PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1675258
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1675258
Fetal bovine serum is a crucial component in animal cell culture media used to support the growth of eukaryotic cells cultured in vitro. It is obtained from bovine fetuses harvested from pregnant cows slated for slaughter, often through a cardiac puncture without anesthesia.
The main types of fetal bovine serum include charcoal-stripped, chromatographic, dialyzed, exosome-depleted, stem cell, and others. Charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum contains activated carbon that helps reduce levels of lipophilic compounds such as hormones, growth factors, and steroids. It is commonly used in studies related to receptors or estrogen. Dialyzed fetal bovine serum has a reduced concentration of low molecular weight components, such as nucleotides, amino acids, hormones, salts, and small proteins, making it suitable for cell culture systems that require a more defined environment of small molecules. Exosome-depleted fetal bovine serum is designed to isolate exosomes from cultured cells without the presence of bovine exosomes found in conventional fetal bovine serum. This type is often used for research on exosomes. Fetal bovine serum finds applications in various areas, including drug discovery, cell culture media, in vitro fertilization, human and animal vaccine production, diagnostics, and more. The usage of fetal bovine serum spans across different sectors, including research and academic institutes, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, and other related fields.
The fetal bovine serum market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides fetal bovine serum market statistics, including fetal bovine serum industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a fetal bovine serum market share, detailed fetal bovine serum market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the fetal bovine serum industry. This fetal bovine serum market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The fetal bovine serum market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.02 billion in 2024 to $1.07 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of biopharmaceutical industry, rise in cell-based therapies, quality and consistency requirements.
The fetal bovine serum market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.34 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing adoption of cell therapies, emergence of advanced therapeutics, focus on animal-free alternatives, strategic supplier-customer relationships. Major trends in the forecast period include focus on quality and traceability, global collaboration and partnerships, strategic mergers and acquisitions, customized fetal bovine serum products, regulatory compliance and ethical sourcing.
The anticipated surge in demand for biopharmaceuticals is poised to be a significant driver for the growth of the fetal bovine serum (FBS) market in the forecast period. Biopharmaceuticals are medicinal products derived from biological sources such as animals, humans, and microorganisms, employing biotechnology in their production. Fetal bovine serum, being the most widely utilized substitute for animal cell culture media, plays a crucial role in this process. Pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic laboratories, and researchers heavily depend on FBS to meet their cell culture requirements in biologics research. In 2022, ProClinical Limited, a UK-based life sciences service and consulting company, reported notable sales in the pharmaceuticals and vaccines segments, amounting to US$36.15 million, reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase. This financial performance underscores the growing demand for products and services related to biopharmaceuticals. Consequently, the escalating need for biopharmaceuticals is a key factor driving the growth of the fetal bovine serum market.
The anticipated rise in vaccine production is expected to stimulate the growth of the fetal bovine serum (FBS) market during the forecast period. A vaccine is a biological agent designed to confer active, acquired immunity against specific infectious diseases. Fetal bovine serum is commonly used as a cell culture medium in vaccine production, supporting the growth of the cells involved in the manufacturing process. FBS supplies essential nutrients, growth factors, and hormones required for cultivating specific cell lines, thereby facilitating the efficient replication of the virus or antigen that constitutes the vaccine. For example, in September 2021, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), a trade association based in Switzerland, reported that vaccine manufacturers were producing 1.5 billion doses monthly, with projections to reach 12 billion by the end of 2021 and 24 billion by June 2022, potentially exceeding global demand. Hence, the increase in vaccine production is driving the growth of the fetal bovine serum market.
The fetal bovine serum market is witnessing a prominent trend marked by the growing number of collaborations between companies and research institutions. Major industry players are entering into partnerships to enhance production capabilities, expand market share, and foster the development of innovative products. A case in point is the collaboration between the US-based GE Healthcare and the New Zealand-based Oritain. In this collaboration, GE Healthcare and Oritain are working together to create an independent test capable of confirming the country of origin of fetal bovine serum (FBS). This development is particularly significant for biomanufacturing entities, as FBS sourced from different countries may present varying levels of risk for virus contamination. By establishing a reliable method to verify the origin of FBS, this collaboration aims to provide valuable assistance to biomanufacturing entities in ensuring the safety and quality of FBS used in diverse countries.
Sartorius, a German-based life science research and biopharmaceutical company acquired Biological Industries for $53.67 million. Through this acquisition, Sartorius expanded cell culture media and complementing the product portfolio for the users in the growing advanced therapies market in the majority portion of Biological Industries. Biological Industries is an Israel-based chemical and biotechnology company that provides fetal bovine serum for mammalian cell culture.
Major companies operating in the fetal bovine serum market include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Merck KGaA, Corning Incorporated, Cytiva, VWR International, Sartorius AG, Bio-Techne Corporation, Atlas Biologicals Inc., R&D Systems Inc., Atlanta Biologicals Inc., Cyagen Biosciences, GenClone Inc., Gemini Bio-Products, Access Biologicals LLC, Nucleus Biologics, ZenBio Inc., Biowest, Bovogen Biologicals Pty Ltd., TCS Biosciences Ltd., J R Scientific Inc., Rocky Mountain Biologicals Inc., Tissue Culture Biologicals, Moregate Biotech, Cell Applications Inc., Altogen Biosystems, Axil Scientific Pte Ltd., Animal Technologies Inc., PAN- Biotech, PAA Laboratories GmbH, Peak Serum Inc.
North America was the largest region in the fetal bovine serum market in 2024. Asia-Pacific recorded the fastest growth during the forecast period. The regions covered in the fetal bovine serum market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the fetal bovine serum market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The fetal bovine serum market consists of sales of Ultra-low IgG, ES Cell, MSC and Exosome-Depleted. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Fetal Bovine Serum Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.