Oncology Based In-vivo CRO Market Size & Share 2025 – 2034

Oncology Based In-vivo CRO Market Size

The oncology based in-vivo CRO market size valued at USD 1.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to exhibit 8.8% CAGR from 2025 – 2034. The market is predicted to expand in light of the growing interest in immuno-oncology therapies, the improvement in in vivo models, and the increase in relatively small biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies' oncology drug approvals.

The small biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies' relative dominance in oncology drug approvals is substantially contributing to the growth in the oncology in-vivo CRO market. These companies are leading cancer treatment development competing with CAR T cell therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and gene therapies. They are also able to address marketing gaps, which makes them even more appealing. The NCBI published data indicates that within those years small pharmaceutical companies were the leaders of U.S. FDA oncology drug approvals, gaining over three times more FIC medications than larger organizations, which accounts for a 46% share compared to a 14% market share for large pharmaceutical companies.
 

Oncology-based vivo CRO serves small pharmaceutical companies by outsourcing the complicated preclinical and early-stage research activities for cancer medications. This includes a lot of in vivo research to determine performance, safety, pharmacokinetics, and potential adverse effects of oncology medicine.
 

Oncology Based In-vivo CRO Market Trends

·       Cancer medication development is being driven by numerous factors, including biomedical engineering, unmet needs, CRO proactivity, and the use of artificial intelligence, among many others. These changes imply that the oncology CRO market needs to adjust and find new approaches for applying newer developments in cancer research.
 

·       The use of syngeneic models, which support immunocompetent systems, is becoming vital due to the increase in immune-oncology studies from the demand in CAR T and immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies. Such therapies have increased the demand for in-vivo studies to better understand immune-oncology relationships.
 

·       Niche areas of focus are assisting specialized CROs to flourish, as start-ups and mid-sized biotech companies are outsourcing preclinical research to the CROs due to reduced costs and greater expertise.
 

·       In-vivo studies are being enhanced with AI and ML for algorithmic data analysis, enhanced model predictability, and shorter study periods. PET and MRI combined with AI helps provide real-time information on tumor growth and the effectiveness of treatment, greatly improving the data analysis process.
 

·       For instance, in February 2021 Charles River Laboratories formed a strategic partnership with Kibur Medical with the goal of gaining exclusive access to Kibur's implantable microdevice to aid in vivo preclinical oncology studies. As a result, these new devices will help improve the assessment of oncology compounds alone and in combination therapies.
 

Oncology Based In-vivo CRO Market Analysis

Based on service, the market is segmented into preclinical testing, efficacy testing, toxicology studies, pharmacokinetics, and other services. Preclinical testing segment dominate the market with a share of 33.2% in 2024.
 

• The preclinical testing segment leads the oncology-based in-vivo CRO market owing to its fundamental importance in the drug development cycle. Before undertaking clinical trials, all these organizations- U.S. FDA and EMA- require a test phase to be conducted. This ensures that drug candidates are safe and effective enough for use in humans. This phase of clinical study is vital for drug development as it gives information about potential candidates’ toxicity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and therapeutic indices.
   
• Furthermore, preclinical testing is on the rise because many new candidates are emerging into the market space, especially in the oncology category. Biotech and pharmaceutical firms, both small and large, are investing heavily in cancer treatments especially in immuno-oncology and targeted therapy as well as other therapeutic areas, which furthers the need of preclinical studies. A study conducted by American Health and Drug Benefits and published by National Center for Biotechnology Information in December 2021 shows that approximately 75 % of pharmaceutical R&D went into Oncology.
   

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Based on model, the oncology based in-vivo CRO market is segmented into xenograft, syngeneic, other models. The xenograft is further sub-segmented as patient derived xenograft, cell-line derived xenograft, and other xenografts. The xenograft segment held a dominating share of 48.2% in the oncology-based in-vivo CRO market in 2024.
 

