What's the size of the microbiome market?

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The microbiome market is experiencing explosive growth, driven by breakthrough therapeutics and expanding applications across healthcare, agriculture, and consumer wellness.

From USD 0.82 billion in 2025, this industry is projected to reach over USD 4 billion by 2030, representing one of the fastest-growing biotechnology sectors. You can download our quick market pitch to understand this market in 30 minutes with the latest information.

What is the current global market size of the microbiome industry in 2025, and how does it compare to 2024?

The global microbiome market reached USD 0.82 billion in 2025, representing a strong 20.1% year-over-year increase from USD 0.68 billion in 2024.

This growth trajectory significantly outpaces most traditional pharmaceutical segments and reflects the maturation of microbiome science from research to commercial applications. The expansion has been driven primarily by the successful launch of FDA-approved live biotherapeutics like Rebyota and Vowst, which generated substantial revenue streams for companies like Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Seres Therapeutics.

The 2025 figures also reflect increased adoption of microbiome-based diagnostics and the scaling of precision nutrition platforms. Consumer awareness of gut health has reached a tipping point, with microbiome testing services and personalized probiotic formulations gaining mainstream acceptance. This has created a dual-revenue model where companies generate income from both diagnostic services and therapeutic interventions.

Compared to 2024's more conservative growth patterns, 2025 has seen accelerated investment in manufacturing capabilities, particularly through Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) specializing in live biotherapeutic production. This infrastructure development has enabled companies to scale production and reduce per-unit costs, making microbiome therapeutics more commercially viable.

What is the expected annual growth rate (CAGR) of the microbiome market from now through 2026, 2030, and 2035?

The microbiome market is projected to maintain exceptional growth rates across multiple time horizons, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.5% from 2024 to 2030, reaching USD 4.21 billion by 2030.

Looking at the extended forecast through 2035, the market is expected to achieve a CAGR of 31.42% from 2025 to 2035, potentially reaching USD 15.95 billion. This sustained high-growth trajectory is unusual in biotechnology markets and reflects the fundamental disruption microbiome science represents across multiple industries.

The 2026 projections, extrapolated from current trends, suggest the market will reach approximately USD 0.99 billion, maintaining the robust 20.1% growth rate observed in the 2024-2025 period. However, market analysts expect acceleration beyond 2026 as more therapeutic candidates complete clinical trials and regulatory approvals expand globally.

These growth rates are supported by several converging factors: the pipeline of 40+ live biotherapeutic candidates in various clinical phases, expanding applications beyond gastrointestinal disorders into oncology and metabolic diseases, and the integration of artificial intelligence for strain selection and manufacturing optimization. The sustainability of these rates depends on continued regulatory support and successful clinical outcomes in next-generation therapeutic programs.

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How is the microbiome market segmented—by application (healthcare, agriculture, cosmetics, etc.), geography, and technology type?

The microbiome market exhibits distinct segmentation patterns across applications, with healthcare therapeutics dominating at approximately 60% market share, followed by agriculture applications at 20%, and emerging cosmetics and personal care segments capturing 15% of the total market.

Which countries or regions are showing the highest investment, adoption, or innovation in the microbiome space right now?

The United States maintains its position as the global leader in microbiome investment and innovation, capturing over 40% of global venture capital deals and hosting the majority of successful FDA-approved therapeutics.

California and Boston have emerged as the undisputed epicenters of microbiome innovation, collectively hosting over 50% of US deals by value. The Silicon Valley ecosystem has proven particularly adept at combining biotechnology expertise with data science capabilities, enabling companies like Pendulum Therapeutics to develop AI-driven strain selection platforms. Boston's concentration of academic medical centers and established biotech infrastructure has fostered companies like Seres Therapeutics, which achieved the first FDA approval for an orally administered microbiome therapeutic.

Europe is rapidly gaining ground, particularly in the United Kingdom and Germany, where government funding initiatives are driving significant advancement. The Weston Foundation deployed USD 6.3 million in 2024 specifically for microbiome research, while Horizon Europe funding has enabled large-scale onco-microbiome projects. German companies are particularly strong in agricultural microbiome applications, leveraging the country's advanced agricultural technology sector.

Asia-Pacific represents the fastest-growing region for microbiome investment, with China and Japan leading in precision medicine initiatives. China's regulatory environment has become increasingly favorable for microbiome therapeutics, with several large-scale human microbiome trials underway. Japan's aging population has created significant demand for gut health solutions, making it an attractive market for both domestic and international companies. The region's growth is also supported by lower clinical trial costs and faster regulatory timelines compared to Western markets.

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What specific sectors within the microbiome market (like gut health, skin care, diagnostics, therapeutics) are growing fastest in 2025?

Live biotherapeutics represents the fastest-growing sector within the microbiome market in 2025, achieving an extraordinary 39.1% CAGR as manufacturing capabilities scale through specialized CDMO partnerships.

