Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product and Services (Resins, Columns, HIC Columns, Buffers, Services, Others), By Sample Type (Monoclonal Antibodies, Vaccines, Other Samples), By End User (Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Companies, Contract Research Organizations and Contract Manufacturing Organizations, Research and Academic Institutes, others), By Region, and By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 420.48 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.23%
Fastest Growing Segment	Services
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 639.21 Million

Market Overview

The Global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market will grow from USD 420.48 Million in 2025 to USD 639.21 Million by 2031 at a 7.23% CAGR. Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC) is a specialized separation technique that purifies biomolecules based on differences in their surface hydrophobicity by utilizing a reversible interaction between the protein and a hydrophobic ligand under high-salt conditions. The expansion of this market is primarily driven by the escalating global production of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant vaccines, which necessitate non-denaturing polishing steps to effectively remove aggregates and variants. This intrinsic ability to maintain biological activity while achieving high purity ensures the technology remains a staple in downstream bioprocessing, independent of broader automation trends.

However, the market faces a significant challenge regarding the complexity of method development, as optimizing the precise salt type and concentration to balance binding capacity and yield requires substantial technical expertise. This operational hurdle can delay process validation, yet the sector remains buoyed by the heavy investment in biologic drug pipelines. According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, in 2024, the research-based pharmaceutical industry invested an estimated €55,000 million in R&D in Europe, highlighting the robust financial commitment driving the development of complex therapeutics that mandate such sophisticated purification technologies.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid expansion of the global biopharmaceutical industry acts as a primary catalyst for the growth of the hydrophobic interaction chromatography market. As manufacturers scale up operations to meet the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, there is a parallel surge in the requirement for downstream processing technologies capable of handling increased throughput. This trend is exemplified by major capital allocations toward production infrastructure. According to Novo Nordisk, June 2024, in a press release detailing its 'US Manufacturing Expansion', the company committed $4.1 billion to construct a new facility in Clayton, North Carolina, specifically to enhance its supply of injectable treatments. Such massive investments in capacity directly correlate with an increased installation base for purification columns and resins, as HIC remains a critical step for ensuring the stability and potency of these large-molecule therapeutics.

Concurrently, the escalating demand for monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins significantly propels the adoption of this separation technique. HIC is particularly valued in antibody workflows for its efficiency in clearing aggregates and host cell proteins without compromising the structural integrity of the molecule. The regulatory landscape reflects this intense development activity. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, December 2024, in the 'Novel Drug Approvals for 2024' report, the agency approved 50 new molecular entities, a robust volume that underscores the continuous flow of complex biologics entering the market. To support this commercialization, contract manufacturing organizations are also bolstering their purification capabilities. For instance, according to Samsung Biologics, in October 2024, the company secured a record manufacturing contract worth approximately $1.24 billion, further validating the industrial reliance on advanced bioprocessing solutions to deliver high-purity therapeutic proteins.

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Key Market Challenges

The primary challenge hampering the growth of the Global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market is the inherent complexity associated with method development, which demands substantial technical expertise to execute effectively. Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC) requires the precise optimization of critical parameters, such as salt type and concentration, to manage the delicate balance between binding capacity and protein stability. Unlike more straightforward purification techniques, HIC often involves non-intuitive behavior where slight deviations in operating conditions can lead to significant yield losses or protein denaturation. This high dependency on specialized knowledge creates a bottleneck in downstream processing, as companies struggle to find and retain personnel with the advanced skills necessary to navigate these intricate development cycles, thereby delaying process validation and product commercialization.

This operational constraint is severely exacerbated by a widening workforce gap in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector. The shortage of qualified scientists and engineers capable of managing sophisticated purification platforms limits the industry's capacity to scale operations to meet rising demand. According to the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), in 2024, the biopharma sector was projected to require over 21,000 new jobs by 2027, yet it faces a critical forecasted shortfall of approximately 3,000 skilled graduates annually to meet this requirement. This deficit in available technical talent directly impedes the broader adoption and efficient implementation of complex technologies like hydrophobic interaction chromatography, stifling market expansion despite the robust pipeline of biologic drugs.

Key Market Trends

The adoption of hydrophobic interaction chromatography for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) purification is fundamentally reshaping technical requirements within the market. Unlike standard antibodies, ADCs possess significant hydrophobic heterogeneity due to the conjugation of cytotoxic payloads, requiring this separation mode to effectively resolve species based on the drug-antibody ratio (DAR). This capability allows manufacturers to isolate the target therapeutic profile while removing unconjugated antibodies. This structural shift toward complex conjugated modalities is evidenced by substantial manufacturing commitments. According to AstraZeneca, May 2024, in the 'AstraZeneca to build $1.5 billion ADC manufacturing facility in Singapore' press release, the company announced a $1.5 billion capital outlay to establish a facility dedicated to these targeted treatments, ensuring sustained demand for separation media capable of handling conjugated molecules.

The expansion of applications in gene therapy and viral vector purification creates a distinct growth trajectory separate from traditional protein workflows. In adeno-associated virus (AAV) manufacturing, this technique is increasingly utilized to separate full capsids containing the genetic payload from empty capsids by exploiting subtle hydrophobic differences. This separation is vital for maximizing therapeutic potency and reducing the total viral load. The segment's expansion is supported by the widening clinical pipeline for advanced therapies. According to the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, April 2024, in the 'Gene, Cell, & RNA Therapy Landscape: Q1 2024 Quarterly Report', the pipeline for gene, cell, and RNA therapies reached 4,096 candidates, indicating a broadening application base for purification methods optimized for viral vectors.

Segmental Insights

The Services segment is identified as the fastest-growing category within the Global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market. This accelerated expansion is primarily driven by the increasing strategic reliance of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on outsourcing critical purification tasks to Contract Research Organizations to enhance operational efficiency. As the separation of complex biomolecules requires significant technical expertise, manufacturers frequently seek external support for method development and validation to ensure compliance with rigorous standards established by regulatory bodies. Consequently, the rising demand for professional maintenance, instrument qualification, and technical consultation is significantly fueling the growth of this segment.

Regional Insights

North America holds a dominant position in the global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography market, primarily driven by its established biopharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure and substantial investment in drug discovery. The region focuses heavily on developing monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, creating sustained demand for efficient purification processes. Furthermore, strict quality guidelines enforced by the US Food and Drug Administration mandate the use of reliable separation techniques to ensure product safety and purity. This combination of strong industrial demand and a rigorous regulatory framework supports the continued leadership of the North American market.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, Bio-Rad Laboratories launched Nuvia wPrime 2A Media, an advanced mixed-mode chromatography resin designed to enhance the purification of therapeutic biomolecules. This innovative product uniquely combines weak anion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) functionalities, facilitating the selective removal of impurities such as host cell proteins and aggregates. The resin was engineered to support scalable manufacturing processes, ranging from laboratory research to commercial biopharmaceutical production. This strategic product launch significantly strengthens the company’s portfolio within the Global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market, providing manufacturers with a robust tool to improve yield and purity in complex downstream processing workflows.
• In July 2024, Repligen Corporation announced a definitive agreement to acquire Tantti Laboratory Inc., a Taiwan-based innovator in macroporous chromatography bead technology. This acquisition was aimed at expanding Repligen's bioprocessing capabilities by integrating Tantti’s unique portfolio, which combines the high throughput of membrane chromatography with the binding capacity of traditional resins. The deal enhances the company's ability to address purification challenges for new modalities, including viral vectors and large biological molecules. This development represents a key expansion in the Global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market, offering biopharmaceutical producers novel solutions to optimize separation efficiency and overcome bottlenecks in downstream purification.
• In May 2024, Tosoh Corporation announced a major investment to construct a new manufacturing facility at its Yokkaichi Complex in Japan, specifically to boost the production of separation and purification media. This expansion was a strategic response to the rising global demand for biopharmaceuticals, including antibody drugs and gene therapies, which require high-quality chromatographic resins for purification. The new facility is expected to significantly increase the company’s capacity to supply critical materials, including those used in hydrophobic interaction chromatography. This infrastructure investment underscores the company’s long-term commitment to the Global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market and ensures a stable supply chain for biopharmaceutical manufacturers.
• In February 2024, researchers from Sartorius BIA Separations published a breakthrough study in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering, detailing a novel hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) method for plasmid DNA purification. The research introduced a scalable and regulatory-compliant approach to efficiently separate supercoiled plasmid DNA from open circular forms and genomic DNA impurities using a specialized monolith column. This scientific advancement addresses a critical need in the gene therapy sector for high-purity therapeutic materials. The study highlights the vital role of continuous innovation by companies in the Global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market to refine purification strategies for emerging genetic medicines.

Key Market Players

• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
• Sartorius AG
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Tosoh Bioscience
• Geno Technology Inc.
• Axel Semrau GmbH
• PerkinElmer Inc.
• Cecil Instrumentation Services Ltd
• Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
• Agilent Technologies, Inc.

By Product and Services	By Sample Type	By End User	By Region
Resins Columns HIC Columns Buffers Services Others	Monoclonal Antibodies Vaccines Other Samples	Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Companies Contract Research Organizations and Contract Manufacturing Organizations Research and Academic Institutes others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market, By Product and Services:

• Resins
• Columns
• HIC Columns
• Buffers
• Services
• Others

• Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market, By Sample Type:

• Monoclonal Antibodies
• Vaccines
• Other Samples

• Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market, By End User:

• Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Companies
• Contract Research Organizations and Contract Manufacturing Organizations
• Research and Academic Institutes
• others

• Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE