Fetal Bovine Serum Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Fetal Bovine Serum Market is Segmented By Product (Stem Cell, Charcoal Stripped, Dialyzed Fetal Bovine Serum, Other), By Application(Biopharmaceuticals, Cell Culture Media, Human and Animal Vaccine Production, Other), By End-User(Research and Academic Institutes, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industry, Other), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031

Fetal Bovine Serum Market Overview

Fetal Bovine Serum Market size is estimated to reach at a high CAGR 5.3% during the forecast period 2024-2031. Fetal bovine serum is made from blood drawn from a bovine fetus via a closed collection system at the slaughterhouse. Fetal bovine serum is the most commonly used serum supplement for eukaryotic cell culture in vitro.

Fetal Bovine Serum Market Summary and Scope

Fetal Bovine Serum Market Dynamics and Trends

The factors driving the global fetal bovine serum market are the increasing demand for fetal bovine serum and the advancement in research. 

The increasing demand for fetal bovine serum and advancement in research is expected to drive the market growth

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a byproduct of cattle harvesting for the meatpacking industry; it is widely used to supplement the basal growth medium in cell culture applications by academic and industrial researchers.  Fetal bovine serum is the liquid portion that remains after blood is drawn from a coagulated bovine fetus. It is the most commonly used serum supplement in in-vitro cell culture. Fetal bovine serum is mostly present in culture medium used in vitro fertilization due to its high concentration of hormones, carrier proteins, and macromolecular proteins. Embryonic stem cells are transferred into the culture medium during this process, which causes the cells to grow.

Many experiments have been carried out in recent years in an attempt to clone animal tissues. In the field of biotechnology, the foetal bovine serum is commonly used in these experiments. According to the "Genetics and Molecular Research Journal," in a study conducted in Brazil, bovine ear cells were used to collect primary skin cell cultures, which were then placed in culture dishes with other growth-promoting substances, including 10% FBS. FBS, also known as "foetal calf serum," is widely used in cell culture applications due to its numerous growth factors and low antibody level.

Limitations related to fetal bovine serum is expected to hamper the market growth

Fetal bovine serum-based media remains the gold standard for MSC isolation and expansion in basic research and clinical applications. Despite this, the use of FBS in culture medium raises many safety concerns, particularly in clinical-grade preparations. One of the major concerns is the risk of FBS/media contamination with harmful pathogens such as prions, viruses, Mycoplasma, or other unidentified zoonoses that can be transmitted to the host and cause adverse immune reactions from MSC therapy. Additional xenogeneic factors found in animal products (FBS or fetal calf serum [FCS]) can also induce hyperimmunogenic MSCs, resulting in cell therapy rejection and possible infections, with increased risks with multiple MSC transplants.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Fetal Bovine Serum Market

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to benefit the fetal bovine serum market. Fetal bovine serum is widely used in cell culture preparation and vaccine production. Fetal bovine serum is used as a supplement in vaccine growth media. In vitro testing of vaccines and antivirals typically necessitates culture media in which the targeted virus or bacteria is cultured, and the response is identified. The increasing emphasis of pharmaceutical industries on research and development is driving the demand for culture media, which is driving up demand for foetal bovine serum.

Fetal Bovine Serum Market Segmentation Analysis

The Stem Cell segment is expected to dominate the global fetal bovine serum market in the forecast period

Stem cells have a wide range of applications in research studies and the biopharmaceutical industry, so their market value is the highest compared to other product types' markets. The product is in high demand due to the efficacy of cellular reprogramming for induced pluripotent stem cells. Because of the wide range of tissue sources from which stem cells can be derived, they have an advantage over other stem cell types. 

STEMCELL fetal bovine serum (FBS) can be used for various purposes, including as a serum supplement for culture media and as a research assay reagent. STEMCELL FBS is sterile and contains low levels of endotoxin and hemoglobin. The broader range of applications of stem cells is likely to fuel segmental growth, as tissue culture requires fetal bovine serum cell line. Furthermore, the benefits of FBS in serum cell culture, such as its ability to differentiate stem cells, morphology, cell growth and expansion, and clonal efficiency, are driving their adoption.

Fetal Bovine Serum Market Geographical Share

North America region is expected to hold the largest market share in the global fetal bovine serum market

Increased government funding, leading clinical diagnostics companies, and a greater emphasis on developing biopharmaceuticals in North America are expected to fuel the market in this region.

According to a Congressional Research Service (2020) report, the US government has spent more than $ 134.1 billion on research and development (R&D). The federal government of the U.S is an important supporter of research and development efforts that result in scientific breakthroughs and new technologies. A U.S based company, Access Biologicals, LLC, the company's Fetal Bovine Serum products are tailored to meet the specific needs of a variety of cell culture systems. Approved sources in the United States and the United States Department of Agriculture. The product is collected by USDA-licensed facilities aseptically.

Fetal Bovine Serum Companies and Competitive Landscape

The global fetal bovine serum market is highly competitive with increasing R&D and company acquisitions and expansions. Some of the key players in the market are Bovogen, Atlas Biologicals, Inc., GE Healthcare, Cytiva, HiMedia Laboratories, Merck KgaA, PAN-Biotech, R&D Systems Inc., Rocky Mountain Biologicals, TCS Biosciences Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Merck KgaA

Overview: The Merck Group is commonly known as Merck, is a German multinational science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt that employs approximately 57,000 people and operates in 66 countries. The company was founded in 1668.

Product Portfolio: The Fetal Bovine Serum is US Origin, HL-1 Cell Screened FBS, sterile-filtered and suitable for cell culture.

Key Development: On March 17, 2021, Merck expanded its Life Science Center in Molsheim, France, with a single-use assembly production unit. The € 25 million investment accelerates the company's European expansion plans for this critical technology, which is used to produce Covid-19 vaccines and other lifesaving therapies. Merck will manufacture the product in Molsheim for the first time in Europe.