Drug Discovery Services Market: Global Outlook, Key Growth Drivers, and Future Opportunities (2024-2030)

Browse 577 market data Tables and 64 Figures spread through 450 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Drug Discovery Services Market by Process (Target Validation, Hit-to-Lead, Lead Optimization), Type (Chemistry, Biology), Therapeutic Area (Oncology, Neurology, Infectious, CVD), Drug Type (Small Molecules, Biologics), End User - Global Forecast to 2030
The global Drug Discovery Services Market is experiencing a period of strong expansion, driven by the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical landscape. Valued at US$14.89 billion in 2024, the market is projected to reach US$16.36 billion in 2025, eventually soaring to US$27.23 billion by 2030, at an impressive CAGR of 10.7%. As R&D pipelines become more sophisticated and drug developers face rising costs and shortened development timelines, outsourcing drug discovery to specialized CROs is becoming a strategic necessity.

Factors such as increasing R&D spending, the rise of rare disease and orphan drug programs, demand for analytical testing services, and high in-house development costs are reshaping the global drug discovery landscape. Meanwhile, technological advancements-including AI, high-throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry, and biologics engineering-continue to enhance the capabilities and value proposition of service providers.

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Market Growth Drivers

The growth of the drug discovery services market is underpinned by several powerful forces:

1. Rising R&D Expenditure

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are increasing investments in research to address chronic diseases, new viral threats, and unmet medical needs. With the global pipeline expanding every year, the need for highly specialized outsourcing partners continues to grow.

2. Increasing Outsourcing of Analytical and Preclinical Services

As molecules become more complex, companies rely on CROs for specialized analytical, structural, and functional assays. This trend is accelerating due to:

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High cost of building in-house labs

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Demand for fast turnaround times

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Regulatory pressures for quality, safety, and data transparency

3. Growth of Orphan Drugs & Rare Disease Research

With regulatory incentives and rising interest in niche therapeutic areas, orphan drug development is expanding. CROs are playing a major role in supporting early discovery of targeted therapies and biologics in these segments.

4. Patent Expiries & Need for Next-Generation Drugs

As major biologics and small molecules face patent cliffs, companies are investing in next-gen therapeutics-further driving demand for drug discovery outsourcing.

5. Technological Innovation

Emerging platforms such as structure-based drug design, combinatorial chemistry, AI-driven screening, and CRISPR gene editing are transforming early-stage discovery and boosting outsourcing opportunities.

Market Segmentation by Service Type

The drug discovery services market is broadly divided into chemistry services and biology services, each playing a critical role across the early-stage research continuum.

Chemistry Services Lead the Market in 2024

In 2024, chemistry services held the largest market share, driven by rapid advancements in:

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Combinatorial chemistry

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Medicinal chemistry

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Structure-based drug design (SBDD)

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Analytical & purification services

The growing demand for high-quality, safe, and effective drug candidates has boosted the adoption of advanced chemistry solutions. CROs specializing in small molecule design, synthesis, lead optimization, and ADME testing continue to be vital partners for biopharma companies worldwide.

Market Segmentation by Drug Type

The market is further segmented into:

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Biologics

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Small molecules

Biologics Are Gaining Momentum

Biologics represent one of the fastest-growing segments, influenced by:

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High cost and manufacturing complexity

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Therapeutic potential across oncology, autoimmune diseases, and rare conditions

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Increasing focus from biopharma companies

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Rising outsourcing of biologics drug discovery to CROs with specialized capabilities

Biopharmaceutical companies increasingly rely on CROs for cell line development, protein engineering, antibody discovery, and preclinical testing-driving consistent growth in this segment.

Regional Analysis: North America Leads, APAC Expands Rapidly

The global drug discovery services market is geographically segmented into:

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North America

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Europe

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Asia Pacific

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Latin America

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Middle East

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Africa

North America Dominates the Market

North America held the largest share in 2024 due to:

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A strong presence of established CROs

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High R&D spending from pharma and biotech companies

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Significant growth in the biologics and biosimilars market

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Technological leadership and innovative research ecosystems

The region remains the global hub for early-stage discovery, oncology research, and advanced biologics development.

Asia Pacific Shows the Fastest Growth

The Asia Pacific (APAC) region is emerging as a hotspot for drug discovery outsourcing. Growth is driven by:

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Expanding pharma and biotech sectors in China, India, and South Korea

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Competitive cost structure

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Growing number of CROs with end-to-end capabilities

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Supportive government policies

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Less-stringent regulatory frameworks for early-stage research

APAC's expanding CRO infrastructure and scientific talent pool make it a preferred destination for small molecule and biologics discovery outsourcing.

Key Market Players

The global drug discovery services market includes several leading CROs and integrated biopharma solution providers. Key companies include:

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Charles River Laboratories (US)

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US)

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WuXi AppTec (China)

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Pharmaron (China)

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Labcorp (US)

Below is an overview of top players and recent strategic developments.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US)

Thermo Fisher offers a comprehensive portfolio of discovery services, supported by:

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Presence in 150+ countries

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Strength in analytical, chemistry, and biologics services

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USD 14B revenue from its Life Sciences Solutions segment in 2024

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The launch of Accelerator Drug Development services in November 2024

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Expansion of its Wisconsin clinical research laboratory (June 2024), adding 72,500 sq. ft. of advanced CMC analytical capabilities

These expansions strengthen its role as a global leader in both CRO and CDMO markets.

Charles River Laboratories (US)

A leading CRO with end-to-end early-stage discovery services, Charles River has strengthened its capabilities through:

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Acquisition of SAMDI Tech (2023) for label-free HTS technologies

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Partnership with NJ Bio (2025) to combine ADC discovery, bioconjugation, and manufacturing expertise

This partnership positions Charles River as a premier provider of integrated ADC discovery solutions.

WuXi AppTec (China)

WuXi AppTec is a global powerhouse with R&D and manufacturing sites across:

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China

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US

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Germany

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Iceland

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Israel

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Korea

Key growth initiatives include:

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Investment of USD 1.43B in a new Singapore R&D and manufacturing facility

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Expansion of toxicological capabilities at its Suzhou facility

The company's focus on capacity expansion, innovation, and global reach continues to strengthen its competitive position.

Pharmaron (China)

Pharmaron is a leading fully integrated CRO offering:

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Medicinal chemistry

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Biology services

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Preclinical development

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API manufacturing

Recent expansion efforts include:

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Acquisition of Recipharm's Commercial API Manufacturing Facility (UK) in 2022

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Integration with existing cGMP capabilities at Hoddesdon to provide complete end-to-end chemistry and manufacturing services

Pharmaron's balanced strategy of organic and inorganic growth continues to increase its global footprint.

Conclusion

The Drug Discovery Services Market is poised for transformative growth as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies continue to expand their pipelines, focus on complex biologics, and embrace outsourcing to enhance speed, efficiency, and innovation. With rising demand for personalized medicine, specialized testing, and next-generation therapies, CROs will continue to serve as essential partners in accelerating drug development worldwide.

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