Biliary Tract Cancers Market Summary

Key Highlights

• Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a group of rare but highly aggressive malignancies arising from the epithelial lining of the biliary system, including Gall Bladder Cancer (GBC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA), and cancer of the ampulla of Vater. Although BTC is associated with disproportionately high mortality due to late-stage diagnosis and limited curative treatment options.
• Therapeutic management of BTC is driven by disease stage and anatomical subtype. Early-stage BTC is potentially curable with surgical resection; however, eligibility is limited due to late diagnosis, and high post-surgical recurrence necessitates adjuvant systemic therapy, reflecting the limited durability of surgery alone. In unresectable or metastatic disease, first-line chemotherapy remains the standard of care but offers only modest and short-lived benefit, with rapid disease progression leading to high attrition and limited access to subsequent lines of therapy.
• From a treatment landscape and innovation standpoint, BTC has undergone a paradigm shift with the integration of molecular profiling, particularly in iCCA. The identification of actionable genomic alterations has enabled targeted therapies for select patient subgroups, improving outcomes relative to historical standards.
• Despite recent advancements in targeted therapies, the BTC treatment landscape remains characterized by significant gaps, particularly for the vast majority of patients lacking actionable mutations. The consensus points toward a pivotal shift over the next 3–5 years, driven by the integration of bispecific antibodies and Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), though operational challenges regarding testing and toxicity management persist.
• In 2024, the total Incident cases of BTC across the 7MM were approximately 65,000, and this burden is projected to rise over the forecast period.
• The United States accounted for approximately 18,500 BTC cases in 2024.
• The total market size of BTC in the United States was approximately USD 700 million in 2024 and is projected to increase during the forecast period (2025–2034).
• Platinum-based combination chemotherapy has historically served as the backbone of systemic therapy in advanced or unresectable disease across the 7MM, forming a foundational standard of care that many subsequent regimens build upon.
• Pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA), an anti-PD-1 antibody, has been approved in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic BTC, formalizing immunotherapy’s role in front-line treatment.
• Durvalumab (IMFINZI), a PD-L1 inhibitor, in combination with gemcitabine and platinum chemotherapy, is also established as a first-line immunochemotherapy option for advanced BTC in key regulatory regions.
• Recent regulatory approvals have expanded targeted treatment options for biliary tract cancers. FGFR inhibitors, such as pemigatinib (PEMAZYRE) and futibatinib (LYTGOBI) are approved for FGFR2-fusion-positive cholangiocarcinoma, while IDH1 inhibitors, ivosidenib (TIBSOVO), is approved for IDH1-mutated disease following prior therapy.

DelveInsight’s “Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) – Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast – 2034” report delivers an in-depth understanding of BTC, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as BTC market trends in the United States, EU4 (Germany, Spain, Italy, and France), the United Kingdom, and Japan.

BTC market report provides real-world prescription pattern analysis, emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and historical and forecasted 7MM BTC market size from 2020 to 2034. The report also covers current BTC treatment practices/algorithms and unmet medical needs to curate the best opportunities and assess the market’s potential.

Geography Covered

• The United States
• EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom
• Japan

Study Period: 2020–2034

Key Factors Driving the Biliary Tract Cancer Market Growth

Rising BTC Incidence and Aging Populations

The global incidence of biliary tract cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, is increasing. The US accounted for approximately 19K biliary tract cancer cases in 2024, which are further expected to increase by 2034. This trend is attributed to factors such as aging populations, the rising prevalence of chronic liver diseases (like cirrhosis and hepatitis), and certain parasitic infections. The aging global population and environmental factors like obesity further contribute to the rise in diagnosed cases.

Advancements in Imaging for Cholangiocarcinoma

Improving imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and positron emission tomography (PET), can enhance the accuracy of diagnosis, staging, and monitoring of cholangiocarcinoma, facilitating more tailored treatment approaches.

Potential of FGFR2 Inhibitors

FGFR2 inhibitors like pemigatinib and futibatinib have been effective in patients with FGFR2 alterations, though resistance due to secondary mutations remains a challenge.

Launch of Emerging Biliary Tract Cancer Drugs

The potential biliary tract cancer drugs that can mark a significant change in the forecast period include CTX-009 (Compass Therapeutics), CX-4945 (Senhwa Biosciences), and others.

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Understanding and Treatment Algorithm

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Overview

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a heterogeneous group of rare and aggressive malignancies arising from the epithelial lining of the biliary system, including intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, and ampulla of Vater cancer. These cancers are often diagnosed at advanced stages due to nonspecific symptoms and limited early detection strategies. The incidence of BTC varies geographically, with higher rates observed in East Asia and parts of Europe. Prognosis remains poor, particularly for advanced disease, with limited curative options outside of early surgical resection. Systemic chemotherapy has historically been the mainstay of treatment for unresectable or metastatic BTC. However, advances in molecular profiling have led to the emergence of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, improving outcomes for selected patient subgroups.

