세계 방사선 치료 시장 규모는 2024년 71억 달러에 달했습니다. 향후 IMARC Group은 이 시장이 2033년까지 99억 달러에 달할 것으로 예상하며, 2025년부터 2033년까지 3.8%의 CAGR을 기록할 것으로 전망하고 있습니다. 현재 북미가 시장을 독점하고 있으며, 2024년 시장 점유율은 35.8%를 초과했습니다. 이 시장은 암 발병률 증가, 급속한 기술 발전, 종양 표적화 정확도 향상, 의료비 상승, 비침습적 암 치료 대안으로서 방사선 치료의 장점에 대한 인식 증가 등 다양한 요인에 의해 성장하고 있습니다.
암 발병률 증가는 방사선 치료 시장의 주요 요인 중 하나입니다. 암은 전 세계적으로 사망률 증가의 원인이 되고 있으며, 매년 수백만 건의 암이 진단되고 있습니다. 2024년 미국에서 새롭게 암 진단을 받은 환자는 약 2,001,140명, 사망자는 611,720명으로 예상됩니다. 이러한 부하의 증가는 방사선 치료와 같은 더 나은 치료법의 필요성을 높이고 있습니다. 이는 건강한 조직에 대한 피해를 최소화하면서 악성 세포를 정확하게 표적화할 수 있기 때문입니다. 또한, 암의 위험은 나이가 들어감에 따라 증가하기 때문에 노령인구의 증가는 이러한 필요성에 박차를 가하고 있습니다. 이와는 별도로 정부와 의료 기관은 암을 치료 가능한 단계에서 발견하기 위한 인식 개선 프로그램과 조기 검진 프로그램을 시작하고 있으며, 이는 방사선 치료의 사용을 촉진하고 있습니다.
미국은 급속한 기술 발전과 헬스케어에 대한 정부 지출로 인해 시장 파괴자 중 하나가 되었습니다. 비침습적 치료 옵션의 채택도 미국을 돋보이게 하고 있습니다. 미국 시장은 최첨단 방사선 기술 도입의 최전선에 있으며, 이는 시장 성장을 크게 촉진하고 있습니다. 최근 양성자 치료 시설의 수와 지리적 확대가 진행되어 미국 내에서만 40개 이상의 시설이 운영되고 있어 환자 접근성이 향상되고, 임상 데이터 수집 능력과 다기관 임상 연구 참여 능력이 비약적으로 향상되고 있습니다. 또한, 2023년까지 7.5% 증가하여 4조 8,000억 달러로 확대될 것으로 예상되는 미국의 의료비 지출 증가는 미국 방사선 치료 성장의 주요 원동력이 되고 있습니다. 또한, 연구, 혁신, 의료 접근성 강화를 통해 암 사망률을 낮추기 위한 '암 문샷(Cancer Moonshot)' 이니셔티브와 같은 연방 정부 프로그램이 시장 확대에 박차를 가하고 있습니다. 이러한 자금 지원의 증가는 최첨단 방사선 치료 시스템을 갖춘 암 전문 센터의 설립으로 이어지고 있습니다.
기술 발전
영상유도암치료(IGRT), 세기변조암치료(IMRT) 등 최근 방사선 치료 산업의 발전과 기술은 암 치료의 정확성과 효과를 높여 시장 성장에 일조하고 있습니다. IGRT에서는 치료와 치료 사이에 이동이 있더라도 방사선 치료 세션 동안 종양이 정확하게 조준되고 있는지 확인하기 위해 실시간 영상 진단을 사용합니다. 이를 통해 의사는 치료 중 빔 강도를 조절하여 인접한 건강한 조직에 대한 피폭을 줄이면서 종양의 모양에 맞게 방사선량을 조절할 수 있습니다. 또한, IAEA는 2020년 4월, 자궁경부 및 폐의 악성 종양에 대한 완화 치료를 개선하고 증상을 완화하고 질병의 진행을 늦추기 위해 정위분할조사(SFRT)가 어떻게 개선되는지 조사하기 위한 연구를 시작했습니다. 유럽에서 가장 종합적인 기술 방사선 치료 플랫폼을 보유한 퀴리 연구소는 프랑스를 대표하는 양성자 치료 센터입니다. 2023년, Institut Curie는 기술 플랫폼의 현대화를 촉진하고 환자에게 가장 혁신적이고 획기적인 기술을 제공하기 위한 대규모 투자 계획을 포함한 광범위한 방사선 치료 프로그램을 시작할 예정입니다. 이 대규모 계획에는 6년간 5,600만 유로(5,898만 달러)가 투자되며, 모든 방사선 치료 장비와 퀴리 연구소의 모든 기지가 대상이며, 파리, 생클로드, 오르세 전 기지가 대상입니다.
