Drug Delivery Devices Market

Market Overview

The global drug delivery devices market size was valued at USD 277.44 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 518.70 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.20% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The major factor propelling the expansion of the global drug delivery device market is the rising prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infectious disease, among others. Over the past 15 to 20 years, the parenteral combination product (drug plus delivery device) market has experienced significant evolution. As a result, industry attention has shifted toward linked devices and their capacity to collect a wide range of data related to drug administration. Increasing demand for biologics owing to their better efficiency for disease treatment is also expected to fuel market growth.

Drug delivery refers to the methods, formulations, storage systems, manufacturing techniques, and technologies involved in transporting a pharmaceutical compound to its desired therapeutic site. Drug delivery aims to alter a drug's pharmacokinetics and specificity by formulating it with various excipients, drug carriers, and medical devices. Enhanced emphasis is placed on increasing a drug's bioavailability and duration of action to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Additionally, some research has focused on enhancing the safety of the person administering the medication. Several microneedle patches have been created for administering vaccines and other medications to lessen the risk of needlestick injuries. Drug delivery devices are specialized instruments for administering a drug or therapeutic agent through a particular route of administration. These devices are utilized in conjunction with one or more medical treatments.

Market Dynamics

Drug Delivery Devices Market Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases have been a cause for concern globally for the past decade. The target population for these chronic diseases requires more advanced drug administration options to overcome the side effects of traditional drug delivery methods. The use of drug delivery devices is intended to reduce the side effects by optimizing the drug presence at the target site, thereby minimizing the dosage and the associated side effects.

In recent times, the burden of chronic diseases, such as cancers and cardiovascular diseases, has increased significantly. As per the World Health Organization's statistics for 2019, globally, chronic diseases kill more than 41 million people each year. Similarly, data released in 2020 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer showed that 1 in 5 individuals have cancer, and 1 in 8 men and 1 in 11 women pass away from the disease. The increasing prevalence of cancer increases the use of drug delivery systems. This will likely contribute significantly to the market's growth over the forecast period.

Growth in the Biologics Market

Advanced technologies for the administration of biologics drive the increasing demand for biologics. The current research and development trends in biologics are focused on simplifying the delivery of biologics and working to develop oral products with the potential to improve outcomes for patients.

The surging investments by the major market players in the development of biologics are driving the market's growth. Novartis AG invested approximately USD 700 million in its biologics facility in Singapore. In contrast, Bristol-Myers Squibb invested approximately USD 900 million in a large-scale biologics facility in Ireland, which was anticipated to be completed in 2019. Similarly, biologics is efficient in treating rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, which boosts the growth of biologics. This is anticipated to boost the market.

Drug Delivery Devices Market Restraint

Risk of Needlestick Injuries

Most drug delivery devices on the market are injectable devices with needles for therapeutic injections into the body. These systems may require expertise to use the devices to avoid any needlestick injuries. The utilization of or exposure to needles by healthcare staff is associated with an elevated likelihood of experiencing needlestick injuries.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), needlestick injuries can result in serious infections with bloodborne pathogens, like the hepatitis B virus, the hepatitis C virus, or HIV. According to the article titled "Needlestick Injury: What to Do," published in April 2021, about 1 out of 300 healthcare workers accidentally get pricked with a needle by someone with a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and get infected. These incidences of needlestick injuries are expected to hurt the market.

Drug Delivery Devices Market Opportunities

Technological Advancements

Technological developments in drug delivery devices are making them more patient-friendly, accessible, and accurate. The players are investing in research and development and innovating technologies and advanced drug delivery devices. For instance, in May 2021, Phillips Medisize launched its Aria Smart Autoinjector platform and achieved differentiation, innovation, and sustainability in the digital drug delivery device market. The device features advanced technologies. It is a modular drug delivery platform that supports various drug formulations and viscosities, besides having built-in Bluetooth, which allows connecting to smartphones, tablets, and mobile apps.

In addition, Roche developed a port delivery system (PDS) with ranibizumab, a drug delivery implant, to help patients with age-related wet macular degeneration and eliminate the need to undergo frequent eye injections. In June 2021, the FDA approved the PDS drug delivery implant for priority review. The active involvement of the major players is expected to generate tremendous opportunities to expand the market.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

Based on region, the global drug delivery devices market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America is the most significant global drug delivery devices market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.18% during the forecast period. The market for drug delivery devices in North America is projected to expand significantly during the study period due to the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses like cancer and HIV, among others, as well as increasing product launches and initiatives by key market players. As per the American Cancer Society's 2022 report, roughly 1.9 million new cancer cases are estimated to be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2022, and cancer cases are expected to increase in the country, which is expected to increase the demand for drug delivery devices for various therapeutics due to the high mortality rate associated with cancer in the region.

