European Mass Spectrometry Markets Show Promising Growth Due To Increased Awareness

The European mass spectrometry (MS) markets face a range of challenges such as product pricing and limited funding from the private sector. However, technological advances, mounting awareness of their role in clinical diagnostics and a widening application base are set to promote the uptake of MS instruments over the next few years.


New analysis from Frost & Sullivan , Opportunities for the European Mass Spectrometry Market in Clinical Applications, finds that the market earned revenues of USD 562.0 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach USD 1,078.8 million in 2014.


"The European MS markets will be driven by the ongoing implementation of competitive strategies, including the hybridisation of existing spectrometric techniques (Tandem MS) for accurate throughput results," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Suraj Ramanathan. "In the clinical diagnostic sector, areas such as biomarker identification and automated genotyping have exhibited a phenomenal increase in the usage of hybrid MS instruments."


Currently, Tandem MS is the most powerful tool in the identification of peptides and proteins for proteomics and drug discovery research. With higher resolution and accuracy standards being of prime importance for researchers and physicians, hybrid MS systems offer a potential strategy to attain greater market presence.


One of the most important challenges faced by market participants relates to the stabilisation of product pricing. R&D costs tend to be extremely high. Therefore, to recoup their outlay and make sizeable profits, manufacturers are compelled to price their instruments at relatively high levels.


"To make adequate returns after incurring expenditure on various external factors such as production, sales and marketing, manufacturers are being forced to increase the price of such analytical instruments," adds Ramanathan. "In turn, researchers are having to compromise on their funds to obtain quality data coupled with faster throughput results."


To succeed in this market, companies should form favourable partnerships, alliances or investigate mergers and acquisitions. Owing to the rising R&D investments in life sciences and bioinstrumentation, market participants stand to benefit by merging or partnering with other companies, thereby reducing their expenditure. Other advantages of this strategy include an exchange of basic technology and building a broader customer base, together with a stronger sales and distribution network.


Opportunities for the European Mass Spectrometry Market in Clinical Applications is part of the Drug Discovery Technologies Growth Partnership Services Programme, which also includes research in the following markets: European Molecular Diagnostics Markets, European IVD Market, European Cancer Diagnostic Market and European Primary Care Diagnostics. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.


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