Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market is Segmented by Type (Deuterium, Carbon-13, Oxygen-18, and More), by Compound Category (Amino Acids and Peptides, Metabolites & Lipids and More), by Synthesis Method (Chemical Synthesis and More), by Application (Research, Clinical Diagnostics, and More), and Geography (North America, Europe, and More ). The Market Provides the Value (in USD Million) for the Above-Mentioned Segments.

Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market Size and Share

Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

Compare market size and growth of Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market with other markets in Healthcare Industry

Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The stable isotope labeling market was valued at USD 315.70 million in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 366.67 million by 2030, advancing at a 3.05% CAGR over the period Mordor Intelligence. Demand is rising as quantitative proteomics, metabolomics, and microdosing studies move from research settings into regulated drug-development workflows. Carbon-13 remains the tracer of choice for metabolic pathway analysis, while oxygen-18 is gaining momentum on the back of FDA-approved F-18 radiopharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical outsourcing to Asia is expanding the customer base, and ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometers are pushing purity specifications higher. At the same time, constrained supplies of 18O-water and nitrogen-15 heighten the need for supply-chain resilience.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By isotope type, carbon-13 led with 42.34% of stable isotope labeling market share in 2024, while oxygen-18 is projected to grow at a 4.12% CAGR to 2030.
  • By compound category, amino acids and peptides accounted for 38.56% of stable isotope labeling market size in 2024; active pharmaceutical ingredients are expanding at a 4.43% CAGR through 2030.
  • By application, research activities commanded 47.45% revenue share in 2024; clinical diagnostics is the fastest-growing segment at a 4.73% CAGR to 2030.
  • By end-user, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies held 51.25% of demand in 2024, whereas contract research and manufacturing organizations are advancing at a 5.04% CAGR through 2030.
  • By geography, North America retained 45.45% revenue share in 2024; Asia-Pacific is forecast to expand at a 5.34% CAGR to 2030.

Segment Analysis

By Isotope Type: Carbon-13 Dominance Faces Oxygen-18 Disruption

Carbon-13 held 42.34% of stable isotope labeling market share in 2024, reflecting its versatility in metabolic studies and protein quantification. Pharmaceutical companies value its non-radioactive nature for microdosing, while academic institutes employ 13C tracers in systems-biology models. Deuterium remains the second-largest isotope thanks to its role in metabolic clearance studies and deuterated-drug platforms. Nitrogen-15 caters to protein-structure research and plant science, whereas sulfur-34 and silicon-29 serve environmental and semiconductor niches.

Oxygen-18 is the fastest-growing tracer with a 4.12% CAGR to 2030, buoyed by PET imaging agents that enable same-day cardiac and oncologic scans. Cryogenic-distillation expansions in Europe and North America aim to ease tight supply, yet feedstock constraints keep pricing elevated. These dynamics contribute to the steady rise of oxygen-18 in the stable isotope labeling market.

Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Compound Category: APIs Challenge Amino Acid Supremacy

Amino acids and peptides captured 38.56% of stable isotope labeling market size in 2024, serving as internal standards in proteomics workflows and as labeled building blocks for synthetic biology. Single-cell proteome quantification further increases peptide label consumption. Active pharmaceutical ingredients, however, are advancing at a 4.43% CAGR as regulators endorse microdosing and companion-diagnostic programs. Carbon-13-labeled APIs facilitate human pharmacokinetic testing without radiation concerns, making them attractive for early-phase studies.

Metabolites, lipids, nucleic acids, and solvents round out demand with applications in pathway elucidation and genomic research. Deuterated APIs, sparked by deutetrabenazine’s success, underscore the growing link between isotope labeling and drug design. These shifts signal an evolving compound mix within the stable isotope labeling market.

By Synthesis Method: Chemical Synthesis Maintains Lead Despite Green Innovation

Chemical synthesis dominates due to well-established routes that deliver high enrichment and regulatory-grade purity. Producers scale batch sizes and control impurity profiles, supporting pharmaceutical compliance. Nonetheless, high energy use and hazardous reagents prompt customers to seek greener options.

Fermentation and metabolic labeling integrate isotopes biologically, yielding uniformly labeled biomolecules attractive for structural studies. Enzymatic-exchange and electro-enzymatic systems pioneer lower-energy pathways and reduced waste streams. Pilot plants in Europe demonstrate 20% lower energy demand than conventional synthesis. If cost parity is achieved, these approaches could broaden adoption and reshape procurement strategies in the stable isotope labeling market.

By Application: Research Foundation Supports Clinical Expansion

Research activities delivered 47.45% of revenue in 2024 as universities, national labs, and pharmaceutical discovery teams leveraged tracers to parse metabolic complexity. DOE isotope-program grants fund domestic supply, ensuring steady research access. High-resolution mass-spectrometry upgrades further accelerate tracer throughput and data depth.

Clinical diagnostics is growing the quickest at a 4.73% CAGR as regulators approve isotope-labeled agents for cardiology, oncology, and neurology imaging. Hospitals increasingly adopt PET tracers with longer half-lives and wider distribution windows, lowering patient wait times. Industrial testing, environmental monitoring for PFAS, forensics, and agriculture form adjacent opportunities, each requiring certified reference standards that rely on stable isotopes to meet regulatory accuracy targets. These varied use cases sustain momentum in the stable isotope labeling market.

Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market
Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By End-User: CRO Growth Signals Industry Transformation

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms generated 51.25% of 2024 demand, yet their outsourcing push is reshaping buying patterns. CROs and CDMOs in India and Southeast Asia now integrate isotope synthesis, bioanalysis, and regulatory documents, offering turnkey programs. This segment is advancing at 5.04% CAGR as the US Biosecure Act shifts outsourcing away from certain Chinese suppliers.

Academic centers and medical institutions continue to rely on government and philanthropic funding for isotope studies, while diagnostic imaging networks expand PET tracer procurement. Hospitals adopting gallium-68 and fluorine-18 agents are spawning localized radiopharmacy services. Such diversification widens the end-user base for the stable isotope labeling market.

Geography Analysis

North America commanded 45.45% of revenue in 2024 owing to robust pharmaceutical R&D spending, extensive cyclotron infrastructure, and a well-defined regulatory path for isotope-based drugs. Large contract isotope suppliers provide short lead times and technical support, cementing regional leadership. Universities maintain collaborative networks that standardize tracer protocols, supporting industry uptake.

Europe supplies high-purity isotopes from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, underpinned by strict environmental regulations that drive demand for isotope-labeled PFAS standards. EU Horizon 2025 grants fund green-chemistry synthesis pilots, aligning sustainability objectives with market growth. Regional producers also export to the Middle East and Africa, extending influence beyond domestic demand.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region at a 5.34% CAGR to 2030. India’s CDMO sector, projected to reach USD 26.73 billion by 2028, is building isotope capabilities to capture microdosing and radiopharmaceutical contracts. Japan’s instrument makers embed isotopic calibration routines into new mass-spectrometer releases, raising local quality standards. In China, government stimulus for biologics and environmental testing fuels demand despite tighter US trade scrutiny. These regional drivers continuously elevate the stable isotope labeling market trajectory.

Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market
Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

Competitive Landscape

The market is moderately concentrated. Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Merck KGaA, and Thermo Fisher Scientific anchor supply across isotopes, synthesis, and instrumentation. Cambridge offers more than 8,000 labeled compounds and operates enrichment facilities in the US and Europe. Merck integrates isotope reagents into analytical-consumables lines, tightening customer lock-in. Thermo Fisher’s 2025 Orbitrap Astral Zoom mass spectrometer boosts data-acquisition speed by 35%, prompting labs to purchase higher-purity isotopes that match instrument capability[2]Source: Thermo Fisher Scientific, “Orbitrap Astral Zoom Launch,” thermofisher.com .

Mid-sized specialists such as ASP Isotopes invest in enrichment plants for carbon-14 and silicon-28 in South Africa, broadening supply for semiconductor and life-science sectors. Orano Med’s industrial-scale lead-212 facility in Indiana underpins radioligand therapy pipelines. Asian entrants scale isotope CRO services, bundling synthesis with regulatory dossiers.

Competitive advantage increasingly hinges on vertical integration and regulatory expertise. Firms combining enrichment, compound synthesis, analytical hardware, and compliance support mitigate supply disruptions and capture higher margins. Niche innovators focusing on PFAS reference materials or green-chemistry methods find defensible footholds amid larger multiproduct rivals. These dynamics reinforce the stable isotope labeling market’s moderate concentration and ongoing investment cycle.

Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Industry Leaders

  1. PerkinElmer Inc

  2. Merck KGaA

  3. Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.

  4. JSC Isotope.

  5. Medical Isotopes, Inc.

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market Concentration
Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.
Need More Details on Market Players and Competitors?
Download PDF

Recent Industry Developments

  • June 2025: Thermo Fisher Scientific launched Orbitrap Astral Zoom and Orbitrap Excedion Pro mass spectrometers enabling 35% faster scans and 50% more multiplexing for isotope studies.
  • June 2025: RayzeBio, a Bristol Myers Squibb unit, licensed OncoACP3 radiopharmaceutical from Philochem for USD 350 million upfront, targeting acid phosphatase 3 with ¹⁷⁷Lu and ²²⁵Ac payloads
  • June 2025: ASP Isotopes raised USD 50 million via a 7.5 million-share offering at USD 6.65 per share to fund HALEU and specialty-isotope ventures

Table of Contents for Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Industry Report

1. Introduction

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Landscape

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Rising demand for quantitative proteomics & metabolomics
    • 4.2.2 Expansion of SIL-based companion diagnostics
    • 4.2.3 Growing 13C-labelled APIs for micro-dosing regulatory studies
    • 4.2.4 Heightened biopharma outsourcing to isotope CROs in Asia
    • 4.2.5 Commercialisation of deep-labelled reference standards for PFAS tracing
    • 4.2.6 Development of green, electro-enzymatic isotope exchange synthesis
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 High cost & limited availability of 18O-water feedstock
    • 4.3.2 Complex export-control regulations for dual-use isotopes
    • 4.3.3 Supply-chain sensitivity to enriched uranium tails for 15N
    • 4.3.4 Analytical-grade isotope scarcity for emerging ultra-high-res MS
  • 4.4 Value / Supply-Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Landscape
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter’s Five Forces
    • 4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.7.5 Competitive Rivalry

5. Market Size & Growth Forecasts

  • 5.1 By Isotope Type (Value)
    • 5.1.1 Deuterium
    • 5.1.2 Carbon-13
    • 5.1.3 Nitrogen-15
    • 5.1.4 Oxygen-18
    • 5.1.5 Others
  • 5.2 By Compound Category (Value)
    • 5.2.1 Amino Acids & Peptides
    • 5.2.2 Metabolites & Lipids
    • 5.2.3 Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
    • 5.2.4 Nucleic Acids
    • 5.2.5 Solvents & Reagents
  • 5.3 By Synthesis Method (Value)
    • 5.3.1 Chemical Synthesis
    • 5.3.2 Fermentation & Metabolic Labelling
    • 5.3.3 Enzymatic / Exchange
  • 5.4 By Application (Value)
    • 5.4.1 Research (Proteomics, Metabolomics, Flux Analysis)
    • 5.4.2 Clinical Diagnostics
    • 5.4.3 Industrial & Environmental Testing
    • 5.4.4 Others (Forensic, Agricultural)
  • 5.5 By End-User (Value)
    • 5.5.1 Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
    • 5.5.2 Academic & Research Institutes
    • 5.5.3 Hospitals & Diagnostic Centers
    • 5.5.4 Contract Research & Manufacturing Organisations
  • 5.6 By Geography (Value)
    • 5.6.1 North America
    • 5.6.1.1 United States
    • 5.6.1.2 Canada
    • 5.6.1.3 Mexico
    • 5.6.2 Europe
    • 5.6.2.1 Germany
    • 5.6.2.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.6.2.3 France
    • 5.6.2.4 Italy
    • 5.6.2.5 Spain
    • 5.6.2.6 Rest of Europe
    • 5.6.3 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.6.3.1 China
    • 5.6.3.2 India
    • 5.6.3.3 Japan
    • 5.6.3.4 South Korea
    • 5.6.3.5 Australia
    • 5.6.3.6 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.6.4 South America
    • 5.6.4.1 Brazil
    • 5.6.4.2 Argentina
    • 5.6.4.3 Rest of South America
    • 5.6.5 Middle East and Africa
    • 5.6.5.1 GCC
    • 5.6.5.2 South Africa
    • 5.6.5.3 Rest of Middle East and Africa

