NEW YORK, Nov. 13 - The DNA microarray market will grow to $3.6 billion over the next five years as academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies move to more aggressively adopt the instruments and prices start coming down, Front Line Strategic Consulting said in a report.
"Currently, costs are the largest barrier for widespread application of DNA microarray technology, however use should increase as prices decline over time," Front Line said in a statement announcing the anticipated release of its latest report, DNA Microarrays: A Strategic Market Analysis, on November 19.
"For example, growth in the integrated systems segment will occur at an average annual rate of 22 percent, driven by the price reduction of Affymetrix's GeneChip system, as well as by an increased use of pre-fabricated arrays in general as they become more affordable," Front Line said.
In a summary of the report, Front Line, of Foster City, Calif., said the scanner and arrayer markets would experience the greatest growth, with sales of these systems increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 44 percent, reaching $1.64 billion and $887 million, respectively, by 2006.
According to the report, Affymetrix, Apogent, and GeneMachines currently control 73 percent of the arrayer market. Affy is currently the leading company in that segment.
The gradual use of microarrays as diagnostic tools will also help to spur growth in the sector, Front Line said.