Allergy Treatment Market

Market Overview

The global allergy treatment market size was valued at USD 30.50 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 51.30 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.46% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Factors such as anxiety related to food allergies and increasing risk of environmental allergies, significantly drives the allergy treatment market demand by 2031.

Allergies affect a significant part of the population and are often related to a poor quality of life, which involves constant fear of producing an allergic reaction. It hampers a person's productivity with allergies, so receiving treatment for allergic conditions is crucial. Allergies occur when the body encounters specific substances, and the immune system of the body recognizes them as harmful substances. Such substances are termed allergens. When an allergen encounters the body through the eyes, nose, skin, or ingestion, it produces an allergic response.

Based on the type of sensitivity, allergies can vary. People sensitized to aeroallergens, such as pollens and dust mites, suffer from allergic rhinitis or asthma. People sensitized to surface allergens such as pet dander, chemicals, etc., have skin allergies and diseases such as eczema, dermatitis, etc. People sensitized to food items, such as peanuts, shellfish, milk, and eggs, have food allergies. Most allergic diseases are interlinked and can often exert symptoms like other allergies.

Market Dynamics

Global Allergy Treatment Market Drivers

Anxiety Related to Food Allergies

Food allergy affects around 6% to 8% of children below the age of three years and approximately 3% of the adult population. It involves an immunogenic response to certain foods such as peanuts, shellfish, nuts, and fish in adults, and peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, and soy in children. The condition is much more severe in children unaware of avoiding such allergens and can quickly produce an allergic event. In addition, the painful symptoms associated with food allergies and the high onset of anaphylaxis cause anxiety about food items, especially in children, as they fear exposure to allergens. This further leads to events such as a phobia. It can also lead to depression and post-traumatic stress, affecting the quality of life.

Additionally, anaphylaxis patients are more likely to acquire a fear of certain foods, which can make parents overly cautious. Although this approach is harmful, it helps parents and children become aware of the treatment measures and allergy management, thus reducing casualties related to food allergies. Therefore, such factors lead to the market's growth.

Increasing Risk of Environmental Allergies

Environmental factors inducing allergies are the most common, including pollens, dust mites, pet dander, mold, and cigarette smoke. Although urbanization has improved the quality of life regarding hygiene and sanitized environment, it has introduced many new allergens such as air pollution, water, and pollution. This has increased exposure to harmful chemicals through polluted air and water.

Air pollutants, such as diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), have increased the incidence of allergic asthma and aggravated the condition in people. DEPs improve not only these allergy incidences but also the effect of other allergens. Furthermore, CO2 emissions in developing countries are rapidly increasing because of rapid industrialization followed by rapid urbanization. China 2019 accounted for almost 30% of the global CO2 emissions. These numbers indicate the growing risk factors for allergies worldwide, driving the allergy treatment market growth.

Global Allergy Treatment Market Restraint

Improper Use of Medical Devices during Self-Administration 

Anaphylaxis is a severe condition involving symptoms such as difficulty breathing and shock. Emergency epinephrine is the only treatment that can be provided and should be provided when the patient enters an anaphylactic shock. In addition, emergency epinephrine is administered intramuscularly to get immediate relief from the shock. However, many people do not know how to properly administer it, which increases the risk of fatal anaphylactic shock.

The use of an epinephrine autoinjector has been prescribed to reduce the onset of incorrect administration. However, the reported correct epinephrine autoinjector use is less than 22%. This is mainly attributed to the need for more required knowledge in people and is also seen in healthcare professionals. It is also the case with allergic asthma, where exposure to allergen results in a sudden asthmatic attack. The rapid treatment for allergic asthma is the use of inhalers. Hence, a study shows almost 92% of people misuse their inhalers. Such factors restrict allergy treatment market growth.

Global Allergy Treatment Market Opportunities

Growth of On-Demand Pharmacy

As the market for retail pharmacies is growing rapidly, vendors seek to expand their market presence. Many leading retail pharmacy chains have started online sales for the same. With the same concept, many new start-ups are hitting the pharmaceutical market with an on-demand service model. The on-demand service provides service per customer demand. There are many reasons why the need for on-demand medicines is rising. It includes the convenience of procuring drugs, 24/7 availability, and the ability to check and stock medications that drive this demand. COVID-19 infection and the use of telehealth platforms have proved to be a catalyst for on-demand pharmacies.

Additionally, online and on-demand pharmacies are helpful in the allergy treatment market, where medications are procured as a monthly supply. People can choose a monthly, quarterly, or even annual supply of medications, on which they are rewarded with extra discounts and great offers to increase their adherence to the platform. These benefits drive the online sales of the on-demand pharmacy market and create tremendous opportunities for allergy treatment market vendors to grow.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global allergy treatment market share is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.57% during the forecast period. The segment's growth has been attributed to factors such as the increasing prevalence of allergies in the region, having a mature market, and growing risk factors contributing to the allergies. Awareness of allergic diseases in North America, which has been contributing to the market in the region, is also high. It has also improved the acceptance of newer therapies and medical devices for allergy management, such as immunotherapies, epinephrine autoinjectors, and inhalers, contributing to market growth. As the region rapidly develops in industrial development and urbanization, risk factors for allergies are also growing. In addition, various studies have highlighted that one of the leading reasons for allergies in adolescents and teenagers is the lack of exposure to allergens found in the environment when their immune system is under development, making adolescents more vulnerable to allergens. Such factors fuel the North American market growth.

