Geographically, the global brachytherapy devices market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South & Central America. In terms of revenue, North America dominated the brachytherapy devices market share in 2022. The brachytherapy devices market in this region is dominated by the US. This can be attributed to factors such as the increasing cases of breast cancer among women and prostate cancer among men in the region. According to the Pan America Health Organization (PAHO), in 2020, an estimated 4 million people in the Americas were diagnosed with cancer, which is predicted to increase by ~60% by 2040.

Additionally, the presence of market players, such as BD, Isoray Inc., and Elekta, and the availability of advanced brachytherapy devices present a sizable opportunity for the market expansion. For instance, in July 2021, GenesisCare expanded its brachytherapy service by procuring 27 Flexitron brachytherapy afterloader systems and service agreements from Elekta. These advanced cancer treatment devices enabled GenesisCare to keep up with the latest technology and provide high-quality care to its patients across their centers in the US.

Growing Prevalence of Cancer Fuels Brachytherapy Devices Market Growth

According to the statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2024, ~20 million new cases of cancer and 9.7 million deaths were reported globally in 2022. Among these cases, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, with 2.3 million cases diagnosed in women. In addition, prostate and colorectal cancers are the second and third most commonly occurring cancers in men. Brachytherapy devices are frequently used to treat prostate, breast, and other types of cancer, as it is less time-consuming and has fewer side effects than other radiation therapies. These devices include wires, seeds, or rods filled with radioactive materials implanted near the tumor to treat it by emitting radiation.

According to an article published by Elsevier in June 2023, a study aimed to compare the results of brachytherapy over external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) by collecting a large multi-institutional database concluded that the use of brachytherapy devices has been linked with improved survival rates and a reduced incidence of distant cancer metastases as compared to EBRT. This finding is significant and could encourage the adoption of brachytherapy as a cost-effective and efficient treatment option for patients who have intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer.

Therefore, as the prevalence of cancer continues to rise globally, the demand for brachytherapy as a widely accessible treatment option simultaneously increases, thereby significantly contributing to the brachytherapy device market growth.

Factors Restraining Market Growth:

 Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy performed to treat cancer. In this procedure, a small radioactive source (such as a seed, pellet, wire, or capsule) is implanted in the body using a needle or catheter. The radiation emitted by this source damages the DNA of nearby cancer cells. It is being widely used due to its advantages over other radiation therapies. However, a few side effects associated with the procedure limit the demand for brachytherapy devices. Some common side effects of brachytherapy include swelling, bruising, bleeding, or pain and discomfort at the spot where radiations are delivered. In the case of gynecologic cancers or prostate cancer, brachytherapy can cause short-term urinary symptoms such as incontinence or pain during urination. It may also lead to diarrhea, constipation, and rectal bleeding.

Further, the lack of skilled personnel and access to advanced products, particularly in low and middle-income countries, impede the growth of the market.

Segmental Overview

The “brachytherapy devices market analysis” was carried out by considering the following segments: product type, type, application, and end user. The market, by product type, is segmented into seeds, brachytherapy afterloaders and applicators, and electronic brachytherapy. By type, the market is bifurcated into high-dose rate brachytherapy implant and low-dose rate brachytherapy implant. The market, by application, is segmented into breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and others. In terms of end user, the market is segmented into hospitals and specialty clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. The scope of the global brachytherapy devices market report entails North America (the US, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Spain, and the Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and the Rest of Asia Pacific), the Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa), and South & Central America (Brazil, Argentina, and the Rest of South & Central America).

Brachytherapy Devices Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Elekta; Varian Medical Systems, Inc.; BEBIG Medical; Theragenics Corporation; IsoAid; Siemens Healthineers AG; BXTA; BD; Eckert and Ziegler; and Perspective Therapeutics are among the key companies profiled in the brachytherapy devices market report. These companies focus on technological advancements to present new hi-tech products in their product portfolios and geographic expansions to meet the growing consumer demand worldwide, which allows them to maintain their brand name in the global market.    

As per company press releases, a few of the recent developments in the global brachytherapy devices market are mentioned below:

1. In October 2023, Elekta announced acquisition of the Xoft business from iCAD, Inc. through an asset acquisition. By acquiring the Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx) System, along with the transfer of employees, the company aims to provide an expanded range of cancer treatment options and electronic brachytherapy technology.

As per the press release in July 2023, CIVCO Radiotherapy announced its partnership with Qfix, a company that provides devices for positioning and immobilizing patients, during the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting held from October 23–26, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas.

• In July 2022, BEBIG Medical acquired Wolf-Medizintechnik GmbH (WOmed). This German company supplies cutting-edge X-ray therapy and newly developed intraoperative radiation therapy products to the global market. The acquisition aimed to expand BEBIG Medical’s product portfolio in radiation therapy for cancer treatment.

• In December 2020, Varian Medical Systems, Inc, launched four new brachytherapy applicator sets for HDR brachytherapy of vagina, cervix, uterus, endometrium, and rectum. The new suite of applicators is designed to address issues of applicator size, ease of use, and MRI imaging support. This new addition is made to be more user-friendly and comfortable for patients, allowing clinicians to treat more patients on an outpatient basis.