(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) AI-driven discovery, precision medicine, automation and partnerships are creating opportunities in chronic, rare and CNS diseases, while local sourcing strengthens supply chains.Dublin, Sept. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market Report 2026" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
Small Molecule Drug Discovery Market to Reach $117.05 Billion by 2030 as AI Adoption and Precision Medicine Accelerate Growth
The global small molecule drug discovery market is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by pharmaceutical research and development investments, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and continued advances in molecular biology. The market is projected to grow from $67.94 billion in 2025 to $75.56 billion in 2026, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2%.
Historic market growth has been supported by increasing demand for cost-effective therapeutics, the expansion of contract research organizations, and improvements in technologies used to identify and optimize drug candidates. Small molecule therapies remain an important area of pharmaceutical development because of their broad applications across oncology, cardiovascular disease, central nervous system disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic conditions, respiratory diseases, and other therapeutic areas.
The small molecule drug discovery market is forecast to reach $117.05 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2026. Growth during the forecast period is expected to be fueled by the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into drug discovery, the expansion of precision medicine programs, and increased collaboration between biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Automated high-throughput platforms and growing research into rare, complex, and difficult-to-treat diseases are also expected to support market development.
Key small molecule drug discovery market trends include wider adoption of high-throughput screening, advances in combinatorial chemistry, integration of nanotechnology into drug design, and continued progress in personalized medicine. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations are also improving target validation, hit generation, lead identification, and lead optimization to shorten development timelines and increase the likelihood of clinical success.
The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is a major driver of market growth. Small molecule medicines are widely used in the treatment of cancer, HIV, infections, heart disease, renal disease, psychiatric conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders. Their use across long-term treatment pathways is expected to increase as aging populations and multimorbidity create greater demand for accessible and effective therapies.
According to a 2023 report from the National Institutes of Health, the number of people aged 50 and older in the United States living with at least one chronic illness is projected to reach 142.66 million by 2050. The population affected by multimorbidity is also expected to rise substantially, reinforcing the need for continued investment in new therapeutic candidates and more efficient drug discovery technologies.
Strategic partnerships are helping companies combine artificial intelligence capabilities with disease-specific research expertise. In November 2023, Evommune and Accutar Biotechnology announced a collaboration focused on AI-enabled drug discovery for chronic inflammatory diseases. The partnership combines Accutar Biotechnology's proprietary AI platform with Evommune's research capabilities to identify and advance novel small molecule drug candidates.
Merger and acquisition activity is also strengthening the competitive landscape. In April 2025, Johnson & Johnson acquired Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The transaction is intended to expand Johnson & Johnson's neuroscience portfolio, enhance its small molecule central nervous system capabilities, and accelerate growth in treatments for mental health and neurodegenerative conditions.
North America was the largest region in the small molecule drug discovery market in 2025, supported by substantial pharmaceutical research investment, established biotechnology clusters, and advanced drug development infrastructure. Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. The market analysis covers Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. Countries covered include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Italy, and Spain.
Markets Covered:
1) By Drug Type: Small Molecule Drugs; Biologic Drugs
2) By Technology: High Throughput Screening; Pharmacogenomics; Combinatorial Chemistry; Nanotechnology; Others
3) By Therapeutic Area: Oncology; Central Nervous System; Cardiovascular; Respiratory; Metabolic Disorders; Gastrointestinal; Others
4) By Process Or Phase: Target ID Or Validation; Hit Generation And Selection; Lead Identification; Lead Optimization
5) By End-User: Pharmaceutical Companies; Contract Research Organizations; Others
Subsegments:
1) By Small Molecule Drugs: Generic Small Molecule Drugs; Novel Small Molecule Drugs
2) By Biologic Drugs: Monoclonal Antibodies; Vaccines; Recombinant Proteins; Cell And Gene Therapies
Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita.
Data Segmentation: Country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
Key Attributes:
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