RNA Interference in the Post-Genomic Era: Markets and Technologies

Report Highlights

This Report:

• The global market for RNA interference (RNAi) was $145.2 million in 2007 and is expected to reach $174.5 million by the end of 2008. It should reach $3.6 billion by 2013, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 83.4%.
• RNAi is already an established enabling biotechnology product platform and its future use in diagnostics and therapeutics may rival such products as recombinant proteins or monoclonal antibodies.
• The growth rate of the research and development tools market segment is forecast to be a robust 19.5% per year during the study period to reach $424.5 million in 2013.

INTRODUCTION

BCC's goal for this study is to determine the status of current and emerging RNA interference (RNAi) technologies and products and to assess their worldwide growth potential over a 5-year period, from 2008 to 2013. Our particular interest is to characterize and quantify the RNAi market potential for research tools, drug target discovery and validation, diagnostics, therapeutics and agriculture: market segments which will provide substantial future growth opportunities for RNAi.

Our key objectives are to present a comprehensive discussion of the current state-of-the-art in RNA interference technologies, and to assess the present and future commercial potential for the key market segments.

SCOPE OF STUDY

This report contains:

• Descriptions of various RNA interference (RNAi) technologies including research and development tools, diagnostics, therapeutics and agricultural applications.
• The current global market status of the RNAi industry, with trends and forecasts for growth over the next 5 years
• Analysis of the RNAi industry on a worldwide basis, both from a market and application perspective
• Discussion of state-of-the-art RNAi technologies and their future commercial potential
• Profiles of the main companies in the RNAi field.

METHODOLOGY

BCC presents an analysis of each of the key market segments that will be commercially important during the next 5 years: research tools, diagnostics, agriculture and therapeutics. Based on our analysis, we look at the potential applications of RNA interference in each of the major market segments, and forecast sales revenues for 2008 through 2013.

For research tools and drug discovery and development, the study presents a forecast from 2008 through 2013 for each of the important products and associated technologies. For diagnostics and therapeutics, we forecast from 2008 through 2013 the RNAi-based diagnostics and drugs that are expected to come onto the market by type. For agriculture, we forecast the main product types to come onto the market from 2008 through 2013.

INFORMATION SOURCES

BCC surveyed life science companies and research institutions to obtain data for this study. Included were research tools firms, drug firms, diagnostics firms and leading RNA interference research institutions. We also spoke with users of RNA interference products. In addition, we compiled data from secondary sources including industry, trade, and government.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS

The author, John Bergin, has written previous BCC biotechnology reports entitled Epigenomics: Emerging Opportunities in Biomarkers, Diagnostics and Therapeutics, and Global Biochip Markets: Microarrays and Lab-on-a-chip. Mr. Bergin has held business development, sales and marketing positions with a Fortune 500 high technology company as well as an emerging nanotechnology company. Mr. Bergin holds the following degrees: B.S. Chemistry, M.S. Biotechnology and an M.B.A.