Small Molecule Drug Discovery - Global Strategic Business Report Forecasts Growth from $61.5B (2024) to $100B by 2030, Profiling AstraZeneca, Gilead Sciences, Merck & Pfizer

Dublin, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Small Molecule Drug Discovery - Global Strategic Business Report" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global small molecule drug discovery market was valued at US$61.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$100 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. Market growth is supported by rising demand for targeted therapies, personalized medicine, oral therapeutics and treatments addressing rare diseases and unmet medical needs.

The comprehensive market report evaluates industry trends, growth drivers, competitive dynamics, technologies, therapeutic areas, drug discovery processes and end-use markets. It also incorporates recent global tariff developments and assesses their effects on supply chains, sourcing strategies, research and development investments, regional competitiveness and market forecasts.

Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Trends

Small molecule drug discovery remains central to the development of treatments for cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic conditions and immune-related illnesses. Growing investment in first-in-class and best-in-class therapeutics is strengthening demand for innovative discovery platforms and external research services.

Technological advances are improving the speed, precision and productivity of drug discovery programs. High-throughput screening, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational drug design, bioinformatics and big data analytics are increasingly used to identify candidates and predict drug-target interactions, toxicity and efficacy. Fragment-based drug discovery and structure-based drug design are also enabling researchers to identify and optimize high-affinity compounds.

These technologies can reduce development timelines, costs and clinical risk while supporting greater collaboration among pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, academic institutions and contract research organizations (CROs). The continued expansion of outsourced discovery activities is creating additional opportunities for specialist service providers.

Key Market Growth Drivers

• Increasing demand for targeted therapies and personalized treatment strategies.
• Continued advances in AI-based drug design, predictive modeling and computational discovery.
• Rising use of high-throughput screening across large compound libraries.
• Growth in oncology, neurology, immunology and rare disease research pipelines.
• Demand for oral therapeutics with improved bioavailability, safety and efficacy profiles.
• Increasing collaboration among pharmaceutical companies, research institutions and CROs.
• Development of small molecule drug-drug conjugates and other emerging therapeutic platforms.
• Greater use of fast-track and orphan drug designations.
• Expansion of research and development investment and outsourced drug discovery programs.

Market Segmentation and Regional Outlook

The report analyzes the small molecule drug discovery market by therapeutic area, process and end use. Therapeutic areas include oncology, central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, respiratory disease and other indications. Oncology represents the largest segment, reflecting the high global prevalence of cancer and sustained demand for targeted treatments.

The oncology therapeutic area segment is forecast to reach US$38.9 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.8%. The central nervous system therapeutic area segment is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.2% during the analysis period.

Drug discovery processes covered include target identification and validation, hit generation and selection, lead identification and lead optimization. End-use categories comprise pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, CROs and other organizations.

North America and Europe remain major markets due to established healthcare infrastructure, extensive research capabilities and significant pharmaceutical R&D spending. The U.S. market was valued at US$20.5 billion in 2024. China is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10% and reach US$14.9 billion by 2030. Asia-Pacific is expected to record strong growth as healthcare expenditure rises and the region's biopharmaceutical industry expands.

Geographic coverage includes the United States, Canada, Japan, China, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world.

Tariff, Trade and Economic Analysis

This edition evaluates tariff negotiations across more than 180 countries and examines potential supply chain turbulence, sourcing disruptions and geographic realignment. Updated forecasts through 2030 reflect tariff effects, economic uncertainty and structural changes in globalization, supported by historical analysis covering 2015 through 2023.

The report also reviews revised regional prospects, population and urbanization trends, product and process innovation, emerging technologies and industry developments affecting the competitive landscape. Updated 2025 market share estimates assess the positioning of major participants across global and regional markets.

Domain Expert Insights

The report tracks the strategic implications of trade policy, economic volatility, technological innovation and changing research models across the global small molecule drug discovery market. Commentary from economists, trade experts and domain specialists provides context for market shifts, investment priorities and emerging commercial opportunities.

Report Benefits

• Independent analysis of annual market value and forecasts from 2024 to 2030.
• Detailed assessment of high-growth therapeutic areas, processes and end-use segments.
• Regional analysis covering established and emerging pharmaceutical markets.
• Competitive intelligence and positioning of leading industry participants.
• Actionable insights for identifying revenue opportunities and supporting strategic decisions.
• One year of complimentary updates covering relevant market developments.

Companies Featured

The report profiles 61 companies active in the small molecule drug discovery market. Featured organizations include AstraZeneca PLC, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Key Questions Addressed

• How will the global small molecule drug discovery market evolve through 2030?
• Which technologies and therapeutic areas will generate the strongest growth?
• What factors are driving or restraining market expansion?
• How will regional and segment shares change during the forecast period?
• How are tariffs, trade policies and supply chain changes affecting the industry?
• Which companies are shaping the competitive landscape, and what are their market prospects?

Key Attributes:

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lt9499

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