The small molecule drug discovery market was valued at US$ 34.22 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 81.71 billion by 2031. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 13.2% in 2023–2031. The growing adoption of artificial intelligence in drug discovery will likely remain a key small molecule drug discovery market trend.

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Analysis

Small molecules drugs are used in targeted drug delivery in which small molecules pass through the cell membrane and act on the specific cellular organelle or protein. The small molecules drugs can enter cells easily because of its low molecular weight. These molecules are better than monoclonal antibodies and other large-molecule drugs due to their size, easy convertibility to oral form, and cost-effectivity. The discovery of novel small molecule entities capable of specific interactions represents a significant challenge in the early stages of drug discovery. When the biological target is well-defined and understood, the rational design of small molecule ligands is possible. In recent years, small molecules have witnessed significant attention in biologics, as there is an increasing demand for these drugs.

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Overview

Increasing R&D by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in discovering novel drugs, growing investments in pharmaceuticals, and the prevalence of cancer are among the few factors projected to accelerate the growth of the small molecule drug discovery market.

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Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market: Strategic Insights

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market

• 
  CAGR (2023 - 2031)

  13.2%
• Market Size 2023
  US$ 34.22 Billion
• Market Size 2031
  US$ 81.71 Billion

Market Dynamics

GROWTH DRIVERS

• Growing Demand for R&D from Contract Organizations

FUTURE TRENDS

• Increasing Small Molecule-Based

OPPORTUNITIES

• Growing adoption of artificial intelligence in drug discovery

Key Players

• Pfizer Inc.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Merck KGaA
• GlaxoSmithKline Plc
• AstraZeneca
• Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
• Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
• Allergan Plc

Regional Overview

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South and Central America
• Middle East and Africa

Market Segmentation

Therapeutic Area

• Oncology
• Central Nervous System
• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
• Orthopedics
• Immunology
• Rare Diseases
• Other Therapeutic Areas

Process/Phase

• Target Discovery
• Target Validation
• Lead Generation and Refinement
• Preclinical Development

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Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Drivers and Opportunities

Growing Demand for R&D from Contract Organizations

In the last few years, the pharmaceuticals industry has witnessed rapid growth in outsourcing services, driven by many factors such as the growth of small molecules, the increase in API complexities, and the growing need to reduce development costs. Large pharmaceutical companies are outsourcing R&D activities to increase the speed of the drug development process and reduce their development and manufacturing costs. Many pharmaceutical firms rely on CROs to minimize the high fixed costs of in-house development, manufacturing capabilities, and expertise. Increasing complexity in developing new molecular entities (NMEs) has created a need for niche capabilities that pharmaceutical companies prefer to outsource rather than in-house.

Increasing Small Molecule-Based– An Opportunity in Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market

The pharmaceutical industry is continually evolving. There is always a need for new, innovative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of various chronic indications. Small molecule-based drug approvals have increased in the past five years due to their effectiveness against various indications. Small molecule-based drug candidates-based pipelines are growing for a wide range of therapeutic applications, including oncology, hypertension, diabetes, and inflammatory disorders. Many big and small pharmaceutical companies are engaged in the development of several small-molecule drugs.

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Report Segmentation Analysis

Key segments that contributed to the derivation of the small molecule drug discovery market analysis are disorder and service providers.

• Based on therapeutic area, the small molecule drug discovery market is segmented into oncology, central nervous system, cardiovascular, respiratory, orthopedics, immunology, rare diseases, other therapeutic areas. The oncology segment held a larger market share in 2023.
• By process/phase, the small molecule drug discovery market is segmented into target discovery, target validation, lead generation and refinement, preclinical development. The lead generation and refinement segment held the largest share of the market in 2023.

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Share Analysis by Geography

The geographic scope of the small molecule drug discovery market report is mainly divided into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America/South & Central America.

The US holds a significant share of the small molecule drug discovery market in North America. The growth of the market in the country is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer and the adoption of novel drugs and therapies to improve the quality of treatment. For instance, per the statistics provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), 2019 1,762,450 new cancer cases and 606,880 cancer deaths were estimated.

The US health system is witnessing massive investments in research and developments for the innovation of new drug molecules, which would, in turn, drive the growth of the small molecule drug discovery market in the US during the forecast period. Besides, massive investment in the US, the strong pipeline, and Therapeutic Area approvals for the small molecule drug discovery are expected to drive the US market. For instance, Pfizer, Inc., headquartered in the US, has a strong pipeline for small molecule drugs and biologics.

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Report Scope

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Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market News and Recent Developments

The small molecule drug discovery market is evaluated by gathering qualitative and quantitative data post primary and secondary research, which includes important corporate publications, association data, and databases. The following is a list of developments in the market for small molecule drug discovery:

• BioDuro-Sundia and X-Chem, a pioneer in DEL technology in small molecule drug development, offered DNA Encoded Compound Library (DEL) technology services in China to assist more creative pharmaceutical businesses in finding small molecule medications more swiftly. (Source: BioDuro-Sundia, Press Release, 2022).
• RxCelerate launched RxNfinit. It is a revolutionary platform for small molecule discovery that offers considerable improvements over the current generation of tools to identify small molecule therapeutics against various protein targets. The platform combines machine learning, in silico structural modeling, and combinatorial chemistry in a novel process.(Source: RxCelerate, Press Release, 2022).

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Report Coverage and Deliverables

The “Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Size and Forecast (2021–2031)” report provides a detailed analysis of the market covering below areas:

• Market size and forecast at global, regional, and country levels for all the key market segments covered under the scope
• Market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and key opportunities
• Key future trends
• Detailed PEST/Porter’s Five Forces and SWOT analysis
• Global and regional market analysis covering key market trends, major players, regulations, and recent market developments
• Industry landscape and competition analysis covering market concentration, heat map analysis, prominent players, and recent developments
• Detailed company profiles