Virus Filtration Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Consumables {Kits and reagents, Others}, Instruments (Filtration systems, Chromatography systems), Services), By Technology (Filtration, Chromatography), By End Use (Biopharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, Contract research organizations, Academic institutes & research laboratories, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 5.78 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.67%
Fastest Growing Segment	Consumables
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 9.52 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Virus Filtration Market will grow from USD 5.78 Billion in 2025 to USD 9.52 Billion by 2031 at a 8.67% CAGR. The Global Virus Filtration Market comprises specialized size-exclusion technologies designed to eliminate viral contaminants during the downstream processing of biopharmaceuticals such as monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins. The primary drivers supporting market growth include the rigorous safety guidelines enforced by global regulatory bodies and the expanding pipeline of biologic drugs which requires validated viral clearance steps to ensure patient safety. This increasing demand is directly linked to the robust financial health of the sector, which fuels continuous process development and manufacturing scale-up.

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. This substantial capital commitment highlights the growing volume of therapeutic candidates that necessitate reliable viral safety measures. However, a significant challenge that could impede market expansion is the high operational cost associated with single-use nanofiltration membranes and the technical difficulty of membrane fouling, which can strain the budgets of manufacturers seeking cost-effective production.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid expansion of the biologics and biosimilars manufacturing sector is a primary force propelling the Global Virus Filtration Market. As pharmaceutical companies scale up production facilities to meet the growing global demand for monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins, the requirement for robust downstream processing technologies, including virus filtration, intensifies. This expansion is characterized by the construction of large-scale manufacturing plants and the integration of high-capacity bioreactors. For instance, according to Samsung Biologics, January 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results', the company's total biomanufacturing capacity is set to reach 784,000 liters with the upcoming operation of its Plant 5. Such massive increases in volumetric capacity directly correlate with a higher utilization of virus filtration modules to ensure the safety and purity of the final biologic drug substance.

Increasing R&D investments in biopharmaceutical pipelines are further stimulating market demand by diversifying the range of therapeutic modalities requiring viral clearance. The surge in funding supports the development of complex biologics, such as cell and gene therapies, which necessitate specialized filtration strategies to remove potential viral contaminants without compromising product yield. This focus on innovation is expanding the clinical pipeline, thereby increasing the number of molecules entering downstream processing validation. According to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), December 2024, in the 'Facts & Figures 2024' report, there were more than 12,700 medicines in various stages of development globally by October 2024. Additionally, significant capital is being directed towards facility modernization to handle these new pipelines; according to Novo Nordisk, in 2024, the company announced plans to invest $4.1 billion to build a second fill and finish manufacturing facility in Clayton, North Carolina.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The high operational expenditure required for single-use nanofiltration membranes, coupled with the technical obstacles of membrane fouling, presents a substantial barrier to the expansion of the Global Virus Filtration Market. When filtration systems experience premature fouling, it necessitates frequent membrane replacements and causes interruptions in the manufacturing workflow. These disruptions not only inflate material costs but also delay production timelines, making the adoption of these viral clearance technologies financially burdensome for biopharmaceutical companies that are already striving to maintain competitive pricing.

This financial strain is particularly acute given the immense capital already required to bring therapeutic products to market. According to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations, in 2024, the estimated average cost to develop a new medicine was USD 2.6 billion. With such massive upfront investments at stake, manufacturers are under intense pressure to minimize downstream processing expenses. Consequently, the economic inefficiencies caused by expensive, fouling-prone filtration units can deter potential buyers or limit the scale of adoption, directly impeding broader market growth.

Key Market Trends

The integration of filtration into continuous bioprocessing workflows is transforming the Global Virus Filtration Market by replacing traditional batch-mode operations with steady-state downstream units. This shift minimizes the need for intermediate hold tanks and reduces facility footprints, directly addressing the industry's requirement for intensified processing strategies. By connecting virus filtration modules continuously with preceding chromatography steps, manufacturers can achieve higher volumetric productivity and validate long-term operational stability. This technical capability is being actively advanced by key industry players; according to WuXi Biologics, November 2024, in the 'Optimizing Viral Clearance in Continuous Manufacturing' webinar, the company successfully implemented continuous virus filtration systems that operated for over 200 hours without viral breakthrough, demonstrating the viability of these workflows for commercial-scale viral safety.

Simultaneously, there is a strategic focus on integrated downstream processing solutions, where technology vendors are actively funding the development of holistic platforms that unify multiple purification stages. This trend is driven by the market's demand for pre-validated, end-to-end solutions that reduce the process development burden for complex biologic modalities. Major suppliers are directing substantial capital towards innovation hubs to engineer these comprehensive manufacturing architectures. For instance, according to Merck KGaA, April 2024, in the 'Invests More Than € 300 Million in New Life Science Research Center' announcement, the company committed over €300 million to construct a facility in Darmstadt dedicated to researching next-generation solutions for manufacturing antibodies and other biotechnological products, underscoring the shift towards vendor-led integrated process innovation.

Segmental Insights

The Consumables segment represents the fastest growing category in the Global Virus Filtration Market due to the increasing adoption of single-use technologies in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Companies rely on disposable filtration kits and cartridges to prevent cross-contamination and eliminate costly cleaning validation procedures. Furthermore, strict safety guidelines from regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration require robust viral clearance during the production of biologics and vaccines. This operational necessity drives the frequent replacement of filtration units for each manufacturing batch, ensuring a continuous demand for consumable products.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global Virus Filtration Market, primarily driven by its expansive biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector and substantial investment in drug development. The region hosts a high concentration of pharmaceutical companies focused on producing biologics and vaccines, which necessitates reliable purification solutions. This market strength is reinforced by strict safety standards enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which mandates rigorous viral clearance testing for therapeutic products. Consequently, manufacturers prioritize validated filtration technologies to ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate contamination risks, thereby sustaining the region's prominence.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Sartorius Stedim Biotech opened its new Center for Bioprocess Innovation in Marlborough, Massachusetts, to foster collaboration and co-development with biopharmaceutical customers. The 63,000-square-foot facility houses research and service laboratories designed to optimize manufacturing processes, including critical steps such as viral clearance and validation. Dedicated expert teams at the center provide process development and optimization services, leveraging the company's latest technologies to address challenges in the production of next-generation therapeutics. This expansion aimed to strengthen the company's presence in a key biotech hub and support customers in accelerating the development of safe and effective drugs.
• In October 2024, Asahi Kasei Medical launched the Planova FG1, a next-generation virus removal filter designed to enhance productivity in the manufacturing of biotherapeutics. This new product features a high flux rate approximately seven times greater than its predecessor, the Planova BioEX, which allows for significantly accelerated filtration speeds without compromising virus removal capability. The filter was developed to address the growing demand for monoclonal antibodies and other biopharmaceuticals, ensuring robust performance even during process interruptions. By minimizing the risk of virus breakthrough and shortening processing times, the Planova FG1 supports biopharmaceutical manufacturers in improving operational efficiency and safety compliance.
• In October 2024, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, opened a new €290 million biosafety testing facility in Rockville, Maryland. This extensive expansion consolidated laboratories from four separate buildings into a single 23,000-square-meter hub dedicated to biosafety testing, analytical development, and cell banking manufacturing services. The facility was equipped with advanced technologies, including a rapid methods package featuring a molecular method for detecting virus families, which significantly reduces testing timelines. This strategic investment reinforced the company's capacity to meet the rising global demand for viral clearance studies and ensure the safety of traditional and novel biopharmaceutical therapies.
• In May 2024, Repligen Corporation launched the KrosFlo RS 10, a fully automated bench-scale tangential flow filtration (TFF) system tailored for the production of new modalities, including viral vectors and gene therapies. The system was engineered to provide end-to-end automation and control, enabling manufacturers to scale processes efficiently from development to clinical manufacturing. By offering features such as low hold-up volumes and integrated process analytical technology, the platform addressed critical needs in the filtration and concentration of biologic products. This product launch expanded the company's portfolio of filtration solutions, supporting the industry's shift towards more automated and robust bioprocessing workflows.

Key Market Players

• Merck KGaA
• Danaher Corporation
• Sartorius AG
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.
• Charles River Laboratories
• Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
• WuXi AppTec
• Lonza Group AG
• Clean Biologics

By Product	By Technology	By End Use	By Region
Consumables Instruments (Filtration systems, Chromatography systems) Services	Filtration Chromatography	Biopharmaceutical & biotechnology companies Contract research organizations Academic institutes & research laboratories Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Virus Filtration Market , By Product:

• Consumables
• Instruments (Filtration systems, Chromatography systems)
• Services

• Virus Filtration Market , By Technology:

• Filtration
• Chromatography

• Virus Filtration Market , By End Use:

• Biopharmaceutical & biotechnology companies
• Contract research organizations
• Academic institutes & research laboratories
• Others

• Virus Filtration 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