• The crucial factors contributing to the leading share of xenograft are their capability to mimic the human tumor biology to a matchless degree and deliver deep insights into cancer drug discovery. In xenograft models, human tumor cells or tissues are implanted into severely immunodeficient mice, offering a more accurate representation of human cancer biology than any other existing models.
   
• In addition, there is a global surge in the demand for xenograft models because of the increase in immunotherapy research, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies.
   
• Furthermore, since these models are directly made from patient tumor tissues, they help aid the precision oncology drug development, decreasing the amount of time needed to create effective cancer treatments due to the fact that the genetic, molecular and histological properties of the original tumor are preserved.
   

Based on end user, the oncology based in-vivo CRO market is segmented into pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and other end users. The pharmaceutical companies segment dominated the market with a share of about 52.1% in the year 2024.
 

• The relatively high revenue from cancer therapies has encouraged pharmaceutical companies to depend on CROs for ongoing research and development activities. As a result, these have become the largest end-users of oncology in-vivo CRO services. For instance, according to a NCBI study in January 2022, these top 10 global pharmaceutical companies increased their cancer drug sales revenues by 70% over the last decade.
   
• The growing cancer public health concern has led pharmaceutical companies to increasingly shift towards multi-drug regimens. Such regimens are associated with the need for extensive in-vivo testing to assess efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics. In particular, in-vivo CROs specializing in combination therapy evaluations have become prospective business partners for these companies.
   

In 2024, the U.S. led the North American oncology based in vivo CRO market, generating a revenue of about USD 509 million.
 

• The country's absolute domination is mainly due to large investments into cancer research, and the concentration of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For example, as of now, NIH spends roughly USD 65 billion for cancer based research in US, according to American Society of Clinical Oncology.
   
• In addition, The United States has on its market leading companies in oncology such as Pfizer, Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Amgen. These companies develop these drugs and fund preclinical and in-vivo studies through offshore CROs that offer in-vivo tests.
   
• Moreover, the FDA has accelerated the approval of many new oncology drugs in clinical stage pipelines and granted orphan drugs designation which drove the need for preclinical studies and pharmacokinetics in the US.
   

The UK is set to see a robust expansion in its oncology based in-vivo CRO market from 2025 to 2034.
 

• The rising number of cancer cases in the U.K drive the demand for more sophisticated cancer therapies, which also increases the need for in vivo oncology studies for contract research organizations in the country. According to data provided by Cancer Research UK, more than 385,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed in the UK per year.
   
• The UK also houses some of the world's leading research institutions such as Oxford University, the University of Cambridge and The Institute of Cancer Research. The combination of these top research institutions and increasing funding put towards developing new oncology therapies boosts the revenue in ONCO based in-vivo CRO market in the UK.
   
• For instance, as reported by UKRI, in October 2024, Innovate UK and OLS announced additional funding to further support innovation in cancer treatment. As a part of the advancing precision medicines competition, Innovate UK and OLS have committed to invest USD 4.2 million into six projects. This funding is in agreement with the Life Sciences Vision Cancer Mission. This announcement lays after the 2023 initiative where seven projects focusing on cancer received funding totaling USD 4.73 million.
   

Japan oncology-based in-vivo CRO market is set for lucrative growth from 2025 to 2034.
 

• Japan oncology-based in-vivo CRO market is gaining traction with support from governmental cancer research initiatives to tackle the growing aging populace and increasing cancer cases. A good illustration is the US and Japan's launching of the US–Japan CoRe Partnership in April 2021, in which both governments pledged to advance cancer research in their countries.
   
• Additionally, Japan is also a leading country in the development of immunity oncology therapy products like immune checkpoint inhibitors and cancer vaccine therapies, which require significant pre-clinical studies with in-vivo models. A good example would be ONO's securing of additional indications for Opdivo in Japan in February 2024, where it will be used for the treatment of unresectable advanced or recurrent malignant epithelial tumors.
   

