Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying Market Size to 2030

Key Highlights of the report

How are the prominent segments performing in the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

• In 2022, the tray-style freezer dryer segment accounted for the largest market share due to increasing demand for pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and contract lyophilization services.
• In 2022, the industrial-scale segment was anticipated to hold a major share of the global pharmaceutical freeze drying market due to the high standard of quality delivered by industrial-scale freeze drying products.

Which region dominated the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

In 2022, the Asia Pacific was anticipated to hold a major share of the global pharmaceutical freeze drying market. The Asia Pacific region may account for a disproportionate amount of investments, R&D spending, and geographical development of companies that manufacture pharmaceutical freeze drying equipment. Additionally, the presence of significant players in the Asia Pacific region's pharmaceutical freeze drying market and the expansion of the production facilities of top pharmaceutical firms in this region are anticipated to drive the market's growth.

How is the US market performing in the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

In 2022, the US was anticipated to be the fastest-growing market. The advancements in technology, increasing product approvals, partnerships, and collaborations by key players are helping the market's growth. For instance, in April 2022, NJM launched Dara Pharma Group's Coolvacuum freeze-drying equipment in the US at the Interphex booth. The Coolvacuum product line includes a variety of freeze dryer solutions, from small, standalone freeze dryers for research and development labs to large, fully integrated systems for commercial fill-finish packaging lines.

How is the economy impacting the global pharmaceutical freeze drying growth?

Growth in the number of commercially available vaccines and injectables for various disease conditions and rising demand for contract manufacturing and outsourcing activities in the biopharmaceutical industry are also anticipated to emphasize the development of the global market in the near future. The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine estimates that companies involved in cell and gene therapies garnered approximately USD 23.1 billion in funding worldwide in 2021, an increase of almost 16% over the USD 19.9 billion total for the previous year.

What is the competitive environment of the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

The pharmaceutical freeze drying market share globally, sales and revenues generated in this industry, a summary of the business organization, the introduction of new products, and opportunities for the industrial Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying market are all provided by the pharmaceutical freeze drying market's competitive environment. For instance, in November 2022, Telstar expanded the process laboratory service for freeze-drying and sterilization by incorporating cold sterilization methods for non-compatible medical and pharmaceutical products with conventional high-temperature sterilization.

Executive Summary

What are the key trends in the Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying market?

• Pharmaceutical technologies reduce the cost of preservation by making it possible to store dried samples at room temperature. This considerably simplifies sample storage and dissemination. In order to improve cell viability rates through the use of these technologies, existing protocols must be revised.
• Furthermore, the use of freeze-dried plasma on the battlefield is increasing. Military medical personnel used conventional blood products to treat injured personnel during emergencies. This procedure necessitated the use of refrigerators and other specialized equipment, which added to the time required. Plasma is effectively frozen through freeze-drying and can be used to heal wounds prior to evacuation.

How has COVID-19 impacted the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

The impact of COVID-19 in its initial phase was profound owing to restrictions on drug production in pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing sites, which hampered market growth. The demand for pharmaceutical freeze drying and emergency use authorization (EUA) for certain drugs compensated for the market growth in the later stages of the pandemic. For instance, in May 2020, Cipla launched remdesivir under its brand name CIPREMI (remdesivir lyophilized powder for injection, 100 mg). Gilead Sciences Inc. received a EUA from the US FDA to use remdesivir for COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized. The growing demand and approvals for drugs are propelling the use of pharmaceutical freeze drying services and are expected to propel the market during the forecast period.

Which are the key investments by the pharmaceutical freeze drying market players?

Leading players operating in the pharmaceutical freeze drying market are focusing on the development of production capacities for pharmaceutical freeze drying equipment. Players are also concentrating on acquisitions, and collaborations, strategic mergers, in the market to gain a competitive edge. For instance, in May 2022, Optima Pharma Division inaugurated a comprehensive scientific process engineering (CSPE) center in Germany. The company responded to customer requests and expanded the successful CSPE process for fast and safe production start-up of the integrated filling lines with isolators and freeze dryers. The inauguration of the CSPE center is associated with using lyophilization equipment, which will add to market growth.

Some major players in the pharmaceutical freeze drying market are Azbil Corporation; Harvest Right; Hitachi, Ltd.; HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH; Labconco; Martin Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH; Millrock Technology, Inc.; Cuddon Freeze Dry; GEA Group; Aktiengesellschaft; Optima Packaging Group GmbH; SP Industries; ZIRBUS Technology GmbH; Shanghai Tofflon Science and Technology Co., Ltd.; Scala Scientific; Freeze Drying Systems Pvt. Ltd.

