Adoption of PCR across Europe Spurred by Potential to Advance Drug Discovery

Business Wire, March 13, 2008

LONDON -- A significant number of end users in the genomics and proteomics market are now using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. While the conventional PCR technique is well established, end users are also showing increasing interest in real-time PCR.

Continuous innovation is making this technique more user-friendly and efficient. However, costs associated with instrumentation, servicing contracts and reagents remain areas of concern with end users, particularly price-sensitive academics.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.drugdiscovery.frost.com), European PCR Reagents Market for Research Applications, finds that the market earned revenues of $302.0 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach $520.0 billion in 2014.

"Within the realm of drug discovery and development, PCR technology can help in unravelling the human genome and detecting infectious and hereditary diseases by supporting the need to consistently produce pure samples of genetic material," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Bela Sheth. "Recent revolutions in the drug discovery process have been driven by qPCR's ability to provide real-time quantifications of the amount of DNA/RNA amplified."

Advances in PCR technology that permit the amplification of genetic material within a very short period have heightened expectations of greater uses for the technology. Research applications by academia account for over half the use of PCR, with pharma and biotech companies accounting for the remainder in drug discovery applications. The completion of the human genome project and growing interest in molecular diagnostics will sustain growth in the PCR market.

Intensifying competition and price pressure will characterise the conventional PCR reagents market. On the other hand, end users are becoming increasingly familiar with the benefits of using qPCR. However, the high costs associated with instrumentation and reagents are a major concern for end users.

"PCR has a significant impact on genomics and proteomics, with major scientific breakthroughs and value additions changing the paradigm of drug discovery," explains Sheth. "However, the major question gripping the industry is whether these technologies are cost effective. While they hold great promise, their premium pricing does not justify their use in routine processes."

Numerous growth opportunities are envisioned in the competitive PCR market. However, price has always been a sensitive issue with customers. The cost of instrumentation, servicing contracts and reagents has resulted in this technique being expensive. Therefore, strategies such as installing the instrumentation free or with a minimum charge and binding consumers to servicing contract/reagents can be used to induce consumers to use PCR.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the European PCR Reagents Market for Research Applications, then send an e-mail to Patrick Cairns, Corporate Communications, at pcairns_pr@frost.com, your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

European PCR Reagents Market for Research Applications is part of the Drug Discovery and Diagnostic Technologies Growth Partnership Service programme, which also includes research in the following markets: Contract Research Organisations (CROs) Markets in Europe, Nucleic Acid Isolation Markets in Europe and Advances in Laboratory Automation Markets in Europe. 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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European PCR Reagents Market for Research Applications

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