Peptide Drug Discovery Market

Peptide Drug Discovery Market Analysis

The Peptide Drug Discovery Market size is estimated at USD 546.5 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 755.80 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.70% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

The peptide drug discovery market is witnessing growth, primarily fueled by the rising prevalence of cancer, multiple sclerosis, respiratory diseases, HIV infection, and cardiovascular diseases, among others. For instance, in January 2023, data published by the American Cancer Society revealed that over 1.9 million total new cancer cases were diagnosed in the United States in 2023. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO), in February 2024, stated that about one in five individuals develop cancer in their lifetime globally. These data collectively indicate the significant burden of cancer disease around the globe and underscore the critical need for advancements in peptide drug discovery to develop novel peptide-based drugs for cancer therapy.

Moreover, the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases is expected to drive the growth of peptide drug discovery for the development of effective peptide-based cardiovascular therapeutics, further fueling the market growth. For instance, in September 2023, the British Heart Foundation reported that approximately 620 million people globally were living with heart and circulatory diseases, with peripheral arterial disease and stroke being the most prevalent conditions. Moreover, this figure reached around 640 million in January 2025. Collectively, these statistics underscore the importance of peptide therapeutics, owing to their high efficacy and safety in the treatment of chronic diseases. This, in turn, is expected to drive the growth of the peptide drug discovery market over the forecast period.

In addition, peptide drug development has witnessed moderate growth in recent years, driven by advancements in production, modification, and analytic technologies in peptide production. Notably, the integration of AI into these processes has been a significant catalyst. For instance, in January 2025, Pepticom Ltd. secured USD 6.6 million in its Series A1 funding round, a move anticipated to expedite AI-driven peptide drug discovery. Through this funding, Pepticom Ltd. is enhancing its unique biocomputational AI software to optimize the process of peptide drug discovery with reduced development cost and risk. Further emphasizing the trend, Fujitsu launched the "Biodrug Design Accelerator" in May 2023, a platform designed to streamline peptide drug discovery. This platform bolsters the Design Make Test Analyze (DMTA) cycle, promoting centralized data management, visualization, and enhanced collaboration among researchers.

While the peptide drug discovery market outlook appears promising, challenges remain. The complex synthesis and purification processes lead to elevated manufacturing costs, hindering affordability and widespread adoption. Furthermore, concerns regarding the stability and bioavailability of peptide drugs pose additional hurdles to the market's growth.

Peptide Drug Discovery Market Trends

Therapeutic Peptides Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market Over the Forecast Period

Globally, the increase in strategic collaborations among leading companies and advancements in drug delivery systems are anticipated to drive the growth of the therapeutic peptide segment. For example, in March 2023, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. entered into a drug discovery collaboration with PeptiDream Inc. This partnership aims to develop novel macrocyclic-constrained peptide drugs targeting various diseases. PeptiDream will utilize its automated peptide discovery platform to identify and optimize peptide drug candidates for targets selected by Ono Pharmaceuticals.

Also, in April 2024, PeptiDream Inc. expanded its peptide discovery collaboration with Novartis Pharma AG. Through this partnership, PeptiDream will employ its peptide discovery platform system to identify and refine macrocyclic peptides for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, focusing on targets chosen by Novartis.

Furthermore, in October 2024, Peptron Inc. announced a partnership with Eli Lilly to conduct peptide drug research using its SmartDepot technology. According to this agreement, Eli Lilly will explore the application of Peptron's SmartDepot technology to its peptide drugs.

These strategic initiatives collectively highlight the anticipated growth of the therapeutic peptide segment, which is expected to contribute significantly to the overall peptide drug discovery market.

North America is Expected to Dominate the Peptide Drug Discovery Market

North America is expected to hold a significant share of the global peptide drug discovery market. Key drivers include the strong presence of market players, extensive research and development activities, advanced R&D infrastructure, and an increase in strategic initiatives such as acquisitions by major companies in the region. For example, in December 2024, AbbVie Inc. announced the acquisition of Nimble Therapeutics, a company specializing in the discovery of oral peptide-based medicines. This acquisition aims to enhance AbbVie's capabilities in the rapid discovery and optimization of peptide therapeutics.

Additionally, increased funding activities and collaborations between pharmaceutical firms and Contract Research Organizations (CROs) bolster the market's growth prospects. For instance, in March 2023, Arch Biopartners Inc. received USD 4 million in funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). This funding supports the development of the LSALT peptide (Metablok) program and future drug approvals. The LSALT peptide, the leading drug candidate of the company, targets acute inflammation injuries in the lungs, kidneys, and liver. NRC IRAP also provides advisory services to advance the program, driving the growth of the peptide drug discovery market in the North America region.

Furthermore, the growing burden of chronic, infectious, and respiratory diseases in North America fuels the market's growth. For instance, in September 2024, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America stated that approximately 28 million Americans were affected by asthma, with a notable rise in prevalence among women and adults over 65. Additionally, in December 2024, The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported a 7.6 percent increase in new HIV infections, totaling 1,686 cases in the year 2023 in New York City. These factors mentioned above highlight the growing disease burden, emphasizing the need for peptide drug discovery to develop innovative therapeutics for these conditions.

Peptide Drug Discovery Industry Overview

The peptide drug discovery market is moderately competitive in nature. Several leading and local companies are focusing on investment in R&D activities to gain a competitive edge. Some companies hold strong strategic positions in the market, such as CPC Scientific Inc., JPT Peptide Technologies, and GenScript Biotech Corporation, owing to their wide presence in many countries across the globe. The competitive landscape includes an analysis of key companies that include IRBM S.p.a., Creative Peptides, Interprotein Corporation, Pepscan, UCB S.A., Pepticom Ltd., PeptiDream Inc., Creative Biolabs, Inc., MeSCue-Janusys Inc., and among others.

Peptide Drug Discovery Market Leaders

Peptide Drug Discovery Market News

• May 2024: Novartis Pharma AG announced a peptide discovery partnership with Peptidream Inc., valued at up to USD 2.71 billion. As part of the multi-program agreement, PeptiDream will use its Peptide Discovery Platform System (PDPS) technology to identify and optimize macrocyclic peptides for targets specified by Novartis Pharma AG.
• June 2023: IRBM S.p.A., a well-known contract research organization, signed an agreement with Merck & Co., Inc. (MSD) to strengthen their partnership in peptide therapeutics development. This agreement allows IRBM to integrate its expertise in peptide design and synthesis with Merck's capabilities, focusing on the development of innovative peptide-based therapeutics.