Healthcare // Drug Delivery Devices
The global Radiotherapy
market is foreseen to grow by 5.7%, from USD 6.95 Billion in 2022 to USD 10.83
Billion in 2030. Technological advancements, increasing incidence of cancer
worldwide, awareness initiatives on the benefits of radiotherapy, growing use
of particle therapy for cancer treatment is to drive the market for the
upcoming forecast period. However, Inadequate healthcare infrastructure, shortage
of skilled oncologists and radiologists remains one factor hindering the market
growth over the anticipated period.
Market Definition
What Is Radiotherapy?
Market Overview
Types of
Radiotherapy
There are two
main types of radiotherapy: external beam radiation therapy and internal
radiation therapy. External beam radiation therapy involves using a machine
outside the body to deliver high-energy radiation to the cancer site. This type
of radiotherapy is the most common and can be used to treat almost any part of
the body. Internal radiation therapy, also known as brachytherapy, involves
placing a small amount of radioactive material inside the body near the cancer
site. This type of radiotherapy is commonly used to treat prostate cancer,
cervical cancer, and breast cancer.
Effectiveness
of Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy
can be a highly effective treatment for cancer. The effectiveness of
radiotherapy depends on several factors, including the type and stage of
cancer, the location of the cancer, and the overall health of the patient.
Radiotherapy can be used as the primary treatment for some cancers or as part
of a combination therapy. In some cases, radiotherapy may be used to shrink a
tumor before surgery or to kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery. The
goal of radiotherapy is to destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to
healthy cells.
Side Effects of
Radiotherapy
Like any cancer
treatment, radiotherapy can cause side effects. The side effects of
radiotherapy depend on the location of the cancer and the amount of radiation
delivered. Common side effects include fatigue, skin irritation, nausea, and
diarrhea. These side effects are usually temporary and go away after treatment
is complete. However, in some cases, radiotherapy can cause long-term side
effects, such as infertility or an increased risk of developing a second
cancer.
Conclusion
Radiotherapy is
a powerful tool in the fight against cancer. It can be used alone or in
combination with other cancer treatments to destroy cancer cells and improve
patient outcomes. Although radiotherapy can cause side effects, most of these
are temporary and can be managed with medication and other therapies. If you or
a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, talk to your doctor about whether
radiotherapy is an appropriate treatment option.
The expansion
of the radiotherapy market is being propelled by technological advancements and
an increasing prevalence of cancer. The market is also being driven by a
growing awareness of the advantages of radiotherapy and the amplified use of
particle therapy in cancer treatment. However, the development of this market
is being hindered by inadequate healthcare infrastructure, particularly in
emerging economies, and a shortage of qualified oncologists and radiologists.
Furthermore, the high cost of radiotherapy equipment and the complicated nature
of radiotherapy treatment are anticipated to curb the growth of this market in
the projected timeframe.
Radiotherapy
Market Dynamics
Radiotherapy is
gaining traction due to various initiatives aimed at creating awareness about
its benefits. Conferences and symposia, organized in recent years, have
emphasized spreading awareness about the advantages of radiotherapy for
treating a wide range of cancers. For instance, the 6th Cancer World Congress,
scheduled to be held in Portugal in September 2022, will focus on
"Personalized Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy." In May 2022, the 5th
Global Cancer Summit (GCS-2022) was held virtually with the theme "Living
with cancer in the 21st century" by BioGenesis Health Cluster and Global
Cancer Foundation.
These events
provide a platform to raise awareness and provide training for oncologists and
radiographers on radiotherapy procedures. The increased awareness about
available radiotherapy procedures and their benefits is expected to boost the
demand and adoption of radiotherapy devices.
Restraints in
Radiotherapy Market
One of the
restraints in the global radiotherapy market is the shortage of skilled
oncologists and radiologists. Despite continuous technological advancements,
the high standards required for effective radiotherapy can only be achieved and
maintained by experienced specialists. However, the shortage of trained
personnel and technical expertise is expected to hinder the implementation of
advanced radiotherapy techniques. This scarcity of skilled and trained
personnel results in many cancer patients missing out on effective radiotherapy
procedures, particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries.
In the United
States, the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) reported that only
13,146 oncologists were engaged in active patient care in 2021. While some
cities have an abundance of oncologists, approximately 32 million Americans
reside in counties with no oncologists. According to ASCO, the shortage of
oncologists is projected to surpass 2,200 by 2025. Similarly, this lack of
skilled oncologists and radiologists is a challenge in several countries
worldwide, affecting the adoption of oncology procedures.
Opportunities
in Radiotherapy Market
One of the main
drivers of the global market growth is the increasing public-private
investments and funding for cancer research, which aims to improve the
diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Recent investments in radiotherapy solutions
by companies like Leo Cancer Care and government funding, such as the USD 45.5
million application for regional radiation treatment centers in Australia,
offer potential growth opportunities for market players.
Challenges in
Radiotherapy Market
However, a
major challenge faced during radiotherapy procedures is the difficulty in
visualizing tumors and distinguishing them from normal healthy tissues.
Although advancements in ionizing radiation therapy for cancer treatment can
help overcome this challenge, daily changes in tumor shape make it difficult to
only radiate the cancerous growth without affecting the surrounding tissues.
Radiologists often include a safety margin around the tumor and limit the
radiotherapy dose range to minimize damage to healthy tissue. As a result, the
number of treatment cycles required to eradicate tumorous cells increases,
which raises the treatment costs for patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Additionally, detecting tumor progression remains a clinical challenge, despite
technological advancements in imaging techniques. Due to these challenges,
oncologists prefer alternative treatment technologies like chemotherapy and
conventional surgical procedures.
