The worldwide liquid biopsy market is expected to reach $2.0bn by 2022, according to a new report by Meddevicetracker, "Oncology: Liquid Biopsy Products." The growth is driven by the rising global incidence of cancers, which, in turn, fuels innovation among companies to develop noninvasive diagnostic assays that obviate the need for tissue biopsy. This is the first in a two-part series providing an overview of the liquid biopsy market, as well as the technologies developed by the larger players in this space, and examining the biggest barriers and growth drivers. In the second part, we'll take a closer look at emerging companies in the sector and offer key insights from C-level attendees at the recent Liquid Biopsy Conference in San Francisco.

Liquid biopsies – carrying out diagnostic tests on liquid samples such as blood or urine rather than on tissue biopsy material – look set to revolutionize the management of cancer patients. This area has recently captured the interest of a growing number of diagnostic players, both big and small, and spawned the development of different approaches to liquid biopsy. This article marks out who's who in this increasingly busy landscape and the key technologies that are showing promise, and looks at the obstacles that companies are facing.

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery specialist Glaukos saw its stock leap 40% in the wake of a worldwide recall by much bigger rival Alcon of its CyPass microstent.