This explosive growth stems from the successful commercialization of FDA-approved products like Rebyota and Vowst, which have demonstrated the viability of live microbial consortia as pharmaceutical products. The sector's expansion has been accelerated by investments in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities specifically designed for live biotherapeutic production, enabling companies to scale from research-grade production to commercial volumes.

Gut health probiotics maintain strong momentum with an 18.2% CAGR, driven by rising inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) prevalence. The sector has benefited from increased consumer awareness of the gut-brain axis and the role of microbiome diversity in overall health. Companies like Yakult Honsha continue to dominate the consumer probiotic space, while newer entrants focus on targeted therapeutic probiotics for specific conditions.

Diagnostics and sequencing technologies are growing at 14.8% CAGR, fueled by the demand for precision microbiome profiling and early disease detection. The cost of whole-genome sequencing has decreased dramatically, making comprehensive microbiome analysis accessible to a broader population. This has enabled the emergence of direct-to-consumer testing companies and integration of microbiome analysis into routine healthcare.

Skin care microbiome applications, while smaller in absolute terms, are achieving 11.5% growth as consumers increasingly seek "clean" skincare products that support natural skin barrier function. This segment has attracted significant attention from major cosmetics companies seeking to differentiate their products through microbiome science.

How much venture capital and private equity funding has gone into microbiome startups in 2024 and 2025, and how is that trending?

Venture capital funding for microbiome startups reached approximately USD 500 million in 2024, representing a 40% year-over-year increase driven by investor confidence in platform-based therapeutic approaches.

However, 2025 has witnessed a concerning decline in overall funding levels, reflecting the broader biotech capital market tightening that has affected the entire industry. Despite this overall trend, microbiome companies have demonstrated relative resilience, with several high-profile funding rounds indicating continued investor interest in proven business models.

The funding landscape has shifted toward later-stage companies with validated platforms and clear paths to commercialization. Early-stage ventures are finding it more challenging to secure initial funding, while companies with FDA-approved products or advanced clinical candidates continue to attract significant investment. This trend has created a bifurcated market where success breeds more success, but new entrants face higher barriers to initial funding.

Notable funding activities in 2025 include Zoe's USD 15 million extension round for their nutrition-microbiome services platform, demonstrating investor appetite for consumer-focused applications with recurring revenue models. The funding has increasingly favored companies that combine microbiome science with artificial intelligence and data analytics, as investors seek scalable platforms rather than single-product companies.

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Which companies are leading the market right now, and what are their revenues or market shares?

Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Seres Therapeutics have emerged as the dominant players in the therapeutic microbiome space, collectively capturing approximately 27% of the total market through their FDA-approved live biotherapeutics.

Yakult Honsha maintains the largest absolute revenue in the microbiome space, though their consumer probiotic beverages represent a different market segment than the therapeutic applications driving the highest growth rates. Their global distribution network and established brand recognition provide significant competitive advantages in the consumer health space.

The competitive landscape is rapidly evolving as new entrants with novel approaches challenge established players. Companies with AI-driven platforms for strain discovery and manufacturing optimization are gaining investor attention, suggesting potential disruption of traditional development approaches in the coming years.

What are the most successful product types or business models currently generating revenue in the microbiome space?

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) and live biotherapeutic products represent the most successful revenue-generating model in 2025, with prescription-based channels providing recurring revenue streams through established healthcare reimbursement systems.

The success of Rebyota and Vowst has validated the FMT/live biotherapeutic model, demonstrating that microbiome interventions can achieve pharmaceutical-grade efficacy with appropriate regulatory approval. These products generate revenue through traditional pharmaceutical distribution channels, enabling companies to leverage existing hospital and clinic relationships for market access.

Precision nutrition platforms, exemplified by companies like Zoe, have pioneered a successful subscription-based model that combines microbiome testing with ongoing dietary recommendations and supplement delivery. This approach generates recurring monthly revenue while building valuable longitudinal data sets that enhance platform capabilities over time.

Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) partnerships have emerged as a critical revenue model, with specialized companies like Arranta Bio scaling GMP manufacturing for multiple microbiome therapeutic companies. This B2B model provides steady revenue streams while reducing capital requirements for therapeutic companies.

Sequencing services and bioinformatics platforms operate on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, offering microbiome analytics to research institutions, healthcare providers, and other biotechnology companies. Companies like CosmosID and Illumina generate revenue through per-sample processing fees and ongoing software subscriptions.

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What regulatory approvals (e.g. FDA, EMA) have been granted or are in progress for microbiome-based products or therapeutics recently?

The FDA has granted approval for two groundbreaking live biotherapeutic products: Rebyota (Ferring) in 2022 and Vowst (Seres) in 2023, both for the treatment of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI).

These approvals represent a watershed moment for the microbiome industry, establishing regulatory precedent for live microbial consortia as pharmaceutical products. The FDA's willingness to approve these complex biological products has provided a clear regulatory pathway for other companies developing similar therapeutics.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently reviewing a Marketing Authorization Application for Xervyteg (MaaT Pharma) in acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI-aGvHD), with an expected launch in 2026. This represents the first major European regulatory submission for a live biotherapeutic product and could establish important precedent for the European market.

