Global Solid Tumor Therapeutics Market Outlook, 2031

The global solid tumor therapeutics industry covers medicines used to treat cancers that form masses in organs and tissues, including lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, gastric, liver, pancreatic, ovarian, bladder, kidney, head and neck, skin, brain and other cancers, which together account for about 90% of cancer cases and most cancer deaths. Treatments include immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Merck's Keytruda, the world's best-selling medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo, AstraZeneca's Imfinzi and Roche's Tecentriq; targeted therapies against EGFR, ALK, HER2, KRAS, BRAF, PI3K, CDK4/6, PARP, VEGF and other targets; antibody-drug conjugates such as AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's Enhertu and Datroway, Gilead's Trodelvy and Pfizer's Padcev; bispecific antibodies such as Amgen's Imdelltra and Akeso and Summit's ivonescimab; hormone therapies for breast and prostate cancer; radiopharmaceuticals such as Novartis's Pluvicto; cancer vaccines and cell therapies; and chemotherapy. Leading companies include Merck, AstraZeneca, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead, Amgen, AbbVie, Bayer, Astellas, BeiGene and Chinese developers such as Hengrui, Akeso, Innovent and Kelun-Biotech. Oncology is the largest therapeutic area in the pharmaceutical industry, and solid tumours account for most oncology spending.

Solid tumour treatment continues to advance rapidly. Immunotherapy has moved into earlier stages, including treatment before and after surgery for lung, bladder, kidney, melanoma and other cancers. Antibody-drug conjugates have become one of the fastest-growing classes, with Enhertu approved with pertuzumab as first-line treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in 2025. Targeted therapies keep expanding, including Boehringer Ingelheim's zongertinib for HER2-mutated lung cancer approved in August 2025. Radiopharmaceuticals have grown, with Pluvicto approved in March 2025 for prostate cancer before chemotherapy, and pharmaceutical companies have acquired radiopharmaceutical developers. Subcutaneous immunotherapy is spreading, with Merck's Keytruda Qlex approved in September 2025 ahead of Keytruda patent expiry later in the decade. In 2026, two developments drew particular attention. Revolution Medicines reported in April 2026 that its oral RAS(ON) inhibitor daraxonrasib nearly doubled median overall survival to 13.2 months compared with 6.7 months for chemotherapy in previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer in the phase 3 RASolute 302 trial, results presented at ASCO and published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May 2026, and the FDA permitted an expanded access programme. The FDA also accepted Summit's application for ivonescimab, a PD-1 and VEGF bispecific antibody, in EGFR-mutated lung cancer, with a decision due in November 2026. Chinese companies have become a leading source of solid tumour innovation, licensing antibody-drug conjugates and bispecifics to Western companies, while pricing pressure from Medicare negotiation and upcoming patent expiries shape the market.

Market Dynamics Market Drivers • Rising Cancer Incidence and Longer SurvivalThe global number of new cancer cases is expected to grow substantially by 2050 because of ageing populations, obesity, smoking, alcohol and other risk factors, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. More patients are diagnosed through screening, and better treatments allow many patients with metastatic disease to live longer on multiple lines of therapy, increasing treatment duration and spending on solid tumour drugs.
• Innovation in Immunotherapy, ADCs and Targeted TherapyNew drug classes, including antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, RAS inhibitors, radiopharmaceuticals and next-generation targeted therapies, are improving outcomes in cancers such as lung, breast, pancreatic, prostate and gastrointestinal cancers. Genomic testing identifies patients for targeted therapies, and expansion of treatments into earlier stages of disease increases the number of eligible patients and the value of the market.

Market Challenges • High Costs and Pricing PressureSolid tumour drugs are among the most expensive medicines, with immunotherapies, ADCs and targeted therapies often costing more than USD 100,000 a year in the United States, and combination regimens add further costs. Medicare price negotiation, which selected several cancer drugs, European health technology assessment and China's price negotiations put pressure on prices, while patient out-of-pocket costs remain a barrier.
• Drug Resistance, Toxicity and Patent ExpiriesMany solid tumours eventually develop resistance to targeted drugs and immunotherapy, and some cancers, such as pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma, remain very difficult to treat. Toxicities, including immune-related side effects and lung disease with some ADCs, limit use. Major brands, including Keytruda, Opdivo and Ibrance, face loss of exclusivity later in the decade, exposing large revenues to biosimilars and generics.