The global
radiotherapy market is categorized into three technology segments: external
beam radiotherapy, internal beam radiotherapy/brachytherapy, and systemic
radiotherapy products. The external beam radiotherapy products segment includes
linear accelerators, particle therapy systems, and conventional cobalt-60
teletherapy units. The internal beam radiotherapy/brachytherapy products
segment comprises seeds, applicators, after loaders, and IORT systems. The
linear accelerators or LINAC segment is further divided into conventional LINAC
systems and stereotactic advanced electron/cobalt-60 LINAC systems, which
include the CyberKnife, Gamma Knife, and TomoTherapy sub-segments.
In 2021, the
cyberknife sub-segment within the stereotactic advanced electron/cobalt-60
linear accelerators segment accounted for the largest share of the global
radiotherapy market. This was attributed to the continuous development of the
CyberKnife system. For example, Accuray Incorporated launched the CyberKnife S7
System in June 2020, which is designed to deliver precise stereotactic
radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy treatments. Additionally,
several supply deals for the CyberKnife platform were made between 2018 and
2021 with various organizations such as Stanford University Medical Center,
Swiss Medical Network, and Mercy Advances Cancer Care. These developments are
expected to drive the adoption of the CyberKnife technology.
The external
beam radiotherapy segment is also seeing growth due to initiatives such as
conferences and symposia, which are raising awareness about the benefits of
radiotherapy procedures for a range of cancers. The 6th Cancer World Congress,
which is set to take place in Portugal in September 2022, has the theme of
"Personalized Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy," while the 5th Global
Cancer Summit was held virtually in May 2022 with the theme of "Living
with cancer in the 21st century." These events and others like them play a
crucial role in spreading awareness about the available radiotherapy procedures
and their benefits, ultimately leading to increased demand and adoption of
radiotherapy devices.
The Internal
Beam radiotherapy market is divided into several applications, including
prostate cancer, gynecological cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, penile
cancer, and other cancers. In 2022, the prostate cancer segment emerged as the
top application, capturing the highest market share. Prostate brachytherapy,
which involves the use of both LDR and HDR brachytherapy, is an advanced
treatment for prostate cancer. Globally, brachytherapy is increasingly being used
to treat high-risk prostate cancer either alone or in combination with hormone
therapy or EBRT. LDR brachytherapy, which delivers low-dose radiation and
protects surrounding healthy tissues, is as effective as prostatectomy or EBRT.
Additionally, brachytherapy obviates the need to monitor the prostate gland's
movement, as the radioactive seeds implanted move with the gland.
The External
Beam radiotherapy market is categorized into several procedures, including
IGRT, IMRT, stereotactic therapy, particle beam therapy, and 3D-CRT. The
particle therapy segment is predicted to experience the highest growth rate in
the external beam radiotherapy market by procedures during the forecast year.
This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the rising number
of proton therapy centers worldwide, increasing research activities in
radiation oncology with proton therapy systems, lower risks associated with
proton beam therapy, and a longer lifespan of proton beam therapy systems (30
years or more) as compared to photon therapy systems (10 years).
The global
radiotherapy market is segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia
Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The North American
market is further divided into the US and Canada. In 2022, the US held the
largest market share in North America, primarily driven by increasing awareness
about radiotherapy, a rising geriatric population, government initiatives in
the form of funds and grants for radiotherapy-related research and development,
and an increasing incidence of various cancers.
In FY 2021,
Siemens Healthineers AG became the leading player in the global market after
acquiring Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 2021. The acquisition resulted
in the company commanding the highest market share in the global radiotherapy
market, mainly due to the broad product portfolio of Varian Medical Systems,
Inc. and the combined sales and distribution capabilities of both companies. To
enhance its footprint in the global market, the company focuses on both organic
and inorganic growth strategies. Under Siemens Healthineers, Varian Medical
Systems, Inc. introduced and received regulatory approvals for several
products, including the ProBeam proton therapy system, ProBeam 360 with
multi-room configuration, and Halcyon system, in the last three years
(2019-2021). The company has also entered into several agreements,
partnerships, collaborations, and contracts to expand its market presence.
Market Segmentation
For the purpose
of this report, the global Radiotherapy market segmented on the basis of therapy
type, technology, procedure, application, end user, and region:
Therapy Type Outlook:
On the basis of
therapy type, the market is segmented into external beam radiation therapy,
internal radiation therapy, systemic radiation therapy.
Technology Outlook:
On the basis of
Technology, the market is segmented into External Beam Radiotherapy, Internal
Beam Radiotherapy/Brachytherapy, Systemic Radiotherapy. Further, External Beam
Radiotherapy is segmented into Linear Accelerators, Conventional Cobalt-60
Teletherapy Units, Particle Therapy Systems. Further, Internal Beam
Radiotherapy/Brachytherapy is segmented into Seeds, Afterloaders, Applicators,
IORT Systems. Further, Systemic Radiotherapy is segmented into Iobenguane
(I-131), Samarium-153, Rhenium-186 , Other Systemic Radiotherapy Products.
Procedure Outlook:
On the basis of
Procedure, the market is segmented into External Beam Radiotherapy, Internal
Beam Radiotherapy/Brachytherapy, Systemic Radiotherapy. Further, External Beam
Radiotherapy is segmented into Image-guided Radiotherapy, Intensity-modulated
Radiotherapy, Stereotactic Therapy, Particle Therapy, 3D Conformal Radiotherapy.
Further, Internal Beam Radiotherapy/Brachytherapy is segmented into
High-dose-rate Brachytherapy, Low-dose-rate Brachytherapy, Pulsed-dose-rate
Brachytherapy. Further, Systemic Radiotherapy is segmented into Intravenous
Radiotherapy, Oral Radiotherapy, Instillation Radiotherapy.
Figure 1 Radiotherapy Market By Procedure (Market
Size And Forecast By Value - USD Million, 2022 & 2030)