방사선 치료에 인공지능(AI) 통합
AI 기술은 계획 프로세스의 간소화, 방사선 조사의 정확도 향상, 치료 스케줄의 최적화에 활용되고 있습니다. 머신러닝(ML) 알고리즘은 이미지와 치료 기록의 대규모 데이터세트를 분석하여 패턴을 식별하고, 환자 개개인에 맞는 최적의 치료 접근법을 예측할 수 있습니다. AI는 다양한 방사선 치료에 대한 환자 반응 예측 모델 개발에도 활용되고 있으며, 지속적인 세션에 대한 환자의 반응에 따라 치료를 조정하는 적응형 방사선 치료에 사용될 수 있습니다. 방사선사는 40년 동안 약 225,000건의 MRI/CT 검사를 보았지만, AI는 225,000건의 스캔으로 시작해 단기간에 수백만 건의 스캔에 도달할 수 있도록 훈련할 수 있습니다. 이를 통해 업무의 효율성을 높이고, 더 많은 사람들에게 의료 서비스를 제공할 수 있으며, 방사선 치료 시장의 수익을 향상시킬 수 있습니다.
맞춤형 의료로의 전환
방사선 치료 시장은 암 치료에서 맞춤형 의료로 나아가는 움직임의 증가에도 큰 영향을 받고 있습니다. 치료 효과에 영향을 미칠 수 있는 유전적, 표현형적, 환경적 요인에 따라 방사선량과 스케줄을 맞춤화하는 것은 개별화 의료 접근의 한 요소로, 환자 개개인의 특성에 맞는 치료를 목표로 합니다. 환자 맞춤형 치료에 중점을 둠으로써 의료진은 치료 효과를 높이고 부작용 발생을 줄일 수 있습니다. Personalized Medicine Coalition(Personalized Medicine Coalition)의 조사에 따르면, 미국 시장에서 이용할 수 있는 맞춤형 의약품의 수는 2016년부터 2020년까지 증가하였다고 합니다. 이들 의약품은 132개에서 2019년에는 286개로 증가했으며, FDA가 승인한 전체 신약의 25%를 차지합니다. 이는 2005년 5%에서 크게 증가한 수치입니다. 이러한 성장은 방사선 치료 시장 점유율을 높이고 있습니다.
The global radiotherapy market size was valued at USD 7.1 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group estimates the market to reach USD 9.9 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.8% during 2025-2033. North America currently dominates the market, holding a market share of over 35.8% in 2024. The market is growing due to a variety of factors, including rising cancer incidence, rapid technological improvements, improved tumor targeting accuracy, rising healthcare costs, and increased awareness of the advantages of radiotherapy as a non-invasive cancer treatment alternative.
The growing incidence of cancer is one of the primary factors of the radiotherapy market. Cancer is a growing cause of mortality worldwide, with millions of cases diagnosed each year. It is expected that in 2024, there would be around 2,001,140 new instances of cancer diagnosed in the United States, with 611,720 individuals dying from the same. This growing load raises the need for better treatment options such as radiotherapy. It is a key component of cancer treatment because it can precisely target malignant cells while inflicting minimum harm to healthy tissues. Additionally, the expanding geriatric population contributes to this need, as the risk of cancer grows with age. Aside from this, governments and health care organizations are launching awareness programs and early screening initiatives to detect cancer at treatable stages, which is promoting the use of radiotherapy.
The United States is one market disruptor because of rapid technological advancement, and government expenditure on healthcare. The adoption of non-invasive treatment options also sets it apart. The US market is at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge radiation technology, which has greatly boosted the market growth. Recently, the numerical and geographic expansion of proton treatment facilities, with over 40 operating centers in the United States alone, has resulted in enhanced patient access as well as an exponential increase in the capacity to collect clinical data and complete participation in multicenter clinical studies. Furthermore, the growing healthcare expenditure in the United States, which is expected to expand 7.5% to $4.8 trillion by 2023, is a key driver of radiotherapy growth in the country. Moreover, federal programs like the Cancer Moonshot initiative that work to reduce cancer mortality rates through enhanced research, innovation, and access to care is fueling the market expansion. This increased funding has led to the establishment of specialized cancer centers equipped with state-of-the-art radiotherapy systems.