6. Competitive Landscape

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.3 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products & Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.3.1 Cambridge Isotope Laboratories
    • 6.3.2 Merck KGaA (Sigma-Aldrich)
    • 6.3.3 Thermo Fisher Scientific
    • 6.3.4 Taiwan Advance Nanotech
    • 6.3.5 Isoflex
    • 6.3.6 Omicron Biochemicals
    • 6.3.7 CDN Isotopes
    • 6.3.8 Medical Isotopes, Inc.
    • 6.3.9 Alsachim
    • 6.3.10 Euriso-Top
    • 6.3.11 Trace Sciences International
    • 6.3.12 Sercon Hylab
    • 6.3.13 Taiyo Nippon Sanso
    • 6.3.14 Rotem Industries (Israel)
    • 6.3.15 Toronto Research Chemicals
    • 6.3.16 LGC Standards
    • 6.3.17 Urenco Stable Isotopes
    • 6.3.18 TCI Chemicals
    • 6.3.19 Zeochem

7. Market Opportunities & Future Outlook

  • 7.1 White-space & Unmet-Need Assessment
You Can Purchase Parts Of This Report. Check Out Prices For Specific Sections
Get Price Break-up Now

Global Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market Report Scope

As per the scope of the report, a stable isotope-labeled compound is a chemical substance in which part of the molecules are labeled with an isotope so that observations of the isotopic composition make it possible to follow the compound or its fragments through physical, chemical, or biological processes. 

The Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market is Segmented by Type (Deuterium, Carbon-13, Oxygen-18, and Other Stable Isotopes), Application (Research and Development, Clinical Diagnostics, and Other Applications), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa, and South America). The report offers the value in USD million for the above segments. The report also covers the estimated market sizes and trends for 17 countries across major regions globally. The report offers the value in USD million for the above segments.

By Isotope Type (Value) Deuterium
Carbon-13
Nitrogen-15
Oxygen-18
Others
By Compound Category (Value) Amino Acids & Peptides
Metabolites & Lipids
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Nucleic Acids
Solvents & Reagents
By Synthesis Method (Value) Chemical Synthesis
Fermentation & Metabolic Labelling
Enzymatic / Exchange
By Application (Value) Research (Proteomics, Metabolomics, Flux Analysis)
Clinical Diagnostics
Industrial & Environmental Testing
Others (Forensic, Agricultural)
By End-User (Value) Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
Academic & Research Institutes
Hospitals & Diagnostic Centers
Contract Research & Manufacturing Organisations
By Geography (Value) North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa GCC
South Africa
Rest of Middle East and Africa
By Isotope Type (Value)
Deuterium
Carbon-13
Nitrogen-15
Oxygen-18
Others
By Compound Category (Value)
Amino Acids & Peptides
Metabolites & Lipids
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Nucleic Acids
Solvents & Reagents
By Synthesis Method (Value)
Chemical Synthesis
Fermentation & Metabolic Labelling
Enzymatic / Exchange
By Application (Value)
Research (Proteomics, Metabolomics, Flux Analysis)
Clinical Diagnostics
Industrial & Environmental Testing
Others (Forensic, Agricultural)
By End-User (Value)
Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
Academic & Research Institutes
Hospitals & Diagnostic Centers
Contract Research & Manufacturing Organisations
By Geography (Value)
North America United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America Brazil
Argentina
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa GCC
South Africa
Rest of Middle East and Africa
Need A Different Region or Segment?
Customize Now

Key Questions Answered in the Report

What was the stable isotope labeling market size in 2025?

The market generated USD 317.70 million in revenue during 2024.

How fast will the stable isotope labeling market grow through 2030?

It is expected to rise at a 3.05% CAGR, reaching USD 366.67 million by 2030.

Which isotope type holds the largest share?

Carbon-13 commanded 42.34% of revenue in 2024.

Why is oxygen-18 demand accelerating?

FDA-approved F-18 radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging are driving a 4.12% CAGR in the oxygen-18 segment.

Which end-user segment is expanding the quickest?

Contract research and manufacturing organizations are growing at a 5.04% CAGR as biopharma outsourcing intensifies.

Page last updated on: July 9, 2025

Stable Isotope Labeled Compounds Market Report Snapshots