Anti-inflammatory Drugs Market

Market Overview

The global anti-inflammatory drugs market was valued at USD 110.91 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 196.81 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.58% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The flourishing prevalence of autoimmune disorders, like rheumatoid osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, and other conditions, including gout and osteoarthritis, expands the global anti-inflammatory drugs market.

Inflammation is an integral component of the complex biological response of body tissues to infections, injuries, or pathogens. White blood cells discharge chemicals into the bloodstream or tissues to promote wound healing as part of the body's immune response in the event of injury. Upon detection of an invader, the human body activates a biological response to eliminate the foreign entity. The potential intruder may manifest as a thorn, an irritation, or a virus.

Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and other infectious organisms. For a variety of common inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), tendinitis, and bursitis, many people are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and biologics and biosimilars. These medications alleviate pain and assist in reducing edema and inflammation. Both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription NSAIDs are available.

Market Dynamics

Global Anti-inflammatory Drugs Market Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Inflammatory Diseases

The incidence of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions among people is rising at an alarming rate worldwide. For instance, the global burden of IBD is increasing, with significant variations in the disease's trends and levels in different economies and regions. In 2017, there had been 6.8 million instances of IBD globally. Thus, the increasing incidence and prevalence of a wide range of autoimmune disorders, respiratory diseases, and other inflammatory diseases are likely to increase the consumption of a broad range of branded and generic small molecule drugs and branded biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars and contribute to the global anti-inflammatory drugs market growth.

Growing Use of Biologics to Treat Inflammatory Diseases

Biologics that target autoimmune reactions and inflammatory injury pathways significantly positively impact the treatment of many chronic diseases, such as RA, psoriasis, IBDs, and ankylosing spondylitis. The use of biological therapies for treating autoimmune diseases provides a better understanding of these agents' superior efficacy and safety profile and the initial points of altered immunomodulatory and active attacks in various diseases. The main targets of most biological therapies are cytokines, B cells, and co-stimulatory molecules.

Over the last two decades, a revolution has occurred in treating autoimmune disorders by introducing new therapeutic biological products. Currently, biologics are used as the standard treatment for patients with autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis, dermatology, and gastrointestinal disorders. Due to the clinically proven safety and efficacy data and successful clinical trial studies, the demand for biopharmaceuticals is increasing worldwide. The impending expiry of patents for various top-selling biological brands and the willingness of patients to reduce medical costs due to the financial crisis will drive the demand for new biologics, boosting market growth.

Global Anti-inflammatory Drugs Market Restraint

Side-effects of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs 

Anti-inflammatory drugs are also associated with adverse effects that make many patients non-compliant with the treatment regimen. Such side effects discourage many patients from using anti-inflammatory drugs, adversely impacting market growth. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit inflammation, they also inhibit platelet aggregation and augment the risk of gastrointestinal ulcers/bleeding. Selective COX2 inhibitors have fewer gastrointestinal side effects but can promote thrombosis. Some of these drugs can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack. Therefore, some older COX2 selective inhibitors are no longer used owing to the high risk of undiagnosed vascular disease.

Global Anti-inflammatory Drugs Market Opportunities

Surge in Availability of Approved Biosimilars to Treat Inflammatory Diseases

Several regulatory authorities have recently approved many biosimilars, as the patents on several branded and generic small molecules will expire in the coming years. Authorities approved branded biologics for autoimmune and respiratory diseases and demonstrated similar safety and efficacy during clinical trials. Many renowned regulatory bodies like The European Medicines Agency (EMA), CFDA, the US FDA, and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) will likely approve biosimilars for treating various inflammatory diseases.

For instance, in October 2018, the US FDA approved 12 biosimilars for various conditions, including IBD, ankylosing spondylitis, certain refractory anemias, rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, breast cancer, psoriatic arthritis, and stomach cancer. In June 2020, around 14 biosimilars were approved to treat inflammatory arthritis in the US. Similarly, Biocad received approval in the US and countries in the EU for BCD-057, a biosimilar used to treat psoriasis. Thus, the rise in such approvals is expected to create opportunities for market growth.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global anti-inflammatory drugs 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 anti-inflammatory drugs market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.61% during the forecast period. The major reasons for the region's market dominance include the wide acceptance of branded pharmaceuticals and high awareness among the public about the availability of various therapeutic options for treating a wide range of inflammatory diseases. Some US-based pharmaceutical companies are engaged in developing their pipeline portfolio focused on the treatment of hyper-inflammatory responses in COVID-19 infection.

For instance, Eli Lilly and Company, one of the key pharmaceutical companies, agreed with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to conduct research on the efficacy of baricitinib against the inflammatory cascade in COVID-19 patients. The approval of anti-inflammatory drugs leads the market in the region. The increasing prevalence of inflammatory disease and high spending on OTC drugs for self-medication or through the recommendation of healthcare professionals are also accelerating the demand for anti-inflammatory drugs.

Europe is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.69% over the forecast period. The regional market is witnessing healthy expansion and is expected to grow similarly during the forecast period. Germany, the UK, France, Spain, and Italy are major revenue generators in the region. In Europe, non-communicable diseases have also emerged as the leading cause of inflammation, accounting for about 60% of deaths. The European healthcare system is strengthening patient-centric health systems by signing and forming the Tallinn Charter, prioritizing continuous quality treatments and delivery systems. Epidemiology data suggests that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) incidence and prevalence are still growing worldwide, and about 0.2% of the European population is affected by IBDs. According to estimates, 2.5 to 3 million people in the region are affected by fever yearly. Thus, the surge in the prevalence of such diseases is expected to expand the regional market size.

