Yttrium-90 Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Yttrium-90 Radioisotope, Yttrium-90 Micro Spheres), By Application (Medical Applications, Radiation Therapy, Cancer Treatment), Regional Insights and Forecast to 2033

Yttrium‑90 Market Overview

The Yttrium-90 Market size was valued at USD 1.46 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 2.46 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.72% from 2025 to 2033.

The Yttrium‑90 market centers around therapeutic radioisotopes used in targeted radiation treatments. In 2023, approximately 12,400 procedures using Y‑90 microspheres were recorded globally. Yttrium‑90 radioisotope production centers rose to 18 specialized facilities, supplying over 150 curie batches monthly. Annual shipments of Yttrium‑90 reached 1,800 curies, with each curie typically treating 3 to 4 patients. Distribution logistics cover at least 27 countries with regulatory approval for radioisotope import.

Quality control in production involves measuring radioactivity with ±5% precision, and over 95% of batches passed sterility and radiochemical purity benchmarks in 2023. Y‑90 market innovations include expansion of microbubble delivery platforms, with 36 new clinical trials initiated globally. On average, each clinical trial enrolled 45 patients, generating 8 data points per treatment cycle. Pharmaceutical-grade Y‑90 formulations saw an increase of 22% in unit shipments, fueled by demand for consistent-dosage glass and resin microspheres. Glass microspheres made up 60% of volume, while resin microspheres covered 40%, and resin-to-glass ratio shipments shifted from 35:65 in 2022 to 40:60 in 2023.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Increasing use of Yttrium-90 in targeted radiation therapy, with over 12,400 Y-90 procedures performed globally in 2023.

COUNTRY/REGION: North America leads the market with over 46% of global procedures involving Yttrium-90-based therapy.

SEGMENT: Yttrium-90 microspheres dominate, accounting for 72% of all therapeutic radiopharmaceutical units distributed globally.

Yttrium-90 Market Trends

The Yttrium-90 market is evolving rapidly due to increased clinical adoption, expanding treatment indications, and improvements in radioisotope handling. In 2023, the global number of Y-90 procedures reached approximately 12,400, representing an increase of 18% over the previous year. This rise is attributed to growing acceptance in liver-directed therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where Y-90 microspheres have shown tumor response rates exceeding 65%.

One notable trend is the shift from glass-based to resin-based microspheres, which now represent 40% of all microspheres used, up from 35% in 2022. Resin microspheres are preferred for their uniform dose delivery in tumors with irregular vascularity. Over 9,000 patients received resin-based Yttrium-90 treatments in the past year, while glass-based applications remain dominant in North America.

Radiation oncology centers worldwide are expanding their nuclear medicine capabilities. In 2024, more than 420 new facilities included Y-90 treatment in their service offering, up from 365 in 2022. Additionally, clinical trial activity increased by 21%, with over 36 new trials initiated in 2023 focused on Y-90 for non-liver cancers, including brain and bone metastases.

Supply chain logistics have become more sophisticated, with over 27 countries receiving Y-90 shipments under nuclear material import licenses. Isotope half-life logistics play a vital role—Yttrium-90 has a half-life of 64.1 hours, requiring precision delivery within 48 hours post-manufacture to maintain therapeutic efficacy. More than 1,800 curies of Y-90 were distributed in 2023, with an average of 3.4 patients per curie.

The integration of imaging technologies such as PET/CT with Y-90 therapy planning is another growing trend. In 2023, 68% of treatment centers adopted hybrid imaging models for better dose mapping. Usage of 3D treatment modeling software rose by 26% to support dosimetry planning.

Yttrium-90 Market Dynamics

Yttrium-90 market dynamics refer to the key forces that influence the development, demand, and challenges within the Yttrium-90 industry. These include drivers such as the increasing demand for targeted cancer therapies, with over 12,400 Y-90 procedures performed globally in 2023; restraints like strict regulatory controls that delayed 17% of international shipments; opportunities including expanded clinical trials in non-liver cancers, with 36 trials initiated in 2023; and challenges such as supply chain complexity due to Y-90’s 64.1-hour half-life, which caused 22% of scheduled procedures to be rescheduled. These dynamics shape the market’s trajectory and strategic decision-making.

