Digital Pathology Market by Applications (Academic Research, Drug Discovery & Development, and Disease Diagnosis [Cancer Cell Detection and Others]), Products (Software, Storage System, and Device [Slide Management System and Scanners]), End-users (Diagnostic Labs, Biotech & Pharma Companies, Hospitals, and Academic & Research Institutes), and Regions (Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast 2021 – 2028

The global digital pathology market size is anticipated to register a considerable CAGR during the forecast period, 2021-2028. The growth of the market is attributed to the increased emphasis on enhancing workflow efficiency as well as the demand for better diagnostic tools for chronic disease conditions.

Digital pathology is a subspecialty of pathology that focuses on data management using data acquired from digitized specimen slides. With the use of computer-based technologies, digital pathology performs virtual microscopy. Despite the fact that the basic viewing capabilities have remained relatively unchanged, digital pathology has resulted in considerable advances in pathology lab efficiency, workflow, and revenue. The user can transform glass slides into digital slides that can be managed, shared, examined, and analyzed on a computer monitor using digital pathology. The interpretation and quantification of biomarker expression within tissue slices can also be aided by automated image analysis methods. Digital pathology is used in healthcare for intraoperative diagnosis, diagnostic consultation, primary diagnosis, medical student & resident teaching, diagnostic decision support, peer review, manual and semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) review, clinical research, and tumor boards.

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak had negative impact on the market. During the pandemic, the number of pathological tests performed has declined significantly. Furthermore, lockdown and social distancing norms implemented by government agencies and companies has negatively affected the demand for these solutions. However, due to a considerable reduction of COVID instances worldwide, the market is projected to resume an uptrend operation eventually.

Market Trends, Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

• Increasing adoption of digital pathology to enhance lab efficiency is expected to boost the market growth in the coming years.
• Rising prevalence of chronic disease conditions is one of the key factors driving the market growth.
• Lack of trained pathologists present a major challenge. This is anticipated to hamper the market growth in the projected period.
• High cost associated with digital pathology systems are projected to hinder the market expansion during the forecast period.
• Introduction of affordable scanners for private pathology practices is projected to create significant growth opportunities for the market in the near future.

Scope of the Report

The report on the global digital pathology market includes an assessment of the market, trends, segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.

Market Segment Insights

Academic research segment to grow at a rapid pace

Based on applications, the global digital pathology market is segregated into academic research, drug discovery & development, and disease diagnosis. The disease diagnosis segment is further bifurcated into cancer cell detection and others. The academic research segment is expected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period owing to the increased adoption of digital pathology in several research studies, such as tumor morphological research. However, the disease diagnosis segment is anticipated to hold a key share of the market in the coming years due to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases globally.

Device segment to expand at a considerable CAGR

In terms of products, the market is segmented into software, storage system, and device. The device segment consists of slide management system and scanners. The device segment is projected to expand at a considerable CAGR during the forecast period attributed to enhanced resolution and increasing adoption for academic research activities. Additionally, high bandwidth connectivity and intuitive user interfaces is further expected to drive the segment growth.

Hospitals segment to hold significant market share

On the basis of components, the global digital pathology market is divided into diagnostic labs, biotech & pharma companies, hospitals, and academic & research institutes. The hospitals segment is anticipated to hold significant market share in the coming years owing to wide adoption of digital scanning techniques in hospitals for better patient compliance and faster diagnosis. On the other hand, biotech & pharma companies segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period due to a rise in the usage of digital pathology in oncology clinical trials, drug development, and preclinical GLP pathology.

North America to constitute a key market share

In terms of regions, the global digital pathology market is classified as Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to constitute a key share of the market during the projected period attributed to the increased use of digital pathology for disease diagnosis as well as more favorable government initiatives across the region. However, the market of Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period owing to the growing penetration of digital imaging in the region.

Segments

The global digital pathology market has been segmented on the basis of

Applications

• Academic Research
• Drug Discovery & Development
• Disease Diagnosis
  • Cancer Cell Detection
  • Others

Products

• Software
• Storage System
• Device
  • Slide Management System
  • Scanners

End-users

• Diagnostic Labs
• Biotech & Pharma Companies
• Hospitals
• Academic & Research Institutes

Regions

• Asia Pacific
• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• Middle East & Africa

Key Players

• Huron Technologies International, Inc.
• F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
• ContextVision AB
• Leica Biosystems (Danaher)
• Hamamatsu Photonics, Inc.
• Olympus Corp.
• MikroScan Technologies, Inc.
• Inspirata, Inc.
• 3DHISTECH Ltd.
• Visiopharm A/S
• Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Competitive Landscape

Key players competing in the global digital pathology market are Huron Technologies International, Inc.; F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; ContextVision AB; Leica Biosystems (Danaher); Hamamatsu Photonics, Inc.; Olympus Corp.; MikroScan Technologies, Inc.; Inspirata, Inc.; 3DHISTECH Ltd.; Visiopharm A/S; and Koninklijke Philips N.V. As part of their efforts to expand their client base and acquire a competitive advantage over competitors, manufacturers operating in the market have adopted various strategic initiatives, such as partnerships, collaborations, and mergers & acquisitions. Moreover, companies are focusing on investment in R&D for development and launching of new products to maintain their competitive positions in the market.

For instance, in April 2021, Leica Biosystems and Paige collaborated to integrate Leica's digital pathology platform with Paige's AI-enabled research oncology software. This would give selected countries in North America and Europe access to computational pathology products for translational and clinical research. In April 2021, Philips and Ibex Medical Analytics teamed up to merge their digital pathology solutions with the latter's AI-powered Galen platform, boosting their services.