PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1951605
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1951605
Checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer refers to cancers that do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4 blockers. Resistance can be primary, where the cancer shows no initial response, or acquired, where the disease progresses after an initial benefit. Managing these cases often requires alternative approaches, including combination immunotherapies, targeted agents, or novel experimental strategies.
The main therapies for checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer include immune checkpoint inhibitors, combination therapies, and targeted therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that enable the immune system to detect and attack cancer cells by blocking proteins that suppress immune cell activity. These therapies are applied to various cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), urothelial carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), colorectal cancer, and others. Their mechanisms of action include PD-1 inhibitors, PD-L1 inhibitors, CTLA-4 inhibitors, and others, with routes of administration including intravenous (IV) and oral. These therapies are distributed through hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and online pharmacies.
Tariffs have impacted the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market by increasing the cost of imported biologics, monoclonal antibodies, and specialized oncology drugs, affecting treatment affordability and availability. Hospital and retail pharmacies in regions such as North America and Europe, which rely heavily on imported oncology therapeutics, are most affected. These cost pressures have influenced pricing and reimbursement dynamics. However, tariffs have also encouraged domestic manufacturing, local biologics production, and innovation in alternative therapeutic approaches, supporting long-term market sustainability.
The checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market statistics, including checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market share, detailed checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer industry. This checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer 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 checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $36.69 billion in 2025 to $40.97 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in oncology, rising incidence of advanced-stage cancers, limited treatment options after immunotherapy failure, growing oncology drug approvals, expansion of cancer treatment centers.
The checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $63.02 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to development of next-generation immunotherapies, increasing investment in combination and targeted therapies, rising precision oncology adoption, expansion of global oncology clinical trials, growing focus on personalized cancer treatment strategies. Major trends in the forecast period include rising focus on overcoming primary and acquired resistance to checkpoint inhibitors, increasing adoption of combination immunotherapy regimens, growth in targeted therapies for immunotherapy-refractory cancers, expansion of clinical trials for novel and experimental therapies, rising demand for biomarker-based patient stratification.
The rising incidence of cancer is expected to drive the growth of the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market in the coming years. Cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled division and growth of abnormal cells in the body. The increasing incidence of cancer is largely attributed to an aging population, as longer life expectancy raises the likelihood of developing cancer over time. Identifying checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer is critical in oncology management, as it allows early recognition of treatment resistance, enabling clinicians to modify therapies promptly and explore alternative approaches to improve patient outcomes. For instance, in February 2025, according to the United Nations, a US-based intergovernmental organization, approximately 2.3 million new breast cancer cases were diagnosed globally in 2022, resulting in 670,000 deaths. Projections indicate a 38% increase in cases and a 68% rise in annual deaths by 2050. Therefore, the rising incidence of cancer is propelling the growth of the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market.
Major companies in the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market are focusing on developing innovative therapies such as dual selective inhibitors to reduce the risk of drug resistance by simultaneously targeting two key pathways involved in disease progression. Dual selective inhibitors are compounds designed to block two distinct biological targets or pathways at the same time while minimizing effects on unrelated pathways. For example, in March 2025, Pliant Therapeutics Inc., a US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported interim Phase 1 data for PLN-101095 in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-refractory advanced solid tumors. The data demonstrated promising early activity and a manageable safety profile. At the highest tested dose of 1,000 mg twice daily in combination with pembrolizumab, the trial showed a 50% objective response rate, including confirmed partial responses in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and melanoma, with significant tumor reductions. PLN-101095 was generally well tolerated, with most treatment-emergent adverse events being mild to moderate. The study is ongoing, with higher-dose cohorts currently enrolling and additional data expected by the end of 2025.
In October 2023, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a US-based pharmaceutical firm, acquired Mirati Therapeutics Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition enables Bristol-Myers Squibb to strengthen and diversify its oncology portfolio by integrating Mirati's innovative therapies and clinical-stage assets, particularly for KRAS-mutated cancers and checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancers. Mirati Therapeutics Inc. is a US-based company specializing in therapies for checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancers.
Major companies operating in the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market are Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson Private Limited, Merck & Co. Inc., AbbVie Inc., Novartis International AG, Sanofi S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, AstraZeneca PLC, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences Inc., Amgen Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Eisai Co. Ltd., Exelixis Inc., Exicure Inc., ImmunityBio Inc., ENB Therapeutics Inc., Kartos Therapeutics Inc., Pliant Therapeutics Inc.
North America was the largest region in the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as diagnostic and biomarker services, clinical trials and research services, specialized oncology treatment services, and patient support and consulting services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market consists of sales of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy kits, genomic sequencing panels, tumor organoids, drug discovery tools, and bispecific antibodies. 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.
Checkpoint Inhibitor Refractory Cancer Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The checkpoint inhibitor refractory cancer market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
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