Market size & growth
- 2024 market size (range reported): roughly USD 0.7–1.3 billion (different market-research firms report different base estimates).
- Mid-term forecasts (to ~2030): many forecasts project ~USD 3.0–3.3 billion by 2030 (implying CAGRs in the ~12–19% area depending on the report and baseline year). Example numbers: Grand View projects USD 1.14B (2024) → USD 3.30B (2030) (CAGR ≈ 19.1% over 2025–2030).
- MarketsandMarkets / PR Newswire-type reports give slightly lower growth projections (example: ~12.4% CAGR to ≈USD 3.06B by 2030).
Why forecasts vary
- Differences come from: scope (veterinary-only mAbs vs broader biologics), included animal segments (companion animals only vs livestock + equine), regional assumptions, and whether pipeline/conditional approvals are counted.
- The reported range above may serve as the practical estimate based on user’s discretion of the source of the information
Leading companies (market participants)
- Zoetis — clear market leader in approved veterinary mAbs and commercial roll-out (multiple mAb products)
- Elanco — active in biologics/pipeline and large animal-health footprint; a named market player in industry reports
- Merck Animal Health (MSD Animal Health) — developing/marketing veterinary mAbs (example: gilvetmab for canine oncology)
- Other large animal-health firms also named in market reports: Boehringer Ingelheim, regional biotech firms and smaller specialty biotech players (these appear across vendor reports)
Leading products / brands (approved / commercial)
- Cytopoint® (lokivetmab) — Zoetis; anti-IL-31 mAb for canine atopic dermatitis (one of the earliest and most widely used veterinary mAbs). Widely used — millions of doses/large installed base
- Librela® (bedinvetmab) — Zoetis; mAb for canine osteoarthritis pain (FDA approval and widespread rollout; label updates and safety monitoring have been public topics)
- Solensia® (frunevetmab) — Zoetis; mAb for feline osteoarthritis pain (monthly injectable)
- Gilvetmab — Merck Animal Health; a caninized mAb for certain canine cancers (available to veterinary oncology specialists; conditional approvals/availability announcements)
Key market drivers
- Strong demand in companion-animal segment (pet population growth, willingness to pay)
- Breakthrough approvals and high clinical efficacy (e.g., durable monthly injections for OA, effective itch relief for dermatitis)
- Large animal / livestock potential — still early: a bigger addressable market if cost & delivery issues are solved
- R&D pipeline + established animal-health players investing in mAbs (partnerships, launches)
Risks & constraints
- Price & reimbursement — biologics are costly; adoption depends on vet/pet owner willingness and regional pricing
- Safety monitoring / label updates — e.g., publicized safety signals and label updates (illustrated by post-marketing safety reviews for Librela). Regulators and vets watch adverse-event reports closely
- Manufacturing & supply — complex biologic production can constrain scale and margins
Regional Markets
- North America (US) is currently the largest market and early adopter region (large pet-care spend, quicker reimbursement/clinic adoption).
- Growth in Europe and Asia Pacific is strong but depends on pricing and regulatory approvals.
Product-level disclosed revenue (public sources) — selected mAbs
- Librela (bedinvetmab) — international sales cited at ~USD 246 Mn (recent 12‑month international run‑rate snapshot reported by company/earnings)
- Solensia (frunevetmab) — international sales cited at ~USD 64nMn (company’s earnings disclosure)
- Combined OA mAb (Librela + Solensia) — ~USD 310 Mn international combined run‑rate reported
- Cytopoint (lokivetmab) — ~USD 510 Mn part of Zoetis dermatology franchise; dermatology product sales and growth are significantly higher than osteoarthritis segment Mabs
Veterinary MAb pipeline — notable, not-yet-approved programs
| Candidate / Program | Developer(s) | Indication / Target | Latest known stage (region) | Notes / status (date) |
| Portela (relfovetmab) | Zoetis | Anti-NGF for feline osteoarthritis pain (long-acting, ~3 months) | Regulatory — CVMP positive opinion (EU). EC decision pending (EU). | CVMP gave a positive opinion on 10 Sep 2025; EC decision expected Q4 2025 → commercial EU launch likely 2026 if authorized |
| Licensed MabGenesis antibody(ies) — Virbac program(s) | MabGenesis → Virbac (license) | Multiple canine therapeutic targets (company hasn’t publicly listed each target) | Discovery → Preclinical / early development (global) | Virbac licensed MabGenesis’ therapeutic antibodies in Apr 2025; program details remain under development/ commercialization planning |
| MabGenesis – MSD (Merck Animal Health) collaboration programs | MabGenesis ↔ MSD / Merck Animal Health | Various companion-animal targets (discovery stage) | Discovery / early R&D (global) | MabGenesis announced a collaboration with MSD Animal Health to discover and develop novel mAbs (press release/partner pages). Programs are preclinical |
| Merck Animal Health anti-Cryptosporidium mAb | Merck Animal Health (MSD) | mAb against Cryptosporidium parvum — neonatal calf diarrhoea | Preclinical / in-vivo efficacy (animal model) | Merck published efficacy data (calf models) showing protection/effect in 2023; still pre-commercial and subject to regulatory pathway for biologics in livestock |
| PetMedix / Zoetis discovery programs | PetMedix → Zoetis (collaboration; PetMedix later acquired by Zoetis) | Species-specific therapeutic antibodies for pets (multiple targets) | Discovery → Candidate selection (global) | Collaboration announced 2022; work continues on species-specific mAb discovery — multiple discovery programs in pipeline. PetMedix was later acquired by Zoetis (increasing Zoetis’ discovery capacity) |
| Invetx programs | Invetx (animal-health biotech) | Multiple mAbs for chronic/serious conditions in dogs & cats | Discovery / preclinical (global) | Invetx advertises several discovery-stage mAb programs for companion animals; details are high-level (company pipeline page) |
| Anti-NGF / anti-pain caninised mAbs (academic / biotech) | Academic groups / biotech spinouts | Anti-NGF for canine pain / OA (species-specific formats) | Preclinical / translational (academic → industry) | Several academic papers and preclinical programs describe caninised anti-NGF mAbs; some may be partnered/licensed later. Public details are limited |
| Other partnered discovery programmes (Boehringer Ingelheim + MabGenesis, others) | MabGenesis ↔ Boehringer Ingelheim; other biotechs | Canine therapeutic antibodies (various targets) | Discovery / early R&D (global) | Boehringer announced collaboration with MabGenesis (2022) and other partnerships exist; most remain discovery-stage and not public about specific candidate names |
Key takeaways / interpretation
- Most advanced near-approval program: Portela (relfovetmab) from Zoetis — CVMP positive opinion (EU) on 10 Sep 2025. This is effectively at the final regulatory hurdle in Europe. If the European Commission grants authorization, Portela will be among the first new long-acting anti-NGF cat mAbs on the market
- Companion-animal focus: The majority of visible mAb programs are for companion animals (dogs/cats) — derm, osteoarthritis/pain, oncology, infectious diseases (e.g., Cryptosporidium for calves is an exception in livestock). Discovery and discovery-to-partnering deals are very active (MabGenesis, PetMedix, Invetx, academic groups)
- Partnering is the dominant commercial route: Several major animal-health firms are in discovery/partnering deals with specialist antibody companies (MabGenesis, PetMedix) rather than all discovery in-house — expect more candidate announcements as these partnerships mature
- Livestock mAbs still early: Although high-value opportunities exist (e.g., anti-Cryptosporidium for calves), livestock mAbs face cost, dosing, and regulatory challenges; most livestock mAb programs are preclinical