Market Trends • Next-Generation ADCs, Bispecifics and RAS InhibitorsAntibody-drug conjugates targeting HER2, TROP2, HER3, B7-H3, claudin 18.2 and other antigens, bispecific antibodies such as PD-1/VEGF and PD-1/CTLA-4 molecules, and oral inhibitors of RAS proteins such as daraxonrasib are reshaping solid tumour treatment. Many of these molecules originate from Chinese companies and are licensed globally, and they are being tested in combinations and earlier lines of therapy.
• Radiopharmaceuticals and Subcutaneous DeliveryRadiopharmaceuticals that deliver radiation directly to cancer cells, such as Pluvicto and Lutathera, are expanding, and companies are investing in new targets and isotopes such as actinium-225, supported by acquisitions and new manufacturing. Subcutaneous formulations of immunotherapies, including Keytruda Qlex, Tecentriq Hybreza and Opdivo Qvantig, reduce treatment time and extend product lifecycles.



Segment Analysis Immunotherapy and targeted therapy account for the largest shares of solid tumour drug revenue, while antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies are the fastest-growing drug classes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab and cemiplimab and CTLA-4 inhibitors such as ipilimumab, generate the largest share of solid tumour revenue and are used across lung, melanoma, kidney, bladder, head and neck, gastrointestinal, liver, cervical and other cancers. Targeted therapies, including EGFR, ALK, HER2, KRAS, BRAF, MET, RET, PI3K, AKT, CDK4/6 and PARP inhibitors, form the second largest class, and oral RAS inhibitors such as daraxonrasib could become a major new category. Antibody-drug conjugates, including trastuzumab deruxtecan, datopotamab deruxtecan, sacituzumab govitecan, enfortumab vedotin and mirvetuximab soravtansine, are the fastest-growing class. Bispecific antibodies, including tarlatamab for small cell lung cancer, amivantamab for EGFR-mutated lung cancer and PD-1/VEGF molecules such as ivonescimab, are expanding rapidly. Hormone therapies for breast and prostate cancer, including aromatase inhibitors, oral SERDs, enzalutamide, apalutamide and darolutamide, are widely used. Radiopharmaceuticals, anti-angiogenic drugs, cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses and cell therapies such as TIL and TCR-T form further segments. Chemotherapy remains part of many regimens.

Lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers account for the largest share of solid tumour drug spending, while pancreatic, gastric, liver and other gastrointestinal cancers are areas of high unmet need and growing innovation. Lung cancer is the largest solid tumour market, with extensive use of immunotherapy, targeted therapies for EGFR, ALK and other mutations, ADCs and bispecifics. Breast cancer is the second largest, driven by CDK4/6 inhibitors, HER2-targeted therapies, ADCs and hormone therapies. Prostate cancer is a major market for androgen receptor inhibitors, PARP inhibitors and radiopharmaceuticals such as Pluvicto. Colorectal cancer uses anti-VEGF, anti-EGFR and targeted therapies for BRAF, HER2 and KRAS G12C mutations, and immunotherapy for mismatch repair-deficient tumours. Melanoma was transformed by immunotherapy and BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Kidney and bladder cancers use immunotherapy combinations and ADCs such as enfortumab vedotin. Gastric and oesophageal cancers use immunotherapy, HER2 and claudin 18.2 targeted therapies. Liver cancer uses immunotherapy combinations and targeted drugs. Pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest cancers, has had few effective drugs, and daraxonrasib's survival benefit in 2026 could transform treatment. Ovarian, cervical, endometrial, head and neck, thyroid and brain cancers form further segments.

Intravenous administration accounts for the largest share of solid tumour drug value, while oral and subcutaneous therapies are growing. Intravenous infusion is used for most immunotherapies, ADCs, bispecific antibodies, chemotherapy and anti-angiogenic antibodies, administered in hospitals, cancer centres and community oncology clinics, and it accounts for the largest share of solid tumour drug value. Oral therapies, including targeted kinase inhibitors, CDK4/6 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, androgen receptor inhibitors, oral SERDs and RAS inhibitors, are taken at home and account for a large and growing share of revenue. Subcutaneous formulations of immunotherapies and HER2 antibodies, including Keytruda Qlex, Opdivo Qvantig, Tecentriq Hybreza and Phesgo, reduce administration time and are gaining adoption. Radiopharmaceuticals are given intravenously in nuclear medicine departments. Intravesical therapies, delivered directly into the bladder, treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Intratumoural injections are used for oncolytic viruses and some immunotherapies. The shift toward oral and subcutaneous therapies allows more treatment outside hospitals, while new infused therapies continue to be introduced.