Saudi Arabia oncology-based in-vivo CRO market is expected to witness substantial growth during the forecast period.
 

• The Saudi Arabian region is developing a new biotechnology industry focusing on cancer. Biotech companies in the region are working on new cancer treatments which require sophisticated pre-clinical tests. Many of these companies contract the work to CROs specializing in in-vivo models.
   
• Additionally, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has an important role when it comes to the development oncology drugs in Saudi Arabia, and here the incorporative actions of SFDA alongside drug regulators like the FDA and EMA have contributed positively and expedited the approval process of oncology drugs into the market, whereas they put emphasis on the preclinical work up test, involving rigorous in-vivo and clinical test on the patients.
   

Oncology Based In-vivo CRO Market Share

The global oncology specific in-vivo CRO market is characterized by strong competition from international and regional companies. The market is fragmented as there are many companies that provide specialized services for various segments of in-vivo including pre-clinical studies, efficacy tests, safety tests, and pharmacokinetics. Established bigger CROs have a presence across the globe, however, many smaller and mid-tier companies offer services specialized for specific regions owing to their detailed understanding of the local needs in oncology research. In addition, niche areas like immune-oncology and preclinical efficacy studies are increasingly being sought by smaller CROs, adding to the already diversifying range of specialized services.
 

• Charles River Laboratories has emerged as a leading provider of immuno-oncology models and humanized oncology in-vivo models, claiming a key position in the global oncology ecosystem. Their experienced specialists in tumor characterization ensure that precise preclinical results are generated for oncology therapeutics.
   
• Taconic Biosciences has established itself as an industry leader in in-vivo studies, specializing in the production and commercialization of genetically engineered mouse and rat models. New immuno-oncology platforms and rapid model development give researchers competitive advantages in the oncology drug discovery process.
   
• WuXi AppTec offers a wide range of oncology in-vivo CRO services, which include advanced facilities and AI-assisted analytics. This integrated strategy enables efficient study design, high-throughput screening, and improved translational research for cancer therapeutics.
   
• Thermo Fisher Scientific possesses a vast array of reagents, instruments, and in-vivo research services to conduct preclinical oncology studies. These end-to-end solutions give peace of mind to oncology clients from all over the world, as they ensure easy, reliable, and reproducible data.
   

Oncology Based In-vivo CRO Market Companies

Some of the eminent market participants operating in the oncology based in-vivo CRO industry include:

• Charles River Laboratories
• Crown Bioscience
• Eurofins Scientific
• Evotec SE
• ICON plc
• IMV
• Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
• Medidata 
• Merck KGaA
• OncoOne
• Pharmaron
• Taconic Biosciences
• The Jackson Laboratory
• Thermo Fisher Scientific
• WuXi AppTec.
   

Oncology Based In-vivo CRO Industry News:

• In November 2023, Charles River Laboratories announced a partnership with Aitia. Under the agreement, Aitia gained access to Logica, an AI driven drug solution development platform owned by Charles River. The aim was to enhance discovery and early development of non complicated oncology and neurodegeneration therapeutics programs.
   
• In October 2024, Crown Bioscience, a San Diego, California based global contract research organization (CRO) in a partnership with JSR Life Sciences and JSR Corporation of Japan, announced the expansion of their facility in Singapore. The expansion includes advanced oncology research models and modern imaging technology.
   

The oncology based in-vivo CRO market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD Million from 2021 – 2034 for the following segments:

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Market, By Service

• Preclinical testing
• Efficacy testing
• Toxicology studies
• Pharmacokinetics
• Other services

Market, By Model

• Xenograft
  • Patient derived xenograft
  • Cell-line derived xenograft
  • Other xenografts
• Syngeneic
• Other models

Market, By End Use

• Pharmaceutical companies
• Biotechnology companies
• Other end users

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America 
  • U.S.
  • Canada 
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy 
• Asia Pacifi 
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina 
• Middle East and Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE