Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Therapy (Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy, Radiation Therapy, Surgery), By Route of administration (Oral, Injectables, Others), By End-User (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Care Centers, Others) By Region and Competition 2021-2031F

Market Overview

The Global Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market will grow from USD 938.73 Million in 2025 to USD 1680.33 Million by 2031 at a 10.19% CAGR. Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (LAPC) is characterized as a stage of malignancy where the tumor is confined to the pancreas and surrounding structures but encases major blood vessels, making it surgically unresectable without prior downstaging. The market is primarily supported by the rising global geriatric population and improvements in high-resolution diagnostic imaging, which allow for more precise identification of vascular involvement earlier in the disease progression. Furthermore, the increasing clinical adoption of neoadjuvant chemotherapy protocols designed to convert unresectable tumors into resectable candidates serves as a fundamental driver for market growth, distinct from broader technological trends.

Despite these advancements, the market faces a significant challenge in the form of late-stage diagnosis and the aggressive biological nature of the disease, which severely limits the therapeutic window for effective intervention. This persistent clinical burden is substantiated by recent data; according to the American Cancer Society, in 2025, approximately 67,440 individuals are projected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States. Such high incidence rates, coupled with rapid disease progression, create substantial hurdles for sustaining long-term treatment regimens and market expansion.

Key Market Drivers

Increasing Investments in Oncology Research and Development are fundamentally reshaping the therapeutic landscape for locally advanced pancreatic cancer by fueling the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. Private and philanthropic organizations are aggressively funding initiatives to overcome the historical challenges associated with the disease's dense stroma and drug resistance. This influx of capital enables the pursuit of high-risk, high-reward studies that traditional funding mechanisms might overlook, directly addressing the urgent need for breakthroughs in unresectable cases. For instance, according to the Lustgarten Foundation, August 2024, in the 'Lustgarten Foundation Announces Landmark Year of Fueling Cutting-Edge Pancreatic Cancer Research', the organization awarded $10.7 million in new grants to accelerate projects focusing specifically on early detection and new drug development. Such financial commitments are essential for sustaining the pipelines necessary to convert experimental compounds into viable clinical options.

Supportive Regulatory Frameworks and Orphan Drug Designations are simultaneously providing essential commercial incentives for pharmaceutical companies to prioritize this high-mortality indication. These designations expedite the clinical development of promising agents designed to treat aggressive malignancies with limited options, effectively lowering barriers to market entry. A prime example of this regulatory support driving innovation is evident in recent clinical progress; according to OncLive, October 2024, in the 'FDA Grants Orphan Drug Designation to IMM-1-104 for Pancreatic Cancer', the FDA granted this status to a novel RAS-targeting agent after initial data revealed a 40% overall response rate in treated patients. These incentives are critical given the immense burden of the disease; according to Digestive Cancers Europe, in 2024, it is estimated that 564,930 individuals will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer globally by 2025. Consequently, regulatory pathways that accelerate approval are vital for addressing this expanding patient population.

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Key Market Challenges

The aggressive biological nature of the disease combined with late-stage diagnosis presents a substantial challenge that directly hampers the growth of the Global Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market. Since the malignancy often develops without specific symptoms, patients frequently present with extensive vascular encasement that precludes immediate surgical options and severely restricts the therapeutic window. This limitation shortens the duration during which pharmaceutical interventions can be administered, thereby reducing the total volume of therapeutics utilized per patient. The rapid progression of the disease means that even when patients are identified, the opportunity for sustained neoadjuvant treatment is often curtailed by clinical deterioration, limiting revenue generation from long-term care cycles.

This constraint is underscored by mortality statistics that highlight the difficulty in building a stable patient base. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2024, an estimated 51,750 deaths were attributed to pancreatic cancer in the United States. Such high rates of attrition prevent the accumulation of a prevalent population required to drive significant market growth. Consequently, the rapid turnover of the patient pool limits the commercial potential of prolonged therapeutic strategies compared to other oncology sectors with higher survival rates.