Further details are provided in the final report…

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Diagnosis

The diagnosis of biliary tract cancer (BTC) is often challenging due to nonspecific clinical symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, weight loss, and pruritus. Initial evaluation typically includes liver function tests and tumor markers such as CA 19-9, although these lack specificity. Imaging modalities, including ultrasound, contrast-enhanced CT, and MRI/Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), are central to detecting tumors, defining anatomical extent, and assessing resectability. Endoscopic procedures such as Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) may be used for tissue sampling and biliary drainage. Histopathological confirmation is required for definitive diagnosis, and molecular testing is increasingly performed to identify actionable genetic alterations that guide targeted therapy selection.

Further details are provided in the final report…

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Treatment

Treatment of BTC depends on tumor location, stage, and patient fitness. Surgical resection offers the only potential cure and is primarily feasible in early-stage disease, often followed by adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce recurrence risk. For unresectable or metastatic BTC, systemic chemotherapy, most commonly gemcitabine-based regimens-has been the standard of care. In selected patients, locoregional therapies such as radiotherapy or transarterial approaches may be considered for disease control or symptom palliation. Advances in molecular profiling have enabled the use of targeted therapies (e.g., FGFR and IDH1 inhibitors) and immunotherapies for biomarker-defined subgroups. Palliative care, including biliary drainage and symptom management, remains an important component of treatment for advanced disease.

Further details are provided in the final report…

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Epidemiology

The epidemiology chapter in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by total incident cases of BTC, tumor site-specific incident cases of BTC, age-specific incident cases of BTC, stage-specific incident cases of BTC, and mutation-specific incident cases of BTC covering the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan from 2020 to 2034. 

• In the United States, among all BTC cases, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma accounted for the highest number of incident cases (~7,800), followed by gallbladder cancer (~5,200), in 2024.
• In 2024, Italy accounted for the highest number of BTC-Incident cases, followed by Germany and the UK among the included European countries. In contrast, Spain reported the least number of cases within the total incident population across the EU4 and the UK.
• Among age-specific incident cases, the 65 years and above age group was estimated to have the highest number of diagnosed BTC cases in EU4 and the UK in 2024. The number of diagnosed cases for the 65+ age group was ~17,800 followed by ~6,000 among 45–64 years age group; however, it should be noted that the least number (~430 cases) of cases were found in patients aged < 45 years, in 2024.
• In 2024, the majority of BTC patients in Japan were diagnosed at an advanced stage, accounting for 77% of total cases, while early-stage disease represented the remaining 23% of diagnosed cases.

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Drug Chapters

The drug chapter segment of the BTC report encloses a detailed analysis of marketed and emerging late-stage (Phase III and Phase II) pipeline drugs. It also deep dives into BTC pivotal clinical trial details, recent and expected market approvals, patent details, the latest news, and recent deals and collaborations.

Marketed Therapies

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (ENHERTU): AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo

Trastuzumab deruxtecan is a HER2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC3+) solid tumors who have received prior systemic treatment and have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on objective response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

• In April 2024, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's ENHERTU had been approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic IHC 3+ solid tumors who have received prior systemic treatment and have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.
• In August 2023, ENHERTU had been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) in the US for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) solid tumors that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.

Zanidatamab (ZIIHERA): Jazz Pharmaceuticals

Zanidatamab is a bispecific HER2-directed antibody indicated for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) BTC, as detected by an FDA-approved test. The confirmatory, global, randomized Phase II trial HERIZON-BTC-302 (NCT06282575) is ongoing and is evaluating zanidatamab in combination with standard-of-care therapy versus standard-of-care therapy alone in the first-line setting for patients with HER2-positive BTC. Continued approval for ZIIHERA may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in this confirmatory trial. It is being developed by Jazz and BeOne Medicines under license agreements from Zymeworks, which first developed the molecule. Jazz has rights to commercialize zanidatamab in the US, Europe, Japan and all other territories except for those Asia/Pacific territories that Zymeworks previously licensed to BeiGene, [which are Asia (excluding Japan), Australia and New Zealand].

• In November 2024, Jazz Pharmaceuticals announced the US FDA accelerated approval of ZIIHERA 50mg/mL for injection for intravenous use for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) BTC, as detected by an FDA-approved test.
• In July 2025, Jazz Pharmaceuticals announced that the European commission granted conditional marketing authorization for ZIIHERA as monotherapy for the treatment of adults with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) BTC previously treated with at least one prior line of systemic therapy.

List to be continued in final report…

Emerging Therapies

Tinengotinib (TT-00420): TransThera Sciences

Tinengotinib, developed by TransThera Sciences, is an investigational oral multi-kinase inhibitor being advanced for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, particularly in patients with FGFR-altered disease who have progressed on prior therapies. Unlike first-generation selective FGFR inhibitors, tinengotinib targets FGFR1–3 alongside VEGFRs, Aurora kinases, and JAK kinases, enabling broader suppression of tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and acquired resistance mechanisms.

Currently, the drug is being evaluated in a global Phase III trial for the treatment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

• In April 2025, TransThera announced the poster presentations at the 2025 AACR to discuss the clinical data of tinengotinib in patients with advanced solid tumors from a Phase Ib/II study.
• In March 2024, the EMA granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to Tinengotinib.
• In November 2021, TransThera announced that the US FDA had granted FTD to its Phase II-stage product tinengotinib for the treatment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma who have no standard treatment options.

Rilvegostomig: AstraZeneca and Compugen

Rilvegostomig is a first-in-class dual-checkpoint bispecific that delivers coordinated PD-1 and TIGIT blockade on the same immune effector cell, restoring antitumor immune activity and supporting the potential for durable, long-term outcomes. The TIGIT component of rilvegostomig is derived from Compugen’s fully owned COM902, which is one of only two clinical-stage Fc-reduced anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibodies currently in development.

Currently, the drug is being evaluated in multiple Phase III trials in patients with BTC.

• In January 2024, Compugen announced that it is entitled to receive a USD 10 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca, after the first patient was dosed in AstraZeneca's ARTEMIDE-Bil01 trial with rilvegostomig.
• In December 2025, Compugen announced an agreement with AstraZeneca to monetize a portion of its future royalties from rilvegostomig. As part of this transaction, Compugen amended its exclusive license agreement with AstraZeneca, originally executed in March 2018, to strengthen its balance sheet and advance its differentiated immuno-oncology pipeline.

Drug Class Insights

The current treatment landscape for BTC focuses on a combination of supportive care, such as lifestyle management, risk factor control, and symptom relief, with pharmacological therapies treating a group of rare, aggressive cancers by either eliminating the disease, slowing its progression, or managing symptoms to improve quality of life. Established agents include PD-1/TIGIT inhibitor, HER2 inhibitor, TROP2 protein inhibitor, DLL4 and VEGF-A inhibitors, HER2/mEGFR Inhibitor, and others, while emerging therapies aim to utilizing inhibitors and antibodies to block these pathways, offering personalized options beyond standard chemotherapy.

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Market Outlook

Curative management of BTC, including cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, is primarily based on surgical resection, followed by adjuvant capecitabine, which has demonstrated a survival benefit in the postoperative setting. However, recurrence rates remain high, underscoring a substantial unmet need for more effective adjuvant strategies. The majority of patients present with advanced or unresectable disease, where systemic chemotherapy remains the backbone of treatment. In this setting, cisplatin plus gemcitabine constitutes the standard first-line regimen, while second-line options typically include 5-fluorouracil–based combinations, such as FOLFOX or irinotecan-containing regimens, particularly in patients without actionable molecular alterations.

In recent years, the integration of precision oncology has significantly reshaped the treatment landscape for advanced BTC. Targeted therapies directed against FGFR2 fusions, IDH1 mutations, BRAF V600E mutations, NTRK fusions, HER2 amplifications, and microsatellite instability (MSI-H) have enabled more personalized treatment approaches. These advances have been particularly impactful in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, where the prevalence of actionable genomic alterations is higher, marking a shift from empiric chemotherapy toward biomarker-driven treatment paradigms for selected patient populations.

• The total market size of BTC in the 7MM was approximately USD 1,160 million in 2024 and is projected to increase during the forecast period (2025–2034).
• As per DelveInsight’s analysis, by 2034, among the therapies, the highest revenue is expected to be generated by chemotherapy followed by durvalumab (IMFINZI) and tovecimig in the 7MM.
• Throughout the 7MM, the US captured the maximum BTC market share in 2024 with about USD 700 million.
• Among EU4 and the UK, Italy is expected to capture the maximum market share, followed by the UK and Germany by 2034.

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Drugs Uptake

This section focuses on the uptake rate of potential drugs expected to be launched in the market during 2025–2034, which depends on the competitive landscape, safety, efficacy data, and order of entry. It is important to understand that the key players evaluating their novel therapies in the pivotal and confirmatory trials should remain vigilant when selecting appropriate comparators to stand the greatest chance of a positive opinion from regulatory bodies, leading to approval, smooth launch, and rapid uptake.

Further detailed analysis of emerging therapies' drug uptake in the report…

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Pipeline Development Activities

The report provides insights into therapeutic candidates in Phase III, II, and I. It also analyzes key players involved in developing targeted therapeutics.