In Asia-Pacific, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the prominent cause of mortality and morbidity. The three main non-communicable diseases in the region are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Furthermore, the prevalence and incidence of these NCDs are increasing, especially in rapidly developing Asia-Pacific countries such as China and India. Further, the increasing prevalence of diseases, including colorectal cancers, bladder cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, accident-related injuries, and the aging population, are some of the major factors driving the anti-inflammatory drugs market growth in the region. In addition, the Asia-Pacific region was estimated to have about 549 million people aged 60 years or above in 2017, representing around 57% of the global elderly population. In 2050, the percentage is expected to rise to 61%. Such a rapidly growing aging population will be highly susceptible to various chronic diseases, accelerating the uptake of medical procedures and the demand for advanced healthcare infrastructure.

In Latin America, improvements in general health and life expectancy and the decline in infant mortality have lessened the disease burden in the region. Although the region is not entirely free of infectious diseases, several demographic and epidemiological changes and a high focus on non-communicable diseases have contributed to the need for advanced therapies. Additionally, the aging population is one of the key factors for the high prevalence of various diseases in the region. For instance, in 2000, the population aged 60 and above was around 43 million, likely to grow to 100.5 million by 2025 and around 183.7 million by 2050. The aging population in the region is at a high risk of developing chronic diseases, which is expected to contribute to the growth of the anti-inflammatory drugs market.

Segmental Analysis

The global anti-inflammatory drugs market is bifurcated into drug class, application, and route of administration.

Based on drug class, the global market for anti-inflammatory drugs is segmented into biologics and biosimilars, steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and others. 

The biologics and biosimilars segment is the largest contributor to the market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.88% over the forecast period. Biologics and biosimilars have revolutionized the treatment algorithm for inflammatory diseases and markedly improved the therapy outcome. The Discovery of TNF inhibitors has been one of the breakthrough treatments in the last decade and has improved the potency and efficacy of the drugs. Anti-TNF biologics such as etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, etc., have played a major role in managing chronic inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Biologics and biosimilars are more target-specific and have fewer side effects, which is expected to propel their demand drastically during the forecast period.

Steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or glucocorticoids are potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs recommended in low doses and for short duration. These glucocorticoids are widely used for the treatment as they are efficient in many immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, arthritis, allergies, and glomerulonephritis. Steroids are available in various dosage forms, such as tablets and inhalation drops. Steroids serve as the first-line therapy treatment for some chronic diseases owing to their quick effect and high potency.

Based on application, the global anti-inflammatory drugs market is bifurcated into autoimmune diseases, respiratory diseases, and others. 

The autoimmune diseases segment dominates the global market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 7.64% during the forecast period. The incidence of autoimmune diseases across the globe is over 4%. The primary approach for treating autoimmune diseases is controlling the immune response in the body. Autoimmune disorders are a family of over 80 chronic illnesses that are often debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening. As per a report by the National Institutes of Health, up to 23.5 million Americans (more than 7% of the population) have autoimmune disorders, which is expected to grow further in the coming years. The treatment strategy varies depending on the disease's severity and classification.

In addition, the increasing availability of biologics and biosimilars has changed the face of treatment for autoimmune illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, etc. NSAIDs are key agents to relieve pain and improve joint functioning by inhibiting inflammatory response. However, TNF has emerged as a major cytokine that plays a significant part in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory diseases.

Asthma and COPD are the most persistent inflammatory diseases, affecting over 500 million people worldwide. In addition to severe bronchial sensitivity, asthma affects 10–12% of adult Europeans, accounting for the region's high annual healthcare costs. Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids are the standard treatment for minor to moderate bronchial allergies. More than 90% of deaths because of COPD have been reported in low- and middle-income countries. Over a hundred targets have been implicated in asthmatic inflammation, such as cytokines, chemokines, etc. These target antagonists have proved to be very powerful, with a wide range of anti-inflammatory effects compared with other anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids.

Based on the route of administration, the global anti-inflammatory drugs market is segmented into parenteral, oral, topical, and inhalation segments. 

The parenteral segment is the highest contributor to the market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.42% over the forecast period. Parenteral drugs are administered into the body other than from the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Parenteral administration of anti-inflammatory drugs is often through injections, syringes, hypodermic needles, or indwelling catheters. Parenteral administration is generally faster than enteral or topical administration, and the onset of action takes 15–30 seconds after intravenous injection, 10–20 minutes after intramuscular injection, and 15–30 minutes after subcutaneous injection. They also have substantially 100% bioavailability and can be used for poorly absorbed drugs or ineffective when administered orally.

The oral route is the most preferred, accessible, and cheapest route for anti-inflammatory drugs. Breaking a tablet or capsule containing a slow-release or sustained-release medication may cause the drug to be released faster than intended. The oral route is limited to preparations containing only small molecules, as biopharmaceuticals (usually proteins) are digested in the stomach and become ineffective. In addition, biological drugs must be administered by injection or infusion. However, a recent study in 2018 found an organic ionic liquid is suitable for delivering oral insulin (a biological drug) into the blood. The bioavailability of oral administration is affected by the amount of drug absorbed through the intestinal epithelium and first-pass metabolism.

Recent Developments

• May 2023- Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. and Senores Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the introduction of Ketorolac Tromethamine Tablets USP, 10 mg, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ("NSAID") determined for the short-term (up to 5 days in adults) management of moderately severe acute pain.

• June 2023- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved LODOCO® as the first anti-inflammatory atheroprotective cardiovascular treatment shown to reduce the risk of coronary revascularization, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and cardiovascular death in adult patients with established atherosclerotic disease or multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease.