Melanoma Therapeutics Market Size

The Global Melanoma Therapeutics Market reached US$ 5.40 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 8.35 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period 2025-2032.

There are two types of skin cancers, namely melanoma skin cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma skin cancer is the most prevalent form, with cancer developing from melanocytes. Melanoma is most common in populations with white-pigmented skin and is less common in populations with dark-pigmented skin. Based on the location, melanomas can be classified as skin melanoma, uveal melanoma (eye), and mucosal melanoma (nose, throat, genitals, anus, etc.). There are different types of skin melanomas, with superficial spreading melanoma being the most common one, followed by nodular melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, acral melanoma, and others. Most melanomas are caused due to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

The most common symptoms/sign of melanoma is formation of an abnormal mole or the development of existing moles. A checklist is usually followed to physically diagnose melanoma, and it is called ABCDE, which refers to asymmetrical, border, color, diameter, and evolution of moles. 

The treatment for melanoma includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The treatment of choice depends on the stage at which the melanoma is diagnosed.  

Market Dynamics: Drivers & Restraints

The rising prevalence of melanoma

The rising prevalence and incidence of melanoma are the major drivers for market growth in the forecast period. There are several factors contributing to this growth and the major ones are increased exposure to UV radiation, increasing awareness of skin melanoma, and concurrent improvement in diagnosis rate. As per the International Agency for Research on Cancer statistics, in 2023, 339,041 new melanoma cases were reported across the world, and in 2030, the incidence is expected to reach 401,800 cases, which is an increase of 19%. Moreover the 5-year prevalent cases till 2022 were apprximately 1.2 million worldwide.

This increase in incidence and prevalence promotes the development of advanced treatments and also improved the overall treatment rate. This can significantly drive the market growth in future.

Underreporting of melanoma cancer may restrain the market growth.

Of all the cancers, melanoma is one of the most underreported cancers due to its clinical signs. Melanoma starts as a mole, and many people may ignore, considering it as a regular one. This may lead to lower adoption rate of newer treatments. This is especially seen among population with less awareness of melanoma. Underreporting of cases may also impact the resource allocations for product development and strategic plans for market expansion by manufacturers.

Market Segment Analysis

The global melanoma therapeutics market is segmented based on type, therapy and region.

Immunotherapy in the therapy segment is expected to dominate the market

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that is gaining huge traction currently. It involves strengthening the body’s immune responses against cancerous cells. There are different types of immunotherapy drugs, and in melnoma, immune check-point inhibitors are approved and are widely used. These immune check-point inhibitors, block the immune check-point proteins such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 which block the immune cells. By blocking these check-point proteins, immune check-point inhibitors activate the body’s immune cells to fight against cancers.

For melanoma cancer, the approved immune check-point inhibitors are pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), Ipilimumab (Yervoy), Atezolizumab (Tecentriq). The other drugs in this class approved for melanoma treatment are T-VEC (Imlygic) which is an oncolytic virus therapy acting as a local immunotherapy, and the recently approved a tumor-derived autologous T cell immunotherapy called lifileucel (Amtagvi).

Immunotherapy drugs are majorly prescribed as adjuvant treatment option with surgery in stage 1 to stage 4 melanoma cancers. These drugs can be prescribed as monotherapy or in combination based on the severity of melanoma. Moreover, some of these drugs are top selling pharmaceuticals with highest sales. For instance, Keytruda by Merck & Co., Inc. is the top selling drug at present with recorded sales of nearly US$ 25 billion in 2023. Although the drug was approved for various cancer indications, it was first approved for unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Moreover, the combination of Opdivo and Yervoy is widely prescribed in the treatment of advanced stage melanoma. These two drugs are also top selling drugs world wide. Recently in 2022, Opdualag by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company was approved for use in unresectable or metastatic melanoma. The drug has generated US$627 million in 2023 which is the second year of its launch. All these factors reflect the dominance of immunotherapy in melanoma treatment market.

Market Geographical Share

North America is expected to hold a significant share of the melanoma therapeutics market.

North America currently holds a significant market share in the melanoma therapeutics market due to various factors including, higher demand for novel therapies, major revenue generated by market players, and increasing prevalence of melanoma. Any emerging drug is expected to first get launched in the U.S. market due to higher demand, and all the melanoma therapeutics in the current market were first launched in the U.S., providing first access to the patients in the country. Due to higher per-capita income and spending on healthcare, the melanoma treatments are sold at higher prices in the North America market as compared to other nations. Due to this, manufacturers generate a majority of their revenue from the region.

For instance, Opdualag manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has generated US$ 627 million in 2023, out of which 98.5% is from U.S. market. Moreover, Kimmtrak manufactured by Immunocore Holdings plc., which was approved for uveal melanoma has generated 238 million in 2023, of which more than 70% is from U.S. This signifies the dominance of U.S. in the global melanoma therapeutics market.

Major Global Players

The major global players in the melanoma therapeutics market are Merck & Co., Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company., Amgen, Inc., IOVANCE Biotherapeutics, Inc., Novartis AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pfizer Inc., Immunocore Holdings plc., Eisai Co., Ltd., and Delcath Systems, Inc. among others. 

Emerging Players 

The emerging players in the melanoma therapeutics market include Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Moderna, Inc., Immatics N.V., BioNTech SE., Philogen S.p.A., and Shanghai Kechow Pharma, Inc. among others.

Key Developments

  • In February 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided accelerated approval for AMTAGVI (lifileucel) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma previously treated with a PD-1 blocking antibody. AMTAGVI developed by Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a novel polyclonal tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy.
  • In August 2023, the European Commission (EC) approved Opdivo (nivolumab) manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb, as a monotherapy for the treatment of adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with stage IIB or IIC melanoma who have undergone complete resection.
  • In March 2024, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved MEK Inhibitor Kolupin (Tunlametinib) for treating advanced NRAS-mutant melanoma. KeChow Pharma developed Kolupin and is the first MEK inhibitor independently developed in China. 

Why Purchase the Report?

  • Pipeline & Innovations: Reviews ongoing clinical trials, and product pipelines, and forecasts upcoming pharmaceutical advancements.
  • Type Performance & Market Positioning: Analyzes product performance, market positioning, and growth potential to optimize strategies.
  • Real-World Evidence: Integrates patient feedback and data into product development for improved outcomes.
  • Physician Preferences & Health System Impact: Examines healthcare provider behaviors and the impact of health system mergers on adoption strategies.
  • Market Updates & Industry Changes: Covers recent regulatory changes, new policies, and emerging technologies.
  • Competitive Strategies: Analyzes competitor strategies, market share, and emerging players.
  • Pricing & Market Access: Reviews pricing models, reimbursement trends, and market access strategies.
  • Market Entry & Expansion: Identifies optimal strategies for entering new markets and partnerships.
  • Regional Growth & Investment: Highlights high-growth regions and investment opportunities.
  • Supply Chain Optimization: Assesses supply chain risks and distribution strategies for efficient Type delivery.
  • Sustainability & Regulatory Impact: Focuses on eco-friendly practices and evolving regulations in healthcare.
  • Post-market Surveillance: Uses post-market data to enhance product safety and access.
  • Pharmacoeconomics & Value-Based Pricing: Analyzes the shift to value-based pricing and data-driven decision-making in R&D.

 

The global melanoma therapeutics market report would provide approximately 54 tables, 46 figures, and 195 pages.

 

Target Audience 2025

  • Manufacturers: Pharmaceutical, Biotech Companies, Contract Manufacturers, Distributors, Hospitals.
  • Regulatory & Policy: Compliance Officers, Government, Health Economists, Market Access Specialists.
  • Technology & Innovation: R&D Professionals, Clinical Trial Managers, Pharmacovigilance Experts.
  • Investors: Healthcare Investors, Venture Fund Investors, Pharma Marketing & Sales.
  • Consulting & Advisory: Healthcare Consultants, Industry Associations, Analysts.
  • Supply Chain: Distribution and Supply Chain Managers.
  • Consumers & Advocacy: Patients, Advocacy Groups, Insurance Companies.
  • Academic & Research: Academic Institutions.