carry out clinical trials to commercialize new drugs. Prominent players include United Therapeutics Corporation, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche Holding AG, and Merck & Co., Inc. They have a global presence, leading to greater profits. Besides this, people are aware of this disease. As such, precautions for earlier diagnosis are taken. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market. Countries like India, China, and Japan are at the top. The economy has seen a lot of progress. Many research institutions in Asia are working on creating formulations that have better efficacy than the ones that are already commercialized in the market. Governmental initiatives through schemes and grants have been advantageous in funding projects. Healthcare is expanding in this region. A greater number of hospitals and specialty clinics are being developed for the growing population. People are being made aware of fetal health for early screening through advertisements.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Global Immunotherapy-based Pediatric Neuroblastoma Treatment Market:

The outbreak of the virus affected the market. Lockdowns, mobility limitations, and social isolation were all part of the new normal. This affects supply chain management, logistics, and transportation. This disrupted the process of clinical trials. Operations were hampered by safety regulations. According to a research report published by the European Journal of Cancer on the pediatric early phase of cancer, phase I, phase II, and molecular platforms that closed to recruits at least at one site were 48.5%, 61.3%, and 64.3% of the total, respectively. Additionally, due to local contingency measures, 26% of locations were unable to conduct trial evaluations. Working remotely was the primary focus. An economic recession was seen. The initiatives about coronavirus healthcare received the most funding. This included vaccine development and arranging necessities like hospital beds, oxygen tanks, masks, and other such utilities. Launches and partnerships for pediatric neuroblastoma were delayed as a result. Besides, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine. In this method, patients were encouraged to virtually consult the doctor. Cancer-related issues require in-person visits. Appointments were delayed to prevent contamination by the virus. Post-pandemic, the market has picked up. This is because of normal functioning.

Latest Trends/ Developments:

Innovative endpoints, such as minimum residual disease (MRD) status, are increasingly being used in clinical trial design for treatment response. MRD is the term used to describe the tiny percentage of cancer cells that may persist in the body following therapy and are frequently not identifiable with standard imaging or lab testing. MRD evaluation gives physicians important information about residual disease burden and treatment response, allowing them to assess treatment efficacy and forecast long-term results. In pediatric neuroblastoma patients, many methods, such as flow cytometry, molecular tests, and imaging modalities like PET, are used to measure and identify MRD.

Key Players:

1. United Therapeutics Corporation

2. Apeiron Biologics AG

3. Bristol Myers Squibb

4. Roche Holding AG

5. Novartis AG

6. Merck & Co., Inc.

7. Pfizer Inc.

8. AbbVie Inc.

9. Bayer AG

10. Immunomedics, Inc. (Gilead Sciences, Inc.)

• In April 2024, Essential Pharma acquired Renaissance Pharma Ltd. with its clinical-stage immunotherapy for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma. Hu14.18 is in the clinical phases of development. Given its strong expression in neuroblastoma tumors, the GD2 antigen presents a prospective target for medication.

• In February 2024, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) published the initial edition of its Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Neuroblastoma. The recommendations offer guidance on the diagnosis, risk classification, and treatment of individuals with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk diseases.

• In December 2023, the FDA authorized eflornithine (DFMO), also marketed as Iwilfin, for use as a maintenance treatment for adults and children with high-risk neuroblastoma. The medication is designed to lower the chance of recurrence in individuals who have responded at least partially to prior multiagent therapy by more than 50%.