Product Segment Analysis: Gene Therapy (Largest Segment) vs Cell Therapy (Fastest-Growing Segment)

Gene therapy held the largest share of the advanced therapy medicinal products CDMO market in 2026, accounting for 52.15%, supported by the increasing complexity of manufacturing processes and the need for specialized development capabilities. Gene therapy programs require sophisticated vector production, stringent quality controls, process optimization, and specialized analytical testing, creating strong demand for experienced contract development and manufacturing partners. CDMOs provide biotechnology developers with access to specialized infrastructure and technical expertise while helping address manufacturing scalability and regulatory requirements. Continued advancement of genetic medicine and growing investment in personalized therapeutic approaches further strengthen the segment's position.

Cell therapy represents the fastest-growing product segment, driven by expanding development activity around therapies that use living cells to restore, replace, or modify biological functions. Manufacturing these products requires highly controlled processes covering cell sourcing, expansion, manipulation, preservation, and quality assessment, increasing the value of specialized CDMO capabilities. As developers seek flexible manufacturing solutions and expertise for increasingly complex cell-based programs, outsourcing is becoming more strategically important. Advances in cell engineering, personalized medicine, and regenerative treatment approaches are further supporting demand for cell therapy manufacturing services.

Phase Segment Analysis: Phase I (Largest Segment) vs Phase II (Fastest-Growing Segment)

Phase I accounted for the largest share of the advanced therapy medicinal products CDMO market in 2026, reflecting the substantial number of early-stage advanced therapy programs requiring development, process establishment, and initial clinical manufacturing support. At this stage, sponsors often depend on CDMOs for process development, analytical characterization, manufacturing readiness, and regulatory-compliant production. The complexity of advanced therapy products makes early technical optimization particularly important for establishing reproducible manufacturing processes. Increasing development of innovative gene and cell therapies continues to sustain demand for CDMO services during initial clinical evaluation.

In the phase II segment, the advanced therapy medicinal products CDMO market is gaining momentum as therapies progress toward broader clinical validation and require more established manufacturing processes. Phase II programs typically place greater emphasis on process consistency, manufacturing scalability, supply reliability, and product characterization as clinical development advances. CDMOs can support sponsors in transitioning from early development activities toward more robust production strategies while maintaining stringent quality requirements. The increasing progression of advanced therapy candidates through clinical pipelines is consequently strengthening demand for specialized phase II manufacturing services.