Pipeline Development Activities

The report covers information on collaborations, acquisitions and mergers, licensing, and patent details for BTC emerging therapies.

KOL Views

To keep up with the real-world scenario in current and emerging market trends, we take opinions from Key Industry leaders working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research. Industry Experts were contacted for insights on the evolving treatment landscape, patient reliance on conventional therapies, patient therapy switching acceptability, and drug uptake, along with challenges related to accessibility, including MDs, PhD, Senior Researchers, and others.

DelveInsight’s analysts connected with 20+ KOLs to gather insights; however, interviews were conducted with 10+ KOLs in the 7MM. Centers such as the Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research, Ohio State University, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Cardiovascular Prevention Institute, University College London, etc., were contacted. Their opinion helps understand and validate current and emerging therapy treatment patterns or BTC market trends.

Qualitative Analysis

We perform qualitative and market Intelligence analysis using various approaches, such as SWOT and Conjoint analysis. In the SWOT analysis, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in terms of gaps in disease diagnosis, patient awareness, physician acceptability, competitive landscape, cost-effectiveness, and geographical accessibility of therapies are provided.

Conjoint Analysis analyzes multiple approved and emerging therapies based on relevant attributes such as safety, efficacy, frequency of administration, designation, route of administration, and order of entry. Scoring is given based on these parameters to analyze the effectiveness of therapy.

Further, the therapies’ safety is evaluated, wherein the acceptability, tolerability, and adverse events are majorly observed, and it sets a clear understanding of the side effects posed by the drug in the trials. In addition, the scoring is also based on the route of administration, order of entry and designation, probability of success, and the addressable patient pool for each therapy. According to these parameters, the final weightage score and the ranking of the emerging therapies are decided.

Market Access and Reimbursement

Reimbursement is a crucial factor that affects the drug’s access to the market. Often, the decision to reimburse comes down to the price of the drug relative to the benefit it produces in treated patients. To reduce the healthcare burden of these high-cost therapies, many payment models are being considered by payers and other industry insiders.

Scope of the Report

• The report covers a segment of key events, an executive summary, and a descriptive overview of BTC, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, and currently available therapies.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential, and treatment guidelines.
• Additionally, an all-inclusive account of the current and emerging therapies, along with the elaborate profiles of late-stage and prominent therapies, will impact the current treatment landscape.
• A detailed review of the BTC market, historical and forecasted market size, market share by therapies, detailed assumptions, and rationale behind our approach is included in the report, covering the 7MM drug outreach.
• The report provides an edge while developing business strategies by understanding trends through SWOT analysis and expert insights/KOL views, patient journey, and treatment preferences that help shape and drive the 7MM BTC.

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Report Insights

• Patient Population
• Therapeutic Approaches
• BTC Pipeline Analysis
• BTC Market Size And Trends
• Existing And Future Market Opportunities

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Report Key Strengths

• Ten-Year Forecast
• The 7MM Coverage
• BTC Epidemiology Segmentation
• Key Cross Competition
• Conjoint Analysis
• Drugs Uptake and Key Market Forecast Assumptions

Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) Report Assessment

• Current Treatment Practices
• Unmet Needs
• Pipeline Product Profiles
• Analyst Views
• Market Attractiveness
• Qualitative Analysis (SWOT and Conjoint Analysis)

FAQs

• What is the historical and forecasted BTC patient pool in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan?
• What was the total BTC market size, the market size by therapies, market share (%) distribution in 2024, and what would it look like in 2034? What are the contributing factors for this growth?
• What are the pricing variations among different geographies for approved therapies?
• How would the market drivers, barriers, and future opportunities affect the market dynamics and subsequent analysis of the associated trends?
• What are the current and emerging options for treating BTC?
• How many companies are developing therapies to treat BTC?
• What are the recent novel therapies, targets, mechanisms of action, and technologies developed to overcome the limitations of existing therapies?
• Patient acceptability in terms of preferred treatment options as per real-world scenarios.
• What are the country-specific accessibility issues of expensive, recently approved therapies?

Reasons to buy

• The report will help develop business strategies by understanding the latest trends and changing treatment dynamics driving the BTC Market.
• Insights on patient burden/disease prevalence, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• Understand the existing market opportunities in varying geographies and the growth potential over the coming years.
• Distribution of historical and current patient share based on real-world prescription data along with reported sales of approved products in the US, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan.
• Identifying strong upcoming players in the market will help devise strategies to help get ahead of competitors.
• Highlights of access and reimbursement policies of approved therapies, barriers to accessibility of expensive off-label therapies, and patient assistance programs.
• To understand Key Opinion Leaders’ perspectives around the accessibility, acceptability, and compliance-related challenges of existing treatment to overcome barriers in the future.
• Detailed insights on the unmet needs of the existing market so that the upcoming players can strengthen their development and launch strategy.