Efficacy Testing Market

Efficacy testing is an essential process that is carried out to determine the effectiveness of a particular product or treatment. It is a crucial step in the development of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other consumer products. Efficacy testing involves rigorous scientific evaluation to establish whether a product is capable of delivering the claimed benefits.

The primary objective of efficacy testing is to ensure that a product is safe for human use and can deliver the desired results. The process involves various tests and experiments, which are designed to determine the effectiveness of a particular product. These tests are conducted using both in-vitro and in-vivo methods, which involve testing the product on cells and animals, respectively.

In-vitro tests involve using cell cultures and other laboratory-based techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of a product. These tests are useful for identifying potential problems early on in the development process, allowing scientists to modify the product accordingly. In-vivo tests, on the other hand, involve testing the product on animals to evaluate its effectiveness and safety before human testing.

Efficacy testing is critical in the pharmaceutical industry, where the development of new drugs is heavily regulated by governing bodies such as the FDA. Before a new drug can be approved for human use, it must undergo rigorous efficacy testing to ensure that it is safe and effective. The same applies to cosmetics and other consumer products that claim to deliver specific benefits.

The importance of efficacy testing cannot be overstated, as it is the only way to determine whether a product is capable of delivering the claimed benefits. Failure to conduct efficacy testing can result in the release of unsafe and ineffective products, which can be harmful to human health and can lead to significant financial losses for companies.

In conclusion, efficacy testing is a crucial step in the development of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other consumer products. It is a rigorous scientific evaluation that determines the effectiveness of a particular product and ensures that it is safe for human use. The use of both in-vitro and in-vivo methods in efficacy testing is necessary to identify potential problems early on in the development process and to ensure that the product is effective and safe for human use.

The global market for efficacy testing is expected to experience growth in the coming years, primarily driven by regulations for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products that address product safety. The efficacy of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is a key concern in the market, and as a result, various methods of preservative efficacy testing (PET) have been developed and advanced by standards organizations, regulatory agencies, and industry organizations over the past decade. Regulatory bodies such as the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) aim to meet the good documentation standard and ensure scientific soundness of pharmaceutical products.

The COVID-19 outbreak has brought the importance of institutional and household disinfection to the forefront to prevent the spread of the disease. Consumers responded by panic-buying disinfecting products to keep their homes virus-free, resulting in synthetic disinfectants running out of stock at retail stores. To respond to this, retailers restocked their shelves with green disinfectants, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added many natural disinfectants to its "approved" list for fighting COVID-19. This development reflects a shift towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable disinfecting products, which could further drive the growth of the efficacy testing market.

Several government agencies worldwide have announced special financial aid towards the development of preventive and curative drugs, the purchase of critical care medical devices, and the fast-track approval of diagnostic tests to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. To further strengthen the fight against the pandemic, organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Wellcome Trust have also joined hands to accelerate the efforts.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruptions in healthcare systems worldwide, with hospitals struggling to cope with the increasing number of patients. To address the surge in disease incidence, temporary hospitals were set up. As a result, the growing awareness about hygiene, health, and safety has led to a surge in demand for cleaning and disinfection products.

In the post-COVID-19 scenario, the demand for surface disinfectants is expected to rise due to the potential threat of the virus re-emerging. This could lead to the emergence of new players in the surface disinfectants market, thereby boosting the demand for disinfectant efficacy testing.

The growth of the efficacy testing market can be attributed to several factors, including the outsourcing of research and development by the pharmaceutical sector and the increasing adoption of the quality by design (QbD) approach. In an effort to reduce operational and manufacturing costs and minimize financial risk, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly outsourcing their R&D activities to private contract research organizations (CROs). This trend is expected to continue, leading to an increase in demand for efficacy testing products.

For example, in a recent collaboration, Emyria Limited partnered with PsychoGenics to use their next-generation automated testing platform, SmartCube, to conduct drug discovery activities. Such collaborations are expected to contribute to the growth of the efficacy testing market over the forecast period.

Additionally, the biopharmaceutical industry is investing heavily in R&D activities. According to the IFPMA’s 2021 report, the annual R&D spending by the biopharmaceutical industry is significantly higher than that of other industries such as aerospace and defense, chemicals, and software and computer services. With the increasing R&D in the biopharmaceutical industry, the adoption of the QbD approach is also increasing, leading to further market growth.

However, the time investment required for testing procedures may pose a challenge to the growth of the efficacy testing market. Despite this obstacle, the overall trend is positive, and the market is expected to experience growth over the coming years.

Efficacy Testing Market Dynamics

Drivers in Efficacy Testing Market

The global efficacy testing market is expected to grow due to the increasing adoption of the Quality-by-Design approach, which emphasizes the importance of designing and building quality into pharmaceutical products during the manufacturing process. This approach recognizes that quality problems are often related to product design and not just the testing or analysis of the final product. However, the market faces challenges due to the adverse effects of chemical disinfectants. Many chemical disinfectants available in the market are toxic and can cause harm to cleaning personnel, building occupants, and the environment. Sodium hypochlorite, for example, is a commonly used disinfectant that is effective against pathogens but can also be highly corrosive and a respiratory irritant. Improper use of these disinfectants can also pose environmental hazards and harm patients. Disinfectants are regulated under the FIFRA and must be registered with the EPA, which classifies them as pesticides. As of now, there is no green certification available for disinfectants in the market.

