How chronic disease creates opportunity on diagnostic and therapeutic pipelines

pharmafile.com | November 4, 2026 | Feature | |  Asthma & COPD, Cardiology, Corporate, Diabetes, LDTs, Neurology, Oncology, Osteoporosis, Skin, biomarkers, chronic disease, chronic pain, genetic testing, healthcare innovation, investment 

As healthcare budgets become increasingly stretched by the demands of coping with long-term illnesses, interest is growing in the manufacturing and commercial development of novel therapies…

It is estimated in a recent report that the global market in laboratory developed tests (LDTs) will reach nearly US$27bn by the middle of the next decade.

Given that the market barely topped US$14bn only last year, that suggests an almost doubling in value in the nine years to 2034 

The study by Polaris Market Research places this predicted development in the context of moves towards more bespoke medical diagnosis, noting:

“As doctors and laboratories look for better ways to identify diseases, understand biomarkers, and support treatment decisions … LDTs … are becoming increasingly important.”

Whereas commercial diagnostic tests are designed for general use in healthcare facilities, LDTs are specific to the lab performing the testing and permitted more latitude to address more niche requirements.

Underpinning the demand for LDTs is the need for healthcare systems to address the increasing medical workload caused by chronic diseases. As the authors state, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory disorders often require repeated testing for diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient monitoring.”

Coupled with this, developments in molecular diagnostics have allowed ever more focused biomarker development, to the benefit of both oncology and genetic testing. Likewise, the trend towards more personalised medicine has created need for tailored diagnostic information with laboratories developing specialised assays.

For developers of medical technologies, there are considerable opportunities, most obviously in the molecular diagnostics field, which accounted for more than a quarter of the market in 2025, according to Polaris. That said, when it comes to garnering investment, it will remain difficult for laboratories to predict the demand for and the financial returns to be got from new LDTs.

Public bodies too are heavily involved in the creation of new approaches to chronic conditions.

Recently, the Medicines Discovery Catapult provided £0.5m each to two UK biotechs specialising in treatments for chronic autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease.

The financial aid for Flip Therapeutics and Nascent Therapeutics is part of a funding pool made available by Innovate UK and channelled through the Catapults network in order to benefit those companies deemed high potential investment.

In addition to the money, the two firms will also tap into strategic support and expertise from MDC in order to help them translate research success in drug discovery into commercial operations.

Both firms are investigating treatments for chronic conditions. Flip Therapeutics is focussed on alopecia and psoriasis, programming T cells to encourage effective immune function; 

University of East Anglia spinout, Nascent Therapeutics is using mitochondrial biology for neurodegenerative diseases including cancer, COPD and osteoporosis. 

Interim CEO of MDC Dr Mike Strange says: “These investments reflect Medicines Discovery Catapult’s commitment to supporting innovative UK companies creating the next generation of medicines. 

“By providing a unique combination of capital, translational expertise and strategic guidance, we will help de-risk the companies’ therapeutic platforms and unlock their potential to deliver benefits for patients.”