21-032

Viral vectors are useful tools used by molecular biologists to delivery genetic material into cells. Kalorama Information’s Viral Vectors Market for Cell Therapy Market: Analysis and Opportunities reveals that viral vectors comprise a rising market that is expected to continue to grow as usage increases and novel technologies enter the market.

Viral vectors are the most effective means of gene transfer to modify specific cells or alter the expression of therapeutic genes. The choice of viral vector depends on the efficiency of transgene expression, ease of production, safety, toxicity, and stability. Viral vector technology is used in gene therapy and vaccines.   It is an exciting and interesting time to be involved in the viral vector industry.  The science is moving ahead and now the industry needs to industrialize and standardize the manufacturing and commercialization of products. The industry is moving in the direction of a standardized set-up and a closed automated system.  This is especially true in gene therapy. Consequently, gene therapy products are transforming the treatment of cancers and genetic diseases. Viral vectors do not cause disease since they have been modified by removing the genes involved in replication and are replaced with therapeutic genes. Viral vectors are genetically stable, non-toxic for host cells and safe to handle.

Viruses attack the host and introduce genetic material as part of the replication cycle. The genetic material contains basic instructions for the cell to reproduce, hijacking the body’s normal production machinery to serve the needs of the virus. Thus, additional copies of the virus are produced leading to more cells becoming infected. Then why use viruses for gene therapy? – because viruses could be good vehicles to transport good genes into the human cell. The scientists remove the genes in the virus that cause disease and replace them with genes encoding the desired effect. 

Many gene therapy clinical trials rely on retroviruses or adenoviruses to deliver the desired gene. Other viruses used as vectors include adeno-associated viruses, lentiviruses, pox viruses, alphaviruses, and herpes viruses. These viruses differ in how well they transfer genes to the cells they recognize and are able to infect, and whether they alter the cell’s DNA permanently or temporarily.

Viral vectors are defined by three components:

• the protein capsid and/or envelope
• the transgene of interest to produce the desired effect
• the regulatory cassette – which is combined elements that control stable or transient somatic expression of the transgene

Scope and Methodology

The analysis in this Kalorama Information report, Viral Vectors Market for Cell Therapy Market: Analysis and Opportunities, is based on the author's industry knowledge combined with literature searches and discussions with industry professionals and experts in the areas of viral vector manufacturing companies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, cell and gene therapy companies and research institutes. A combination of company, government, industry, institutional and private sources generate the primary sources of information.  It includes information from extensive literature reviews and discussions with experts in the field, including microbiologists, pathologists, hospital authorities, reimbursement specialists, research scientists, business development managers and marketing managers.

All market data are based on manufacturer sales to the end user and not retail pricing or reimbursement payments.  Market data pertains to the world market at the manufacturers’ level.  The base year for data was 2021 with forecast data provided for 2026. Compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) are provided for the 2021-2026 periods for each segment covered.  The forecasted market analysis for 2021-2026 is largely based on demographic trends, new developments, cell and gene therapy advancements, company performance trends, merger and acquisitions, and global expansion.