Rat Model Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis By Type (Native and Transgenic), By Species (Wistar Rat, Sprague-Dawley Rat, Long-Evans Rat, and Others), By Application (Disease Modelling, Behavioural Studies, and Others), By End-user (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry, Academic & Research Institutes, CROs, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2026-2034

The global rat model market size was valued at USD 1.79 billion in 2025. The market is projected to grow from USD 1.92 billion in 2026 to USD 3.35 billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.22% during the forecast period.

The global rat model market continues to expand due to mounting requirements for dependable animal models to advance biomedical research and pharmaceutical development and disease investigations. Research on human diseases employs laboratory rats and genetically modified rats as experimental subjects to study how diseases develop in people thus enabling scientists to discover treatment methods and develop therapeutic options. The market advances because of genetic engineering breakthroughs in CRISPR technology that enables scientists to develop special rat models for precise medical studies. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates the U.S. leads the rat model market worldwide by securing more than 60 percent of the entire market share.

Rat Model Market Driver

Rising Demand for Preclinical Research and CRISPR Advancements to Drive Market Growth

The rat model market receives its primary impetus from scientists who require precise animal models to perform drug discovery and disease investigation activities. Diesel-based research platforms thrive because they exhibit similar human attributes to rats thus becoming an optimal testing methodology for preclinical investigations. Rat model adoption for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) rose by 15% in North America during the year 2022. The market growth has accelerated because CRISPR technology enables efficient development of genetically modified rat models.

Rat Model Market Restraint

Regulatory Restrictions and Ethical Concerns to Restrain Rat Model Market Growth

The rat model market faces crucial barriers from elevated ethical pressure alongside increased regulations that govern animal testing. The rat model market may encounter restrictions in expansion because both Europe and North America are strengthening their laws regarding animal testing reduction and substitution. Detailed research conducted by EARA demonstrates that 300 European research institutions annually perform studies with rats yet recent data suggests these institutions are gravitating toward alternative research models including organ-on-chip technology and in-vitro testing approaches.

Rat Model Market Opportunity

Customization in Precision Medicine and Rising R&D Investments to Unlock Growth Opportunities in Market

Customized rat models for precision medicine research will create substantial business prospects in the future. CRISPR technology integration makes possible the creation of disease-specific models which serve personalized medicine research needs. According to reports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) China devotes approximately USD 1 billion yearly for rat model research in emerging Asian markets.

Segmentation

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Key Industry Trends
• Number of Patent Filings and Investments in Research, By Major Countries
• Key Industry Developments
• Overview: Regulatory Scenario across Key Countries

Analysis By Type

By Type, the Rat Model Market is divided into Native, Transgenic. 

The Transgenic segment will lead market dominance because more researchers are selecting genetically modified models for studying specific diseases. The segment continues to grow because scientists use CRISPR technology for performing highly accurate genetic modifications.

Analysis By Species

By Species, the Rat Model Market is divided into Wistar Rat, Sprague-Dawley Rat, Long-Evans Rat & Others. 

Pharmaceutical testing accounts for the dominant position of Sprague-Dawley Rats in the market. Over 80% of all rat models used in North America are either Sprague-Dawley or Wistar strains based on American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) statistics.

Analysis By Application

By Application, the Rat Model Market is divided into Disease Modelling, Behavioural Studies & Others. 

The segment of Disease Modelling leads all others because chronic diseases are on the rise alongside increased demands for preclinical model effectiveness. Rats utilized in National Cancer Institute cancer research increased by 15% during 2022 according to NCI data indicating the essential role of rat models in this field.

Analysis By End-user

By End-user, the Rat Model Market is divided into Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry, Academic & Research Institutes, CROs & Others. 

Rat models for pharmaceutical testing make up the most extensive segment of the market since they represent more than 70% of all drug assessments in North America based on Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) data.

Regional Analysis

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Based on geography, the market has been studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) rat models in North America control more than 60% of total worldwide market presence. Several important elements support North American research leadership through government biomedical research funding together with developed pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and advanced laboratory facilities across the region. Rat model research consumes USD 2 billion in the U.S. each year per Federal science organization the National Science Foundation (NSF). Rat model breeding facilities reach over 1,000 in number across North America according to National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) data which verifies continuous high-quality model availability. The region holds leadership position in genetic engineering through its 200 specialized facilities which modify rats for specific disease research according to National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).

Europe maintains the second-largest market share in the rat model industry since it contributes a quarter of total worldwide revenue as confirmed by the European Commission. The region grows through strict regulatory systems which both protect ethical research along with maintaining high-quality preclinical research standards. The U.K., Germany and France stand as leaders in rat model usage annually as European Animal Research Association (EARA) reports indicate that more than 300 research institutions use these models each year. European academic and industrial research organizations can avail rat models through competitive pricing that starts at EUR 150 per unit and goes up to EUR 400 per unit according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) reveals that rat model usage for cardiovascular research has risen by 10% within Europe during 2022.

Asia Pacific demonstrates the highest market expansion because regional authorities boost R&D research and construct new healthcare facilities. China stands as the regional leader where its annually spent USD 1 billion on rat model research based on reports from the National Science Foundation of China. JPMA reports that more than half of all rat models in Asia serve contract research organizations (CROs).

Key Players Covered

• Leading preclinical research companies are strengthening their portfolios by acquiring a specialized rat model provider business.
• Biotechnology firms are making available superior CRISPR-edited rat models to study both neurological and metabolic medical conditions.

The report includes the profiles of the following key players:

• Charles River Laboratories (U.S.)
• Inotiv, Inc. (U.S.)
• Envigo Research Models and Services (U.S.)
• GENOWAY (France)
• Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (U.S.)
• Janvier Labs. (France)
• Taconic Biosciences, Inc. (U.S.)
• Cyagen US Inc. (U.S.)