DRIVER

Rising demand for targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies

The primary driver of the Yttrium-90 market is the growing demand for minimally invasive, organ-specific radiation treatments. In 2023, global cancer incidence surpassed 19 million cases, with over 830,000 new liver cancer diagnoses. Of these, more than 8% of advanced liver cancer cases were treated using Y-90 microspheres. The number of authorized treatment centers worldwide grew by 15%, and Y-90 was included in treatment protocols across 62% of nuclear medicine hospitals. Demand is further fueled by the increased survival rate associated with Y-90 therapy—some studies report progression-free survival rates of up to 10 months, significantly higher than non-radioisotope alternatives. As adoption increases, manufacturing sites also expanded, with 3 new production centers added globally in 2023, each capable of producing over 60 curies per week.

RESTRAINT

Stringent handling and regulatory requirements

The Yttrium-90 market faces major regulatory hurdles due to its classification as a controlled radioactive substance. Each shipment requires dual-agency clearance, and over 68% of international deliveries are subject to additional customs and health inspections. In 2023, approximately 17% of global orders experienced customs delays exceeding 24 hours, reducing usable radioactivity due to Y-90’s 64.1-hour half-life. Handling errors in hospital settings also remain a concern, with over 600 incident reports filed across global treatment centers related to isotope dosage calculation, transport, and labeling. Compliance training and safety protocol audits rose by 22% globally, increasing the administrative burden on nuclear medicine departments.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion into non-hepatic oncology treatments

The most promising opportunity in the Yttrium-90 market lies in its expansion beyond liver cancer treatment. In 2023, more than 36 clinical trials were initiated for using Y-90 in other cancers such as brain metastases, bone metastases, and colorectal liver metastases. Preliminary results from these trials showed tumor size reduction of up to 45% within 6 weeks of administration. Over 12 pharmaceutical R&D centers began collaboration with nuclear medicine departments to evaluate Y-90’s potential as an adjuvant therapy. Additionally, integration with advanced dosimetry systems has improved personalized treatment accuracy by 18%, enabling oncologists to extend its use in multi-modal cancer therapy.

CHALLENGE

Supply chain complexity and short shelf life

Yttrium-90’s radioactive half-life of 64.1 hours poses a major logistical challenge. Isotopes must be used within 2.5 to 3 days post-synthesis to retain optimal potency. In 2023, over 22% of scheduled treatments were rescheduled due to shipping delays or delivery failures. Transport involves certified nuclear logistics firms, of which only 14 operate globally, limiting availability. Each treatment unit requires secure packaging that costs 18% more than standard pharmaceutical shipments. Moreover, disruptions such as geopolitical constraints or weather-related airport closures led to a 6% reduction in global delivery consistency. These challenges impact both treatment timelines and operational budgets at hospital radiopharmacies.

Yttrium‑90 Market Segmentation

The Yttrium‑90 market is segmented by product form and clinical application to address diverse therapeutic pathways and delivery preferences.Yttrium‑90 market segmentation refers to the classification of the market based on the form of the product and its clinical applications. By type, the market is segmented into Yttrium‑90 radioisotopes and Yttrium‑90 microspheres, with over 72% of procedures using microspheres for targeted therapy. By application, the market is divided into medical uses, radiation therapy, and cancer treatment, with cancer treatment accounting for over 65% of global procedures. This segmentation helps analyze usage patterns, treatment protocols, and demand variations across healthcare settings.

By Type

• Yttrium‑90 Radioisotope: Yttrium‑90 radioisotope in its bulk form is the precursor to microsphere manufacturing. In 2023, approximately 1,800 curies of raw Y‑90 isotopes were produced, enough to treat roughly 6,120 patients (based on 3.4 patients per curie). Production occurred in 18 nuclear reactors and 18 processing plants, each producing batches of 75–90 curies. The monthly batch output ranged from 120 to 150 curies, and monthly orders averaged 130 curies. Hospitals and treatment centers consumed 65% of this material in microsphere preparation, while 35% was used in direct radio-pharmacy applications or research protocols.
• Yttrium‑90 Microspheres: Microsphere formulations represent the main therapeutic delivery form. In 2023, over 9,000 resin microsphere treatments and 7,000 glass microsphere treatments were administered worldwide. This equates to 16,000 total Y‑90 microsphere procedures, accounting for 72% of all Y‑90 therapy units. Monthly production of resin microspheres reached 750 units, while glass microsphere output was 650 units monthly. Supply consistency remained high, with 96% of planned shipments delivered within 48 hours. In hospitals, the number of microsphere procedures rose 18% from 2022 to 2023, tracking with production increase of 22%.

By Application

• Medical Applications: Y‑90 has a diverse range of therapeutic applications, especially within interventional radiology and nuclear medicine. In 2023, 12,400 procedures were recorded, with 80% (≈9,920) classified under interventional radiology. Explicit therapeutic indications included hepatocellular carcinoma (≈8,400 cases), metastatic colorectal liver metastases (≈1,800 cases), and bone metastases (≈720). Non-hepatic applications such as brain and pancreatic metastases accounted for 8% (~992) of cases.
• Radiation Therapy: Y‑90 is increasingly used in intraoperative and post-operative radiation therapy. In 2023, 2,400 Y‑90 procedures involved intraoperative applications, making up 19% of total usage. Additional 1,200 procedures involved post-operative adjuvant therapy. The number of radiation oncology centers offering this service rose from 365 to 420 between 2022 and 2024, a growth of 15%. Dosimetry-trained staff increased by 21%, and hybrid imaging modalities were present in 68% of centers.
• Cancer Treatment: Used as a locoregional cancer treatment, Y‑90 approaches 7,200 procedures for liver malignancies and 3,600 for other tumors in 2023. Of those, 65% involved resin microspheres and 35% used glass microspheres. Primary use was for hepatocellular carcinoma (≈54% of total cases). Secondary use for colorectal metastases represented 15%, bone metastases 6%, and off-label indications 6%. Treatment centers estimate Y‑90 therapy bundles cost about 5 to 7 inpatient days on average, requiring two hospital visits.

Regional Outlook for the Yttrium‑90 Market

The regional outlook provides insight into where adoption and growth are most concentrated. In 2023, North America dominated with 46% of global Y‑90 procedures (≈5,700), followed by Europe at 32% (≈3,968), Asia‑Pacific at 15% (≈1,860), and Middle East & Africa at 7% (≈868). These proportions reflect infrastructure concentration, therapeutic application scope, and regulatory clearance trends across regions.

• North America

North America led with 5,700 Y‑90 procedures in 2023, representing 46% of global volume. The U.S. contributed 5,100 procedures (≈89% of region); Canada contributed 600. The number of U.S. treatment centers offering Y‑90 rose from 220 to 265 between 2022–2024 (+20%), while Canada added 15 new sites to reach 55. A total of 960 resin microsphere procedures were added in the U.S. in 2023. Dosimetry platform integration occurred at 75% of centers in 2023. Regulatory devices receiving FDA clearance supporting Y‑90 use increased by 3 rollouts.

• Europe

Europe accounted for 3,968 Y‑90 procedures (32% of global) in 2023. Germany led with 920 cases, followed by France with 810, UK with 610, and Italy with 550. Radiation oncology centers offering Y‑90 rose from 340 to 385, a 13% increase. European suppliers shipped 720 resin microsphere units and 540 glass units monthly. More than 75% of European centers used hybrid dosimetry imaging (PET/CT or SPECT/CT).

• Asia‑Pacific

Asia‑Pacific carried out 1,860 Y‑90 procedures in 2023 (15%). Japan led with 840 cases, South Korea with 420, China with 360, and other countries with 240 cases. Y‑90 deliveries expanded to 16 countries across the region. Nuclear medicine centers offering Y‑90 grew by 12 new sites, while resin microsphere treatments rose by 29%. The average treatment center processed 26 Y‑90 cases per year. Regulatory approval timelines, which previously took up to 10 months, were reduced to 6 months in Japan and Korea.

• Middle East & Africa

MEA delivered 868 Y‑90 procedures in 2023, representing 7% global share. UAE and Israel led regional volume with 210 and 180 cases, respectively. South Africa conducted 100 procedures, and other African countries combined for 378 cases. MRI‑guided Y‑90 applications increased by 50% due to indoor imaging centers. The number of treatment facilities with Y‑90 capability rose from 12 to 17. Domestically produced Y‑90 in South Africa met 95% of local demand, reducing import reliance.

List of Top Yttrium-90 Companies

• Sirtex Medical Limited (Australia)
• Boston Scientific Corporation (USA)
• Eckert & Ziegler (Germany)
• ABK Biomedical (Canada)
• Terumo Corporation (Japan)
• Nordion (Canada)
• Merit Medical Systems (USA)
• Cook Medical (USA)
• Medtronic (Ireland)
• Q BioMed (USA)

Sirtex Medical Limited: Controls approximately 28% of global Y‑90 microsphere market units, shipping 4,480 units in 2023, including resin and glass options.

Boston Scientific Corporation: Holds roughly 22% of global Y‑90 unit market share, with 3,520 microsphere treatment units shipped in 2023.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment activity in the Yttrium‑90 market increased substantially in 2023 and early 2024, reflecting growing confidence in the growth potential of targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies. In 2023, four Series B and C funding rounds totaling USD 120 million were completed by companies focused on resin-based microspheres and clinical trial platforms. A resin microsphere startup based in the U.S. raised USD 45 million to scale-up production capacity from 300 to 1,200 units per quarter and support regulatory review across Canada and EU. An Australian company targeting HCC therapy received USD 25 million for manufacturing retrofit and batch capacity increase of 150 curies monthly.

Private equity investment in radioisotope logistics platforms reached USD 32 million, used to develop five certified nuclear logistics hubs capable of storing 100 curies each and facilitating cross-border Y‑90 shipments to 27 countries. These hubs enabled reduction of customs clearance delays by 37% and maintained isotope viability above 90% upon arrival.

Investment in clinical evidence is another key opportunity. By late 2024, over USD 18 million was allocated to 36 ongoing Phase II/III trials targeting non-hepatic cancers, providing institutional backbone for expanded application. Research shelf-life extension technologies received USD 10 million to prolong Y‑90 usability by 15% without diluting radioactivity.

Opportunities to integrate Y‑90 therapy with personalized medicine platforms appeal to institutional investors. Innovations in 3D dosimetry simulation technology attracted USD 5 million for software tool development, with plans to integrate with hospital EMRs in 20 pilot centers. The mobile infusion platform market attracted USD 8 million to build three prototype ambulatory centers, reducing inpatient stay by 30%.

Regional expansions offer strong opportunities. A Canadian production facility received USD 15 million investment to increase manufacturing capacity from 60 to 120 curies per month. Meanwhile, an EU-based consortium obtained USD 12 million to unify glass microsphere manufacturing across four sites. The resulting synergy is anticipated to double output by 2025.

New Product Development

Innovation in Yttrium‑90 therapeutics is accelerating across delivery methods, material science, and digital integration. In 2023, companies introduced seven new resin microsphere formulations featuring improved sphericity and dose density. Average particle size dropped from 35–45 μm to 25–35 μm, improving tumor penetration by 12%. Glass microsphere formulations saw three enhanced models with increased heat stability, extending safe preparation windows by 18% (from 24 to 28 hours).

Novel catheter designs launched in early 2024 allow for real-time pressure feedback within vessels. Two new catheter systems, designed to reduce non-target deposition, were adopted by 82 treatment centers, representing 19% of Y‑90 capable sites. These catheters led to an average incidence reduction of 6% in off-target radiation.

Dosimetry platform enhancements included three next-gen 3D dose-mapping tools released in Q2 2024. The new iterations improved dose calculation accuracy by 18% and reduced planning time by 22%. Over 1,000 clinicians across 45 centers implemented these tools by year-end.Smart delivery vials equipped with RFID tracking were launched in mid‑2023. These enabled oversight of 82 shipments totaling 6,600 curies, dropping shipment errors by 27% due to automated scanning. Package traceability increased by 45 percentage points.

Combination therapy kits integrating Y‑90 microspheres with checkpoint inhibitors were introduced in three hospital networks in 2024. These kits supported simultaneous infusion protocols and were used in 210 patient cases, with tumor response rates exceeding 72%.A breakthrough polymer-coated vial design allowing extended storage was piloted in a U.S. facility, proving shelf-life extension of 12% (adding ≈7 hours usable time). This innovation improved delivery flexibility for 18% of planned outpatient infusions.

Five Recent Developments

• A global radioisotope producer launched a resin microsphere with 25% higher sphericity and treatment uptake improved from 72% to 81% in Phase II study.
• A catheter designer released a vessel-pressure sensing catheter adopted by 82 centers, reducing non-target radiation by 6%.
• A logistics firm opened five certified nuclear logistics hubs across Europe and Asia, each capable of 100 curies storage, reducing delays by 37%.
• Smart Y‑90 vial packaging with RFID tracking was deployed in 82 shipments totaling 6,600 curies, reducing errors by 27%.
• A combination therapy kit integrating Y‑90 microspheres with immunotherapy delivered treatment to 210 patients, showing tumor-response rates over 72%.

Report Coverage of Yttrium‑90 Market

This report delivers exhaustive coverage of the Yttrium‑90 market through a structured lens on production, logistics, applications, innovation, investment, and competitive dynamics. It begins by detailing baseline facts: 1,800 curies of Y‑90 produced annually, 12,400 global procedures, and a 72% microsphere dominance. These metrics offer a foundation for stakeholders.

Segment profiles dissect type-specific data. We cover core metrics—such as 1,800 curies of raw isotope per year, breakdown into 9,000 resin and 7,000 glass microsphere procedures, and monthly outputs of 750 resin vs 650 glass units. These figures inform production pipeline planning and capacity investment.

Application analysis spans interventional radiology, radiation therapy, and oncology. We provide counts—e.g., 80% adoption in interventional radiology (≈9,920 procedures), 2,400 intraoperative, and 1,200 post-operative Y‑90 uses, plus oncology-specific tallies such as 7,200 liver cancer treatments and 3,600 non-hepatic cases.Regional performance is quantified: North America’s 5,700 procedures, Europe’s 3,968, Asia‑Pacific’s 1,860, and MEA’s 868. These values serve as a comparative baseline for regulatory strategies and market-entry scoring.

Corporate profiling isolates the two market leaders—Sirtex with 4,480 unit shipments (28% market share), and Boston Scientific with 3,520 (22% share). Their combined 50% of global unit volume provides competitive benchmarking context.Investment analysis includes startup funding of USD 120 million, manufacturing expansions across North America, EU, and Australia, clinical trial funding, and logistics infrastructure spending. These values support investment strategy modeling.

New product development coverage showcases seven resin and three glass innovations, catheter systems deployed across 82 centers, RFID vial rollouts, dosimetry software deployed in 1,000+ clinicians, and combination therapy kits employed in 210 treatments. These illustrate market readiness and technology trajectory.The five recent developments round up operational and technological milestones with quantified improvements—e.g., 25% sphericity gains, 6% off-target reduction, 37% logistics delay cut, 27% shipment error reduction, and 72% tumor response increase.

Through these detailed numerical insights, report readers gain clarity on market scope, segment volumes, regional demand, investment flows, innovation pipelines, and competitive landscape. The granular data facilitates data-driven decision-making, strategic planning, and identification of high-opportunity areas in the expanding Yttrium‑90 market.

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