Technological Advancements
Recent advancements and technologies in the radiotherapy industry, such image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), have increased the accuracy and efficacy of cancer treatments, which has aided in the market growth. IGRT involves the use of real-time imaging in order to ensure that the tumor is precisely targeted during radiation therapy sessions even in cases when there is movement between treatments. This enables doctors to adjust the radiation dosage by adjusting the beam intensity during therapy, thereby fitting the radiation dose to the shape of the tumor while reducing exposure to adjacent healthy tissues. Additionally, the IAEA launched a research in April 2020 to investigate how Stereotactic Fractionated Radiotherapy (SFRT) might improve palliative care for cervical and lung malignancies with the goal of reducing symptoms and delaying the course of the disease, which is assisting in boosting the market growth. With Europe's most comprehensive technical radiotherapy platform, Institut Curie is France's leading proton therapy center. In 2023, Institut Curie planned to launch a broad-ranging radiotherapy program involving a major investment plan to boost the modernization of its technical platform and offer its patients the most innovative and groundbreaking techniques. This major plan involves 56 million euros (USD 58.98 Million) invested over 6 years, covering all radiotherapy equipment and all Institut Curie sites: Paris, Saint-Cloud and Orsay.
Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Radiotherapy
AI technologies are being used to streamline the planning process, improve the accuracy of radiation dosing, and optimize treatment schedules. Machine learning (ML) algorithms can analyse large datasets of imaging and treatment records to identify patterns and predict optimal treatment approaches tailored to individual patients. AI is also being utilized to develop predictive models for patient responses to various radiation therapies, which can be used in adaptive radiotherapy to adjust treatments based on the patient's response to ongoing sessions. Radiologists look at approximately 225,000 MRI/CT exams in 40 years, while AI can start with 225,000 scans to train itself and reach millions of scans within a very short period of time. This will streamline operations and expand healthcare services to a larger population, thereby boosting radiotherapy market revenue.
Shift Toward Personalized Medicine
The market for radiotherapy is also majorly impacted by the increasing movement toward individualized medicine in cancer treatment. Customizing radiation doses and schedules based on genetic, phenotypic, and environmental factors that may impact treatment response is a component of personalized medicine approaches, which aim to tailor medical treatment to each patient's unique characteristics. By focusing on tailored patient care, healthcare practitioners can boost treatment efficacy and decrease the occurrence of adverse side effects. According to a survey by the Personalized Medicine Coalition, the number of customized medications available in the US market grew between 2016 and 2020. These medications increased from 132 to 286 in 2019, making up 25% of all new pharmaceuticals authorized by the FDA. This is a substantial increase from 5% in 2005. This growth is boosting the radiotherapy market share.
External beam radiation therapy leads the market with around 62.0% of market share in 2024. According to radiotherapy industry market research, the increasing demand for external beam radiation treatment (EBRT) is fueled by its adaptability and efficiency in precisely treating a variety of tumors. Accordingly, EBRT continues to be the most widely used type of radiotherapy because it can precisely target tumors with high-energy beams while causing the least amount of harm to nearby healthy tissues. Additionally, the introduction of technologically sophisticated systems such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiation therapy has greatly boosted the appeal of EBRT and created a favorable outlook for market expansion.
Breast cancer lead the market with around 28.8% of market share in 2024. Radiotherapy's efficacy as a standard post-operative therapeutic strategy to prevent tumor recurrence in breast cancer represents a crucial factor driving its market demand. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 670,000 deaths globally in 2022. This increasing incidence of breast cancer globally necessitates effective treatment modalities, and radiotherapy is recognized for its critical role in the early and advanced stages of the disease. It is particularly effective in conserving the breast in cases of early-stage breast cancer, often used following lumpectomy to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells and significantly reduce the risk of cancer returning. Additionally, radiotherapy also helps alleviate symptoms and control tumor growth in advanced metastatic cases, which is further boosting its demand.
As per the radiotherapy market report, its demand in ambulatory and radiotherapy centers is driven by an increasing preference for outpatient care settings, which offer cost-efficiency, convenience, and reduced patient burden compared to in-hospital treatments. Ambulatory care centers are particularly appealing because they enable patients to receive high-quality, specialized care without the need for overnight hospital stays. Additionally, these centers can often provide services at a lower cost than traditional hospital settings due to their specialized nature and efficiency in managing specific treatments like radiotherapy. This cost-effectiveness attracts patients and healthcare payers seeking to manage expenditures. Furthermore, the proliferation of radiotherapy centers and technological advancements that make sophisticated radiotherapy equipment more compact and affordable, are propelling the market forward.
In 2024, North America accounted for the largest market share of over 35.8%. The demand for radiotherapy in North America is propelled by numerous factors such as well-established healthcare infrastructure, robust funding for cancer research, and the high prevalence of cancer. North America boosts some of the world's leading cancer research facilities and hospitals, which adopt and also develop cutting-edge radiotherapy technologies. In addition to this, the region benefits from substantial healthcare spending both from the public and private sectors, allowing for significant investments in advanced medical equipment and treatment modalities. Furthermore, there is a strong focus on early cancer detection and screening programs, which identify patients who can benefit from early intervention using radiotherapy, which is impelling the market growth.
