INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of this market research study is to determine the present market for
microarray biochips, arrayers, scanners and microfluidics chips, and to predict
the future revenues worldwide for these products and the average annual
percentage growth rates. It also explains the current technologies in basic
language, examines developments in each market, and discusses the present and
future issues in the market.
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
While microarrays were invented during the 1980s, they have not come into
significant use until the last couple of years. One of the biggest drivers of
this market has been the completion of the Human Genome Project, probably one of
the most important projects in science. The project was intended to map out the
human genome, and this has been accomplished in parts with the use of microarray
technology. What now remains to be done, and it is an enormous task, is to find
the functions of all of these genes. Researchers estimate that this will take
several years.
Microarrays are critical in the process of determining the function of the
human genome. Because tens of thousands of spots can be placed on one array, and
a different fragment of DNA can be affixed to each spot, this means that tens of
thousands of tests can be run in parallel on one microarray biochip. To
researchers, this has meant speeding up the discovery process many times over,
making tasks that previously would have taken hundreds of machines many years,
into jobs taking one machine perhaps only weeks of research time.
This increased speed of research is affecting several scientific fields in a
strong ripple effect. For example, microarrays, microfluidics, and related
technology are revolutionizing drug discovery, leading to a new paradigm for the
big pharmaceutical companies. Point of care diagnostics is poised to make a leap
forward as microarrays and microfluidics chips become less expensive. Home
diagnosis with disposable chips may become a reality within 10 years, leading
some companies, such as Motorola, to formulate business strategies based upon
the prediction that microarrays will become a bigger market than that for
semi-conductor chips.
Microarray biochips are, in a word, revolutionizing medicine, pharmacological
research, laboratory testing and devices, and diagnostics. This research report
illuminates the exciting possibilities of the surging microarray and
microfluidics markets.
CONTRIBUTION OF THE STUDY AND FOR WHOM
The study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding this new and
fast-growing field, by examining the numbers and reasons for the growth rates
and revenues in each market segment. The report is intended for industry
managers in drug discovery, biotechnology, and medical device and diagnostics
companies.
It is also useful for national and academic research institutions, due to the
overviews of developments in the field. It will also be of use by hospital
administrators, country health care systems managers, health maintenance
organizations, and insurance companies. They need to know how diagnostics and
the prediction and prevention of medicine are likely to change in the near
future, and how these changes will affect health care systems worldwide.
SCOPE AND FORMAT
The market is divided into microarray biochips, arrayers, scanners, and
microfluidics. Arrayers and scanners are used, respectively, to make and to read
microarrays. Although technologically different from microarrays, microfluidics
have been included for two primary reasons: first, because of the intersection
of functions performed by microarrays and microfluidics chips. Second, ongoing
research may lead to development of a type of hybrid microarray/microfluidics
chip.
Microarray biochips are further subdivided into high density (greater than
5,000 spots per array), low density, and custom arrays. Arrayers are subdivided
into pin printers and non-contact arrayers.
The report covers:
the basic technology involved in producing and using these products;
the world markets for each segment;
the predicted growth rates and reasons supporting these predictions;
the impact of the technology upon pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms
and medical device companies;
profiles of the current major players in the industry; and
an appendix for further information.
METHODOLOGY
This report is the result of dozens of interviews with industry managers, as
well as interviews with academicians and inventors in the field. Industry
managers were asked their opinions of the current revenues and future growth
rates of the various segments, as well as upcoming developments and the impact
of these developments on the market. In many cases, as this is such a new
market, the managers stated very impressive growth rates. The numbers in the
report reflect a conservative view of this dynamic market, and yet still
indicate impressive growth during the next five years.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Information sources include industry managers, academicians instrumental in
the development of new technologies in microarrays, microfluidics and related
equipment, and secondary sources such as the Internet, journals, and technical
publications. The primary source in all cases, however, has been managers active
in one market segment or another, around the world.
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