Hospital pharmacies and cancer centres account for most solid tumour drug value, while specialty pharmacies and community oncology practices are major distribution channels, particularly in the United States. Hospital pharmacies and cancer centres supply intravenous immunotherapies, ADCs, bispecific antibodies, chemotherapy and radiopharmaceuticals, and they coordinate multidisciplinary cancer care including surgery and radiotherapy. Academic cancer centres conduct many clinical trials, giving patients access to new drugs. Community oncology practices in the United States administer many infused treatments and dispense oral drugs through medically integrated pharmacies, and they are an important channel for pharmaceutical companies. Specialty pharmacies dispense oral targeted therapies and hormone therapies, managing reimbursement and patient support. Retail pharmacies play a smaller role, mainly for supportive medications and generic hormone therapies. Nuclear medicine departments administer radiopharmaceuticals, requiring specialised facilities and supply chains. In Europe, hospitals dispense most cancer drugs through national procurement and reimbursement systems. In China, national reimbursement negotiations have expanded access to innovative cancer drugs, and designated pharmacies dispense some oral oncology medicines. Genomic testing laboratories, such as Foundation Medicine, Guardant Health and Caris, influence treatment selection.

Regional Analysis North America leads the solid tumor therapeutics market because of high drug prices and rapid adoption of new therapies, while Asia-Pacific has the largest number of patients and China has become a major centre of solid tumour drug innovation. North America, led by the United States, accounts for the largest share of solid tumour drug revenue. The United States has high drug prices, broad access to genomic testing and rapid uptake of new therapies, and the FDA approved many solid tumour drugs in 2024 and 2025, including new ADCs, targeted therapies, subcutaneous immunotherapies and radiopharmaceutical indications. Daraxonrasib's pancreatic cancer results in 2026 and the pending decision on ivonescimab could reshape key tumour types. Medicare price negotiation and future Keytruda and Opdivo patent expiries will affect revenue. Canada has similar treatment patterns with lower prices. Europe is the second largest market, with broad use of immunotherapy and targeted therapies but slower access to some new drugs because of health technology assessment and budget constraints, and the EU's joint clinical assessment for cancer drugs began in 2025. Asia-Pacific has the largest number of solid tumour patients and is the fastest-growing region. China has become a major innovator in ADCs, bispecifics and immunotherapies, with companies such as Hengrui, Akeso, Innovent, BeiGene, Kelun-Biotech and MediLink licensing drugs to global companies, and national reimbursement negotiations expanding access. Japan has a large oncology market with strong domestic companies such as Daiichi Sankyo and Astellas, and South Korea and Australia have growing markets. India has a large and growing cancer burden with limited access to innovative drugs. Latin America, the Middle East and Africa face rising cancer incidence and limited access to modern therapies.

Key Developments April 2026: Revolution Medicines reported that its oral RAS(ON) inhibitor extended median overall survival to 13.2 months versus 6.7 months with chemotherapy in previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer in the phase 3 RASolute 302 trial.
January 2026: The FDA accepted Summit Therapeutics' application for the PD-1/VEGF bispecific ivonescimab with chemotherapy in EGFR-mutated lung cancer, with a decision date of 14 November 2026.
September 2025: Merck's subcutaneous pembrolizumab was approved across Keytruda's solid tumour indications, reducing administration time compared with intravenous infusion.
August 2025: Boehringer Ingelheim's Hernexeos was approved as an oral targeted therapy for previously treated non-small cell lung cancer with HER2 mutations.
Late 2025: The combination was approved for first-line metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer after reducing the risk of progression or death by 44% compared with standard therapy.
March 2025: Novartis's radioligand therapy was approved for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer before chemotherapy, expanding the eligible population.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base Year: 2025
• Estimated Year: 2026
• Forecast Year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Global Solid Tumor Therapeutics Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• Ongoing trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Drug Class
• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
• Targeted Therapies
• Antibody-Drug Conjugates
• Bispecific Antibodies
• Hormone Therapies
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Chemotherapy

By Cancer Type
• Lung Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Gastric and Liver Cancers
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Other Solid Tumours

By Route of Administration
• Intravenous
• Oral
• Subcutaneous
• Other

By Distribution Channel
• Hospital Pharmacies and Cancer Centres
• Community Oncology Practices
• Specialty Pharmacies
• Retail Pharmacies