Stomach Cancer Treatment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Treatment Type (Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Others), By Cancer Type (Gastric Cancer/Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors), By Route of Administration (Oral, Injectables), By Drug Class (PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors, HER2 Antagonists, VEGFR2 Antagonists, Others), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Specialty Pharmacies, Others), By Region and Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

Global Stomach Cancer Treatment Market was valued at USD 5.51 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 12.64 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 14.84% during the forecast period. The global market for Stomach Cancer Treatment is experiencing significant growth, driven by the growing development of novel drugs and therapies for treating stomach cancer. Additionally, growing demand for painless low-cost treatment and favorable reimbursement scenario for the treatment of cancer have significantly increased the growth of stomach cancer treatment across different parts of the globe. Additionally, growing aging population across the globe which is more prone to different kinds of chronic diseases like stomach cancer is further expected to increase the demand for different cancer therapies, thereby fuelling the market growth through 2030.

Key Market Drivers

Persistent High Disease Burden Worldwide

Stomach (gastric) cancer continues to pose a serious global health threat. The World Health Organization reports approximately 1 million new cases annually, with nearly 800,000 deaths, ranking it among the top five causes of cancer-related mortality. Although incidence rates have declined in many Western countries due to improved food preservation and H. pylori management, global case numbers remain stable due to rising trends in several Asian and Latin American nations. This high disease burden fuels sustained demand for advanced treatment options—from surgical procedures to chemotherapy, targeted agents, and emerging immunotherapies—for both localized and advanced-stage diseases. Governments are responding for instance, Japan and South Korea have implemented national screening programs that detect early-stage cancers in 50%–60% of patients, vastly improving outcomes. In lower-income regions, late diagnosis (with 5-year survival below 20%) underscores a continued need for treatment expansion.

In addition, the aging global population contributes to rising incidence: the UN projects that the number of individuals over age 65 will double by 2050, and since age is a primary risk factor, this will further increase the prevalence of stomach cancer. These factors combine to drive robust investment from public health agencies, cancer centers, and pharmaceutical companies in treatment development, including supportive therapies and advanced surgical techniques.

Advancements in Precision Medicine and Policy Support

The growing sophistication in treatment modalities is a significant force behind market expansion. Over the past decade, the introduction of targeted therapies—such as HER2 inhibitors and VEGF blockers—has improved survival for select patient groups. More recently, checkpoint inhibitors (like pembrolizumab or nivolumab) have demonstrated durable responses in mismatch repair-deficient stomach cancers, prompting their approval in many countries. Regulatory bodies are facilitating this innovation. The U.S. FDA has granted breakthrough designation to several agents in gastric cancer, accelerating review timelines. Similarly, China’s National Medical Products Administration has introduced fast-track pathways for cancer drugs, stimulating domestic R&D. Japan now approves certain HER2-targeted regimens within six months, a third faster than traditional schedules.

Coupled with broader precision oncology initiatives—like Europe’s Molecular Tumor Boards funded under Europe Beating Cancer Plan—these policies are helping targeted therapies enter clinical practice more quickly. As a result, hospitals are investing in molecular testing infrastructure, and pharmaceutical companies are ramping up enrollments in biomarker-driven clinical trials. Altogether, this ecosystem accelerates both innovation and accessibility of advanced treatments.

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Key Market Challenges

Late Diagnosis in Low-Resource Settings

In many regions without national screening programs, stomach cancer is still detected late, when curative options are limited. Globally, less than 10% of cases are diagnosed at Stage I outside East Asia, leading to 5-year survival rates below 20%. The lack of affordable diagnostic infrastructure—including endoscopy, imaging, and molecular profiling—limits access, even in countries with high disease burden. Additionally, stigma and low public awareness hinder early presentation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnoses fell by 40% in South Asia, exacerbating the problem. Even in nations with existing screening systems, rural or lower-income populations may face barriers to care—amplifying health inequities.

Addressing this requires investment in lower-cost but high-impact diagnostic methods (e.g., breath tests, tele-endoscopy), public awareness programs, and distributed diagnostic services. Without improving early detection, treatment advances may reach only a minority of patients, limiting overall population health impact.

Escalating Treatment Costs and Accessibility Gaps

New stomach cancer therapies—such as HER2-targeted drugs and immunotherapy—are expensive. For example, a typical course of pembrolizumab may cost $150,000–$200,000 annually in high-income countries. Even targeted biosimilars and generics remain out of reach in many middle-income regions. This cost barrier contributes to national disparities: while 80% of eligible patients in high-income countries receive immunotherapy, the figure is below 20% in many low- and middle-income nations. Limited health insurance coverage and budgetary constraints in publicly funded systems prevent wider adoption.

Furthermore, the necessity for companion diagnostics—PD-L1 scoring, HER2 testing, MSI analysis—increases the cost of diagnosis and delays treatment initiation. Lack of laboratory infrastructure and navigational barriers further limit access to tailored therapies. To achieve a broader impact, governments and payers will need to implement price controls, expand reimbursement, and support local production or licensing of generics. International financing mechanisms and assistance programs for diagnostic infrastructure will also be essential to bridge these affordability gaps—and ensure global access to life-saving treatments.

Key Market Trends

Immunotherapy as a Standard of Care

Immunotherapy is rapidly emerging as a transformative modality in gastric cancer treatment. While early trials showed modest results, recent Phase III studies have demonstrated median overall survival extending beyond 12 months when combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy in first-line advanced disease. Pembrolizumab and nivolumab are now commonly employed in frontline regimens in many countries.

In parallel, biomarkers like PD-L1 combining positive score (CPS) and tumor mutational burden are being integrated into routine diagnostic panels, guiding patient selection. Major healthcare systems—including the U.S. Medicare program—have approved reimbursement for PD-L1 testing in gastric cancer. Japan and South Korea have also revised clinical guidelines to recommend immunotherapy in HER2-negative, PD-L1-positive cases within the past year. With over 10 ongoing Phase III trials exploring immunotherapy in perioperative or second-line settings, its use is expected to become further standardized. As the technology matures, research is also exploring combinations with vaccines, oncolytic viruses, and adoptive cell therapies, opening new frontiers in personalized cancer care.

AI-Enabled Diagnosis and Treatment Optimization

AI and machine learning are transforming stomach cancer management along several fronts: Endoscopic detection AI systems now demonstrate ~95% accuracy in detecting early gastric lesions, outperforming unaided endoscopy. Trials in Japan and South Korea incorporating AI-assisted systems have led to 30% more early-stage diagnoses. Pathology automation Digital slides are analyzed by algorithms to detect tumor subtypes or immune markers, achieving concordance rates above 90% compared to expert pathologists. Treatment planning AI-driven predictive models are being piloted in several major cancer centers to estimate chemotherapy response and personalize neoadjuvant interventions based on imaging and molecular data.

Moreover, supportive initiatives are emerging: the European Union’s Horizon project includes grants for AI-assisted oncology; in the U.S., National Cancer Institute funding has surged toward machine learning studies in endoscopy and pathology for GI cancers. Together, these developments are accelerating precision decision-making and enabling earlier, more accurate identification of stomach cancers.

Segmental Insights

Treatment Type Insights

Based on Treatment Type, Chemotherapy category continues to hold the largest market share among all treatment types for stomach cancer. This is primarily because chemotherapy has long been the standard of care, especially in the management of advanced or metastatic gastric cancers. It is widely used both as a neoadjuvant (before surgery) and adjuvant (after surgery) therapy, and in palliative care where curative treatment is no longer possible. Most treatment regimens across the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries, rely on chemotherapy due to its availability, cost-effectiveness, and broad applicability regardless of biomarker status (e.g., HER2, PD-L1). Furthermore, combination chemotherapy regimens like FOLFOX, XELOX, or ECF are well-established, included in major treatment guidelines, and covered under public health insurance in many countries. Even in settings where targeted and immunotherapies are available, chemotherapy remains a foundational treatment, often used in combination with newer drugs. This entrenched position ensures chemotherapy retains the largest market share globally.

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Regional Insights

Based on the region, North America commands the largest share of the global stomach cancer treatment market, largely due to its advanced healthcare infrastructure and widespread access to cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic services. The region benefits from early disease detection, driven by strong endoscopic screening programs and comprehensive public health initiatives, which increase the number of patients eligible for curative treatment. Funding from institutions such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the U.S. also supports extensive clinical trials and development of new pharmacotherapies, including targeted agents, immunotherapies, and precision diagnostics. As a result, North American healthcare systems are quick to integrate such innovations into clinical practice.

Moreover, high per-capita healthcare spending and robust insurance coverage enable patients to access comprehensive multi-modal treatment—ranging from surgery and radiation to advanced systemic therapies—without the same financial barriers seen in other regions. Regulatory frameworks are also more supportive, with expedited approval pathways for breakthrough therapies. All these factors—early detection, strong financial and regulatory backing, and access to state-of-the-art treatments—combine to ensure North America remains the dominant market for stomach cancer care worldwide.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, The FDA approved KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma.
• In August 2024, Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced receiving a USD 2.5 million Department of Defense grant to fund clinical trials testing two potential treatments for stomach cancer prevention, including pyrvinium, an existing drug, and low-dose trametinib, to develop personalized preventive strategies.
• In August 2024, the FDA approved trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) for use in any advanced HER2-positive solid cancer, marking it as the first tumor-agnostic antibody-drug conjugate for this indication.
• In August 2024, HUTCHMED's CEO, Weiguo Su, announced that fruquintinib combined with paclitaxel shows promise as a future treatment for gastric cancer, and further investigation into its potential will continue.
• In March 2024, Merck announced that the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-859 trial met its primary endpoint of overall survival in patients with HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma.

Key Market Players

• Pfizer, Inc.
• Novartis AG
• Eli Lilly and Company
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
• F. Hoffmann La Roche AG
• Mylan N.V.
• Celltrion Healthcare Co., Ltd
• Merck KGaA
• Samsung Bioepis

Report Scope:

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

• Stomach Cancer Treatment Market, By Treatment Type:

o   Immunotherapy

o   Targeted Therapy

o   Chemotherapy

o   Radiation Therapy

o   Others

• Stomach Cancer Treatment Market, By Cancer Type:

o   Gastric Cancer/Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

o   Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

• Stomach Cancer Treatment Market, By Route of Administration:

o   Oral

o   Injectables

• Stomach Cancer Treatment Market, By Drug Class:

o   PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors

o   HER2 Antagonists

o   VEGFR2 Antagonists

o   Others

• Stomach Cancer Treatment Market, By Distribution Channel:

o   Hospital Pharmacies

o   Specialty Pharmacies

o   Others

• Stomach Cancer Treatment Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Mexico

§  Canada

o   Europe

§  France

§  Germany

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Spain

o   Asia-Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  South Korea

§  Japan

§  Australia

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East and Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Stomach Cancer Treatment Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Stomach Cancer Treatment Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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