Europe is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.60% over the forecast period. Europe is witnessing a rapidly increasing prevalence of allergies. It is believed that allergies affect more than 150 million people across the region, making it one of the most prevalent choric conditions. In addition, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) has estimated that almost half of the European population will suffer from at least one form of allergy over the next 15 years. Europe has a prevalence of around 17% to 30% of allergic rhinitis. The incidence of allergic rhinitis is generally seen during childhood, progressing more severely during adulthood. In Europe, almost 45% of the population from the age group 20-45 years old shows the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. The prevalence is higher in western Europe, which is even higher, as the condition is highly underdiagnosed. Furthermore, one of the crucial factors for the growth of the allergy treatment market is the growing number of companies providing immunotherapies. This has increased investments in clinical research over the use of newer SLIT and OIT in allergy treatment.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market for allergy treatment products. It is home to many countries considered fast-paced economies or emerging markets, making it an ideal market for business expansion for companies in various sectors. Similar cases can be seen in the allergy treatment market, as growing awareness in the population over the severity of allergies and available treatment methods has caused the demand for treatment solutions to grow. In addition, many countries in Asia-Pacific are considered economically poor. People in such countries struggle to purchase epinephrine autoinjectors such as EpiPen, which are highly costly. Hence, the market in Asia-Pacific welcomes generic products more than branded ones, as they are more cost-effective. Allergies are one of the region's leading chronic and non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, the most significant risk factors in the region for allergies include demographic changes, smoking rates, drinking habits, pet adoption, lack of quality education, and family history of allergies.

Latin America includes three key countries as Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. All three countries have an urbanization rate higher than 80%, with high air quality indices indicating higher air pollution. The region has a low awareness of allergic diseases, which has kept the diseases underdiagnosed. A similar approach is followed by physicians, who treat only symptoms of the diseases, with little to no focus on prevention, thereby hampering the market's growth.

The Middle East and Africa have specific types of allergies that are more prevalent in the Middle Eastern population than the other parts of the world. This is due to the differences in race, which change the susceptibility to specific allergies. Research has shown that the Middle Eastern population is more susceptible to dust mites. Along with this, food items such as cow milk, eggs, and peanuts are also sensitizing the population more rapidly than ever, boosting the market growth in the region.

Segmental Analysis

The global allergy treatment market share is bifurcated into product type, indication, dosage form, and distribution channel.

Based on product type, the global market is divided into medication, immunotherapy, and emergency epinephrine. 

The medications segment accounts for the largest market share and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.01% over the forecast period. The medications segment mainly dominates allergy treatments. The primary treatment used for treating allergy symptoms is a medication generally called symptomatic treatment. Based on the action mechanism or the active compound's structure, medications are classified as antihistamines, decongestants, topical formulations, and steroids. Medications provide relief from the harmful side effects of allergies almost instantly. It generally protects for the next 24 hours or even more. The simplicity of administration is an important reason behind their high acceptance, which has been driving the market.

Based on indication, the global market is divided into rhinitis, food allergy, pollen allergy, skin allergy, anaphylaxis, and others. 

The rhinitis segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.21% over the forecast period. Allergic rhinitis or hay fever is the most prevalent allergic disease globally. It affects almost 10%-20% of the global population. It is the most common type of rhinitis, which affects nearly 40% of the worldwide population. The most significant contributor to this is pollen. Pollens are generally transferred through air, hence are incredibly light, making them easy to get carried by the wind. In addition, various studies have highlighted the impact of seasonal winds in increasing the pollen count in any region. Along with pollens, the other allergens contributing to the incidence of allergic rhinitis include dust mites, animal dander, and mold spores in the air.

Based on dosage form, the global market is bifurcated into oral, nasal, and others. 

The oral segment owns the highest market share and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.14% over the forecast period. Oral dosage is one of the most common dosage forms because of the convivence of administration, which results in high acceptance, especially from the pediatric population. Almost all medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, mast cell stabilizers, and corticosteroids, are oral formulations. Popular antihistamines such as Zyrtec and Allegra are available as tablets. They are also available as combination formulations with decongestants, such as tablets and syrups, for the pediatric population. In addition, corticosteroids are available as oral tablets, which can reduce inflammation all over the body through systemic action. Corticosteroids are therefore used to treat a variety of allergic illnesses, including allergic rhinitis, eczema, and pollen allergies.

Based on the distribution channel, the global market is divided into retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, and online sales.

The retail pharmacy segment is the largest contributor to the market and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.51% over the forecast period. The retail pharmacy segment acquired a maximum share of the global market due to direct customer interaction and higher customer satisfaction. They provide medications based on the demand for OTC products and prescription drugs. Outpatient care is another driver for the retail pharmacy. Outpatient care is getting increasingly popular as people become more aware of their health. This is also increasing because of the increasing disease burden and the prevalence of chronic diseases. In addition, retail pharmacies are most popular in growing economies such as developing countries. This is due to the need for more hospital pharmacies. Many big healthcare service providers also often acquire retail pharmacies, such as Apollo Pharmacy, to form their chain of retail pharmacies.

Recent Developments

• March 2023- ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scheduled a meeting to review the new drug application for neffy®. Neffy could be the first non-injectable epinephrine nasal spray for treating type 1 allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.

• February 2023- Nectar Life Sciences announced the launch of its innovative, all-encompassing allergy care platform, Nectar. Nectar Allergy Drops, the first offering from the company's allergy treatment program, are personalized, sublingual immunotherapy drops that treat the root cause of allergies to provide lifelong relief.