Key Market Trends

The emergence of KRAS and NRG1 fusion targeted therapies is reshaping clinical management by addressing molecular drivers previously considered undruggable. Unlike generic chemotherapy, these agents selectively inhibit oncogenic signaling, providing options for patients with specific mutations. This precision is exemplified by new RAS-selective inhibitors showing durable activity. For instance, according to Revolution Medicines, October 2024, in 'Revolution Medicines Presents Updated Data from RMC-6236 Monotherapy Study', the agent RMC-6236 achieved a median overall survival of 14.5 months in patients with previously treated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma harboring RAS mutations. This trend highlights a pivot towards personalized interventions that improve survival outcomes in distinct molecular subtypes.

Simultaneously, the advancement of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) introduces a non-invasive modality that disrupts cancer cell division without systemic toxicity. This technology is being integrated with standard chemotherapy to enhance efficacy in unresectable cases. The approach's validity is confirmed by recent data demonstrating survival improvements. According to Novocure, December 2024, in 'Novocure Announces Positive Topline Results from Phase 3 PANOVA-3 Clinical Trial', patients treated with TTFields plus chemotherapy achieved a median overall survival of 16.20 months compared to 14.16 months for chemotherapy alone. This establishes device-based therapeutics as a vital component of modern multimodal care regimens.

Segmental Insights

Immunotherapy stands as the fastest-growing segment in the Global Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market, driven by the industry's strategic shift toward precision medicine. Although pancreatic tumors typically resist immune response, the targeting of specific biomarkers, such as high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), has established a viable treatment niche. This growth is underpinned by regulatory decisions, such as the U.S. FDA granting approval for checkpoint inhibitors in patients with these specific genetic alterations. Additionally, an increasing number of clinical trials investigating immunotherapy in combination with standard chemotherapy are actively expanding the addressable patient population.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global locally advanced pancreatic cancer market, driven by a well-established healthcare infrastructure and the concentrated presence of major pharmaceutical developers. This dominance is reinforced by supportive initiatives from the US Food and Drug Administration, which streamlines the approval process for new therapies and fosters extensive clinical research. Furthermore, comprehensive reimbursement frameworks and high disease awareness levels ensure widespread access to treatments. These combined factors create a stable environment for ongoing market development and sustained regional supremacy.

Recent Developments

• In January 2025, OncoSil Medical announced that it had received Medical Device Regulation (MDR) certification from the British Standards Institution (BSI) for its OncoSil device, a single-use brachytherapy designed for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This regulatory certification represented a significant milestone for the company, as it lifted previous post-market restrictions and facilitated the device's broader commercial availability across the European Union and the United Kingdom. The approval was expected to streamline the initiation of treatments at hospitals and support the company's strategy to expand market access for patients with unresectable pancreatic tumors.
• In December 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to Merus N.V. for its bispecific antibody, zenocutuzumab, marketed as Bizengri, for the treatment of adults with advanced, unresectable, or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma harboring a neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene fusion. This approval marked the first systemic therapy specifically authorized for patients with this rare genetic alteration in the pancreatic cancer market. The regulatory decision was based on efficacy data from the eNRGy clinical trial, which demonstrated durable objective responses in patients whose disease had progressed following prior systemic therapies.
• In November 2024, AngioDynamics saw the publication of initial results from its DIRECT Registry study, which evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the NanoKnife Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) system for the treatment of Stage 3 pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The study data, published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, indicated that the use of IRE for tumor ablation in combination with induction chemotherapy resulted in morbidity and mortality rates equivalent to standard-of-care chemotherapy alone. These findings provided clinical evidence supporting the use of the NanoKnife system as a treatment option for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer who have not progressed on initial chemotherapy.
• In August 2024, RenovoRx, Inc. announced the enrollment of the first patient at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for its pivotal Phase III TIGeR-PaC clinical trial. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the company's lead product candidate, RenovoGem, which utilizes a trans-arterial micro-perfusion (TAMP) technology to deliver chemotherapy directly to the tumor site in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The expansion of the trial to this major cancer center was part of the company's effort to accelerate patient recruitment and gather data comparing their targeted intra-arterial approach against standard systemic intravenous chemotherapy.

Key Market Players

• Glaxosmithkline Plc
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Getwell
• Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
• Pfizer Inc.
• Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Genentech USA, Inc.
• AstraZeneca Plc

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market, By Therapy:

• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted Therapy
• Radiation Therapy
• Surgery

• Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market, By Route of administration:

• Oral
• Injectables
• Others

• Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Market, By End-User:

• Hospitals & Clinics
• Ambulatory Care Centers
• Others

• Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 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