Several additional live biotherapeutic candidates are progressing through Phase 3 clinical trials for oncology supportive care and additional GvHD indications. The regulatory pipeline suggests a steady stream of potential approvals over the next 3-5 years, which could significantly expand the addressable market for microbiome therapeutics.

The FDA has also indicated plans to issue updated guidance on live biotherapeutic products, which could streamline the development process for future candidates and reduce regulatory uncertainty for companies entering the space.

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What are the major M&A deals, partnerships, or IPOs that happened in 2024–2025 in this market, and what were their valuations?

The microbiome sector experienced significant consolidation activity in 2024-2025, with major pharmaceutical companies acquiring specialized biotechnology firms to accelerate their microbiome capabilities.

The GSK acquisition of Boston Pharmaceuticals for USD 1.2 billion represents the largest microbiome-related transaction to date, reflecting the strategic importance major pharmaceutical companies place on microbiome capabilities. This deal provided GSK with advanced clinical-stage assets and established manufacturing infrastructure.

Strategic partnerships have become increasingly common as large companies seek to access microbiome expertise without full acquisitions. The Nestlé Health Science partnership with Seventure Partners exemplifies this trend, combining consumer health distribution capabilities with specialized venture capital expertise in microbiome investments.

What barriers to entry—such as scientific, clinical, manufacturing, or regulatory—are most relevant for new entrants or investors?

Scientific and clinical complexity represents the most formidable barrier to entry, requiring deep expertise in microbial ecology, human physiology, and clinical trial design to establish causality in heterogeneous human microbiome populations.

The challenge of demonstrating consistent therapeutic effects across diverse patient populations has proven particularly difficult, as microbiome composition varies significantly based on genetics, diet, geography, and medical history. Companies must invest heavily in biomarker development and patient stratification strategies to achieve reproducible clinical outcomes.

Manufacturing challenges pose another significant barrier, particularly for live biotherapeutic products that require specialized GMP facilities capable of maintaining viability of complex microbial consortia. The capital requirements for establishing appropriate manufacturing infrastructure typically range from USD 50-100 million, creating substantial entry barriers for new companies.

Regulatory uncertainty, while improving with recent FDA approvals, continues to create challenges for companies developing novel microbiome interventions. The lack of established regulatory precedent for many application areas requires companies to invest significant resources in regulatory consultation and pathway development.

High R&D costs represent a critical barrier, with comprehensive clinical development programs for microbiome therapeutics typically requiring USD 100-200 million in investment. The extended timeline from discovery to approval, often spanning 7-10 years, requires sustained funding and patient capital that many investors find challenging.

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What key trends, innovations, or upcoming milestones are expected to reshape the microbiome market over the next 1 to 5 to 10 years?

Artificial intelligence integration represents the most transformative near-term trend, with machine learning algorithms already demonstrating superior performance in strain selection, manufacturing optimization, and patient stratification compared to traditional approaches.

Short-term trends (1-2 years) include the surge in personalized nutrition applications and consumer microbiome testing services. The convergence of wearable technology, continuous glucose monitoring, and microbiome analysis is creating comprehensive health monitoring platforms that could revolutionize preventive healthcare.

Medium-term developments (3-5 years) will likely see the emergence of non-gastrointestinal indications, particularly in oncology supportive care and metabolic disorders. The integration of microbiome modulation with existing cancer immunotherapy protocols could significantly improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects.

Long-term transformation (5-10 years) may witness routine microbiome engineering for agricultural applications and climate resilience. The potential for engineered microbial communities to enhance crop yields, reduce pesticide use, and sequester carbon could create entirely new market segments worth billions of dollars.

Global regulatory harmonization through International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) frameworks could dramatically accelerate market development by reducing duplicative clinical trials and regulatory submissions across multiple jurisdictions. This standardization could reduce development costs by 30-40% and accelerate time to market by 2-3 years.

Conclusion

Sources

1. Research and Markets - Microbiome Market Report
2. MarketsandMarkets - Human Microbiome Market
3. Spherical Insights - Human Microbiome Market
4. Mordor Intelligence - Microbiome Therapeutics Market
5. Fortune Business Insights - Human Microbiome Market
6. Precedence Research - Live Biotherapeutic Products Market
7. LinkedIn - Microbiome Investment Trends
8. Cognitive Market Research - Gut Microbiome Market
9. CosmosID - Microbiome Statistics and Trends
10. Mikrobiomik - Microbiome Investors
11. Weston Foundation - 2024 Microbiome Funding
12. MaaT Pharma - EMA Marketing Authorization
13. Labiotech - Top Biotech Deals May 2025
14. Artixio - Microbiome Regulations and Market Outlook
15. Crunchbase - Gut Microbiome Startup Funding