United States Radiotherapy Market Analysis
In North America, the United States held a market share of over 85.00% in 2024. High cancer incidence rates and improvements in treatment technology exerted an impact on the U.S. radiotherapy market. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.9 million new cases of cancer were recorded in 2023. Additionally, the national health spending is projected to rise from USD 4.8 trillion in 2023 to USD 7.7 trillion by 2032, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In actuality, this highlights the pressing need for sophisticated and affordable therapies like radiotherapy. The adoption of novel radiation treatments is being further accelerated by initiatives such as the National Cancer Moonshot, which aims to double the rate of improvements in cancer research and treatment. Repute players like Varian and Elekta are introducing AI-powered radiotherapy systems, which would help improve accuracy and patient outcomes. The actual utilization of proton therapy centers saw a rise of 30% in the period between 2020 and 2023, reflecting the growing demand for specialized cancer treatments in the region.
Europe Radiotherapy Market Analysis
Europe's radiotherapy market is strewn with a mighty emphasis on cancer care and sizeable government funding for innovation in healthcare. Cancer remains the second cause of death in Europe with approximately 2.7 million new cases every year. The European Union has allocated USD 5.31 Billion to health programs under Horizon Europe for 2021-2027. Such funds are bound to nudge acceptance of advanced radiotherapy equipment. The leading nations are Germany, France, and the UK, investing significant amounts in proton therapy and stereotactic radiotherapy technologies. The acceleration in this market has been further driven by a surge in non-invasive treatments and the fulfilment of the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR). The ESTRO indicated that in 2014, there were more than 2,192 linear accelerators across 27 European countries, with a significant increase in modern linear accelerators in recent years. By 2023, more than 75% of radiation oncology centers in Europe used modern linacs and ensured better patient access to precision therapy.
Asia Pacific Radiotherapy Market Analysis
Asia Pacific is one of the fastest-growing regions in terms of radiotherapy due to incidence of cancer, improved healthcare infrastructure, and growing awareness. Government initiatives, such as India's National Cancer Grid and China's Healthy China 2030 plan, form the very basis of the increasing adoption of advanced radiotherapy equipment. The region also sees massive private investment, with Japan and South Korea always at the forefront of their own research in proton therapy. According to an industrial report, China saw a 40% increase in installations of linear accelerators from 2018 to 2023. In India, oncology centers continue to adopt brachytherapy solutions at a rapid pace. Collaborative projects, such as Elekta's training programs for radiotherapists in the region, are tackling the shortage of skilled workforce to make such treatments more widely accessible.
Latin America Radiotherapy Market Analysis
The radiotherapy market in Latin America is expanding due to rising cancer rates and efforts to improve access to healthcare in the region. Brazil and Mexico capture the largest market share, with an increasing number of radiotherapy installations in public and private hospitals. In August 2024, Elekta (a Swedish Company) received a USD 64 Million order for advanced linear accelerators and the Elekta Esprit Gamma Knife from Mexico's Hospital Angeles Health System. This reflects the country's increased efforts to improve cancer care across the nation. Medical tourism in Costa Rica and Colombia is also on the rise, and clinics have taken up state-of-the-art systems to attract international patients. Such development indicates that the region is committed to managing their carcinogenic burdens effectively.
Middle East and Africa Radiotherapy Market Analysis
The radiotherapy market in Middle East and Africa is on the growth trajectory based on government initiatives and private investments in healthcare. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reports that the African region recorded around 1.1 Million new cancer cases in the year 2020, and the burden would continue to grow with population increase and exposure to more risk factors. The Vision 2030 initiative in Saudi Arabia and the National Cancer Strategic Framework 2022-2027 in South Africa are also promoting the adoption of radiotherapy. There is also an effort to increase access by like-minded global firms partnering with local delivery providers; a case in point is the partnership by Elekta to train radiotherapists in sub-Saharan Africa. Rising telemedicine adoption and mobile health platforms further support treatment planning and follow-ups, enhancing patient outcomes.
The competitive landscape is characterized by the presence of prominent radiotherapy companies who are engaged in fierce competition through technological innovation, mergers, and acquisitions, and expansion into emerging markets. They are developing advanced radiotherapy systems with enhanced precision and adaptability and leveraging their broad technological portfolios and strong global presence to enhance their market share and penetrate new geographical regions. Additionally, specialized companies are focusing on niche technologies like brachytherapy and compact proton therapy systems, respectively to offer tailored solutions that meet specific clinical needs and gain a competitive edge in the market.