Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements account for 5–6% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, according to a paper published on Lancet Oncology by Devarakonda S, et al. Due to the rising prevalence of lung cancer, increasing popularity of targeted therapies, and wide availability of genetic testing, the ALK tests market is projected to reach $27.5 million by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.22% during 2023-2033, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, “ALK Tests Market Size by Segments, Share, Regulatory, Reimbursement, and Forecast to 2033,” reveals that the ALK tests market was valued at $22.1 million in 2023. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization (ISH), and Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are commonly used in ALK tests. However, next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests are growing robustly as compared with other methods.

Tina Deng, MSc, Principal Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “With numerous detection methods currently in clinical use, the consensus is that an ideal assay should be sensitive, effectively covering all clinically relevant targets using limited samples, and be cost efficient. NGS allows an entire genome to be sequenced at once by fragmenting DNA and sequencing those fragments in an automated, parallel manner. NGS is gradually replacing traditional methods of ALK mutation testing due to its higher sensitivity and ability to detect mutations with low allele frequency.”

As it is now standard to test for a high number of mutations to personalize treatment decisions, the use of NGS panels that can evaluate tumor biopsies for a wide range of potentially targetable mutations is increasing.

Deng concludes: “GlobalData predicts that a rise in NGS tests will occur in the forecast period as rapid and low-cost sequencing continues to provide physicians with the necessary tools to translate genomic information into clinically actionable results.”