The electrocompetent cells market has witnessed significant growth owing to the increasing adoption of electrocompetent cells in recombinant DNA technology. Electrocompetent cells are bacteria or other cells that have been treated to become responsive to an electric pulse, allowing them to take up extracellular DNA from their surroundings. This process is called electroporation and is widely utilized for bacterial transformation during DNA cloning and recombinant protein production. Some key advantages of electrocompetent cells include their high transformation efficiency, stable maintenance of recombinant DNA, and minimal cytotoxic effects. The growing volume of research in the areas of genomics, proteomics, and drug discovery is driving the demand for electrocompetent cells.
The Global Electrocompetent Cells Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2.07 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 10.% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the electrocompetent cells market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Merck KGaA, Agilent Technologies, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., New England Biolabs, Inc., GenScript Biotech Corporation, Lucigen Corporation, Takara Bio Inc., Delphi Genetics S.A., IBA GmbH, Scarab Genomics LLC, Zymo Research Corporation, Bioline GmbH (Meridian Bioscience), and SelectScience. The increasing funding for genomic and proteomic research from both private and public sources is fueling the demand for electrocompetent cells. Technological advancements such as the development of ultra-competent cells with transformation efficiencies above 10^9 cfu/μg DNA and enhanced stability are further expanding the application scope of electrocompetent cells.
Market Trends
One of the key trends in the electrocompetent cells market is the increased adoption of Gibco's electrocompetent DH5α E. coli and Shuffle T7 Express E. coli strains for molecular cloning applications. Their high transformation efficiency and stability of cloned DNA has made them popular choices. Another trend is the development of electrocompetent yeast strains such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris for plasmid DNA expression. These strains enable fast, scalable, and economical recombinant protein production.
Market Opportunities
The growing focus on precision medicine and pharmacogenomics will drive personalized therapy research, thereby augmenting opportunities for electrocompetent cells. Furthermore, advancements in single-cell omics technologies will support applications in stem cell research, cancer genetics, and neuroscience - presenting lucrative prospects. Continuous improvements to enhance transformation efficiency, stability, and scalability through engineering of novel strains also present opportunities for electrocompetent cell manufacturers.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Electrocompetent Cells Market
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the growth of the electrocompetent cells market in the initial months of 2020. Government imposed lockdowns and restrictions on manufacturing and supply chain disrupted the market. Research activities and clinical trials were put on hold as all focus shifted towards controlling the spread of the virus. This decline in usage of electrocompetent cells for research and production of therapeutic proteins reduced the demand for electrocompetent cells temporarily. However, as research resumed later in the year, the demand started to recover. The need for development of vaccines and therapeutic drugs against COVID-19 also boosted the market growth.
Several companies adopted strategies like supply chain optimization, virtual training for research scholars to ensure uninterrupted supply. The demand is expected to increase further in the coming years as more focus is given on infectious disease research and development of rapid point-of-care diagnostics. The funding into SARS-CoV-2 and other coronavirus research will drive the consumption of electrocompetent cells. Companies are ensuring adequate stock and diversifying suppliers to cater to future pandemics.
The electrocompetent cells market is experiencing fastest growth in Latin America led by Brazil. Growing biologics industry, focus on scientific innovation and increasing RD spending are stimulating demand. Domestic manufacturing will reduce import dependence and provide cost benefits to local research institutes and startups. Overall increasing focus on precision medicine and cell therapies offers robust opportunities for the electrocompetent cells market globally over the forecast period.