What are the prominent driving factors for the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

The widespread use of freeze drying technology to protect biologicals like enzymes, viruses, bacteria, proteins, and penicillin has increased the demand for pharmaceutical freeze drying. Without causing structural harm, freeze drying can be used to dry medications and biologics that are fragile, prone to instability, or sensitive to heat. Because freeze-dried products can be moved easily and quickly in cases where emergency vaccinations and antibodies must be administered right away, there is a demand for them in the market. Furthermore, the government is actively supporting the biotechnology industry through steps to modernize the regulatory environment, enhance approval & reimbursement procedures, and standardize clinical trials. Removing aqueous and solvent solutions from biologics during freeze drying prevents deterioration and maintains the proteins required for their drug delivery mechanism, thus driving the market growth.

What are the major risks for the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

The major factor that hampers the market growth is difficulty achieving the desired moisture levels and maintaining product quality. The appropriate level of moisture removal is frequently not accomplished during the freeze drying process; products are contaminated due to excessive moisture, which can pose certain risks to patients who are given these products. Furthermore, high operational costs, high energy consumption, and lengthy processing time. Due to pharmaceutical freeze drying systems, capital-intensive pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are focusing on alternative drying technologies to reduce the global cost of products without compromising their quality.

Which is the key product in the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

The tray-style freeze dryers held a prominent share in the global pharmaceutical freeze drying market over the forecast period. The growth of surgical procedures is majorly driven by the growth in the geriatric population, the rising prevalence of cancer, and the rise in incidences of chronic diseases. Due to the utilization of freeze-dried platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in surgical procedures, which maintains PRP's efficacy and bioactivity for a longer period, the number of surgical procedures will increase, fueling demand for pharmaceutical freeze drying.

How is the pharmaceutical freeze drying market performing in regions?

North America is expected to witness the fastest growth in the global pharmaceutical freeze drying market during the forecast period. The advancements in technology, increasing product approvals, partnerships, and collaborations by key players are helping the market's growth. For instance, in December 2021, PCI Pharma Services (PCI), a CDMO, reported closing the earlier-notified acquisition of Lyophilization Services of New England, Inc., a CDMO based in Bedford, New Hampshire. This addition is a critical step for PCI, as LSNE will extend PCI's range of services as a global CDMO, creating its expertise in clinical trial supply, specialty manufacturing, and pharmaceutical packaging. PCI can now offer integrated large and small-molecule solutions for its clinical and commercial consumers, including global manufacturing capabilities in high potency, complex formulations, sterile fill-finish, and lyophilization, an important manufacturing process commonly used with injectable and biologic therapies. Such partnerships are projected to boost market growth during the forecast period in this region.

What is the regulatory landscape for the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

Freeze-drying has become an important formulation and stabilization strategy in the pharmaceutical industry for drugs, vaccines, antibodies, and other biological materials, to improve their long-term stability. For biological products whose storage in an aqueous solution results in instability, freeze-drying prolongs the shelf-life by inhibiting chemical, physical, and microbiological pathways in the presence of moisture.

What is the market size of pharmaceutical freeze drying regarding value?

The global pharmaceutical freeze drying market is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 8.50% in the upcoming years. The global pharmaceutical freeze drying industry was estimated to be worth USD 5.2 billion in 2022 and was expected to be worth USD 9.20 billion by 2028.

What are the prominent players planning for the future of the pharmaceutical freeze drying market?

Growing regional presence and investment in downstream applications are expected to deliver a competitive edge in the market. For instance, in 2020, Martin Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH (Germany) entered into a collaboration with Elementar Americas (US). In this collaboration, Martin Christ will be the sales, service, and support partner of Elementar Americas and will provide its product portfolio throughout the US.

Segmentation of Global Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying Market-

Global Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying Market – By Product

• Tray Style Freeze Dryers
• Manifold Freeze Dryers
• Rotary Freeze Dryers

Global Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying Market – By Scale of Operation

• Bench Top
• Pilot Scale
• Industrial Scale

Global Pharmaceutical Freeze Drying Market – By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • U.K.
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • South-east Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC Countries
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East and Africa

Expansion of Biopharmaceutical and Vaccine Production

The increasing number of commercially available vaccines and injectables, along with the growth of the biopharmaceutical industry, is driving demand for freeze drying technologies to ensure product stability and shelf-life.

Growth in Contract Manufacturing and Outsourcing

Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly outsourcing lyophilization and manufacturing processes to specialized contract manufacturers, boosting demand for advanced freeze drying equipment and services.

Technological Advancements and Product Innovation

Continuous improvements in freeze drying technology, such as automation and integration with fill-finish lines, are enhancing efficiency and product quality, encouraging adoption across pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Regulatory Support and Government Initiatives

Government efforts to modernize regulatory frameworks, streamline approval processes, and support biotechnology innovation are fostering a favorable environment for the adoption of freeze drying in pharmaceutical applications.

Need for Emergency and Field-Deployable Therapies

The use of freeze-dried plasma and biologics in emergency and military settings, where cold chain logistics are challenging, is increasing, further driving the market for pharmaceutical freeze drying solutions.

Note: The depth of individual sections depends on data availability for this market. Volume, capacity, trade and other unit-based metrics are included where applicable.