As demand for greener solutions continues to increase due to growing end-user population, the use of traditional disinfectants is becoming limited, with manufacturers forced to develop newer and less harmful alternatives. In response to this trend, Clorox Healthcare launched the Clorox Healthcare Versa-Sure Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes in 2021, which are alcohol-free and less corrosive to human eyes.

Opportunities in Efficacy Testing Market

Emerging economies in the Asia Pacific region, such as India, Brazil, and South Africa, present significant opportunities for players in the efficacy testing markets. With the rapidly increasing aging population, rising patient volumes, growing per capita income, and rising awareness, the demand for advanced healthcare services is also increasing in these countries.

Disinfectant efficacy testing accounted for the largest share of the efficacy testing market in 2021. This is due to the rising awareness of personal and environmental hygiene and the increasing use of surface disinfectants, coupled with technological advancements and rising R&D investments by key players to develop innovative technologies in the market.

The efficacy testing market is segmented by application into pharmaceutical manufacturing applications, cosmetics and personal care product applications, consumer product applications, and medical device applications. The pharmaceutical manufacturing applications segment was the largest contributor to the market in 2021, and it is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Pharmaceutical companies require a significant amount of analytical testing to support their products from discovery to manufacturing and marketing. This is compelling companies to continuously conduct testing or opt for testing services to improve product quality and efficacy. However, this places a financial burden on companies, leading them to outsource testing services to maintain flexibility and utilize technical capabilities not available in-house.

In 2021, North America held the largest share of the efficacy testing market. The high R&D expenditure, strong presence of major service providers, and rising outsourcing of analytical testing (including efficacy testing) by pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies are the key drivers for market growth in the region. Many of the world's leading corporations are headquartered in the region, and others have also focused on expanding their capabilities to improve their scope.

The prominent players in Efficacy Testing Market

• EUROFINS SCIENTIFIC
• CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
• WUXI APPTEC
• SGS SA
• INTERTEK GROUP PLC
• MICROCHEM LABORATORY
• ACCUGEN LABORATORIES, INC.
• PACIFIC BIOLABS
• NORTH AMERICAN SCIENCE ASSOCIATES
• TOXIKON
• BIOSCIENCE LABORATORIES, INC.
• CONSUMER PRODUCT TESTING COMPANY (CPTC)
• ALMAC GROUP
• MSL SOLUTION PROVIDERS
• NELSON LABORATORIES, LLC (A SOTERA HEALTH COMPANY)
• ALS LIMITED
• ABBOTT ANALYTICAL
• BLUTEST LABORATORIES LIMITED
• LUCIDEON
• HELVIC LABORATORIES (A TENTAMUS COMPANY)
• PROCTER & GAMBLE
• THE CLOROX COMPANY
• 3M
• RECKITT BENCKISER GROUP PLC
• ECOLAB
• STERIS
• CANTEL MEDICAL
• DIVERSEY HOLDINGS LTD.
• CARROLLCLEAN
• PAUL HARTMANN AG

Recent Developments in Efficacy Testing Market

The efficacy testing market has seen several recent developments. In 2021, Eurofins Scientific acquired bioskin GmbH, a German dermatology-focused CRO, to improve their position in cosmetic product testing. Intertek Group plc expanded their Health, Environmental, and Regulatory Consultancy business lines in Spain and Russia the same year. In 2020, 3M launched the TB Quat Disinfectant Ready-to-use Cleaner, while Ecolab acquired Holchem Group to bolster their hygiene and cleaning products and services portfolio for the food and beverage, food service, and hospitality industries. In 2019, Diversey Holdings Ltd. announced a strategic alliance in the North American industrial and institutional cleaning market, aimed at providing solutions for complete facility disinfection, cleaning, and air care for specific applications.

The efficacy testing market has seen significant developments in recent times, driven by the growing need for advanced healthcare services, rising awareness about personal hygiene, and increasing R&D investments by key players.

One of the major trends in the market is the growing demand for greener and safer disinfectants. With the increasing end-user population demanding greener solutions, manufacturers are being forced to develop newer and greener alternatives that are less corrosive to human eyes. For instance, Clorox Healthcare recently launched the new Clorox Healthcare Versa-Sure Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes that are alcohol-free, in line with this trend.

Another trend is the rising demand for disinfectant efficacy testing in emerging economies such as India, Brazil, and South Africa. The need for advanced healthcare services in these economies is mainly driven by the rapidly increasing aging population and the rising number of patient volumes, growing per capita income, and rising awareness. Healthcare infrastructural improvements, such as the establishment of new facilities, have been a key trend in emerging markets, alongside rising awareness on the sterilization of medical products.

The disinfectant efficacy testing segment accounted for the largest share of the efficacy testing market in 2021. Rising awareness of environmental & personal hygiene has resulted in the increasing production and use of surface disinfectants. Also, technological advancements and rising R&D investments by key players to deliver novel technologies in the market are factors driving the growth of the segment.

Overall, the efficacy testing market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years, driven by the growing demand for advanced healthcare services, rising awareness about personal hygiene, and increasing R&D investments by key players to develop newer and greener alternatives.