Additionally, the introduction of new products within the country serves as a catalyst for market expansion. For instance, in February 2022, the U.S. FDA approved generic Apokyn (apomorphine hydrochloride injection) drug cartridges to treat hypomobility and other symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease. Similarly, in January 2021, Novartis AG invested in Credence MedSystems to aid in the development and scalability of its drug delivery systems. This initiative facilitates the use of Credence technology in injectable medications by Novartis AG.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.28% over the forecast period. The drug delivery devices market in Germany is expected to grow during the study period owing to factors such as rising incidences of chronic diseases, product launches, and the growing strategic initiatives by key market players. As per Globocan 2020, the number of new cancer cases in the country in 2020 is 628,519, which is expected to increase by 749,559 in 2040. This expected increase in the number of cancer cases over time will drive the drug delivery devices market as they are used for chemotherapies.

Additionally, strategic initiatives by the government, such as collaborating with market players to meet the generating demand for drug delivery devices during COVID-19, have boosted the market and are expected to continue during the study period. For instance, in July 2020, Becton, Dickinson and Company received a contract from the UK government for 65 million needles and syringes to support the UK vaccination effort for COVID-19, thereby positively impacting the market.

In Asia-Pacific, the growing burden of chronic diseases is expected to drive the drug delivery devices market. For instance, as per the GLOBOCAN 2020 report, Japan revealed 1,028,658 new cancer cases in 2020. The same report also projected that cases may reach 1,110,548 by 2030 and 1,128,056 by 2040. This estimate shows an increase in cancer incidence in the country, facilitating the demand for the drug delivery devices market. Furthermore, the surging geriatric population is expected to boost the global market. As per the UN World Population Prospects 2019, the geriatric population (65 years and older) increased throughout 2015–2020 from 73.5 million to 90.7 million. As the geriatric population is expected to increase further in the coming years and the elderly are more prone to acquiring chronic diseases, the market is expected to grow soon.

In the Middle East and Africa, the market is expected to flourish due to the surging frequency of chronic diseases. As per GLOBOCAN 2020, the number of new cancer cases and fatalities in Qatar and Bahrain in 2020 were 1,480 and 1,220, respectively. This is expected to boost the demand for drug delivery devices, thereby boosting the market. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE are two of the most developed markets in the Middle East and Africa, with a solid healthcare infrastructure and the largest per capita drug expenditure. Hence, this generates a huge opportunity for the growth of various research activities involving technological advancements in drug delivery devices.

Segmental Analysis

The global drug delivery devices market is segmented by route of administration, application, and end-user.

Based on the route of administration, the global drug delivery devices market is bifurcated into injectable, topical, ocular, and others. 

The injectable segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.66% over the forecast period. The injectable route of administration is the most effective, as the bioavailability of the drug is greater than that of other routes. Recent developments in needle-free injectors have helped its growth. In a 2019 report, the Food and Drug Administration studied 163 drugs that fell short between 2013 and 2017 and found 63% injectable. Thus, the demand for injectable drug delivery devices has consistently increased.

An ocular drug delivery system is a dosage form, vehicle, or system designed to administer or deliver drugs or medicine to the eye to treat any condition that involves or affects vision. The increasing prevalence of ophthalmology disorders augmented several strategic initiatives adopted by market players. According to a WHO update from October 2021, at least 2.2 billion people around the globe suffer from near- or distance vision impairment. Thus, several market players receive approval for ocular drugs.

Based on application, the global drug delivery devices market is divided into cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes, infectious diseases, and other applications. 

The diabetes segment is the largest revenue contributor to the market and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.03% throughout the forecast period. Diabetes, a long-term metabolic disease marked by elevated blood glucose levels, is rising worldwide, frequently due to unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles. The segment growth is supported by the launch of products in different regions by market players to strengthen their presence in the market. For instance, in November 2020, Eli Lilly and Company and Ypsomed announced a non-exclusive global agreement to develop an automated insulin delivery system as part of Lilly's connected diabetes solutions.

Cancer is a chronic disease and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cancer is an illness in which abnormal cells will rapidly be created that grow beyond their usual boundaries. Developing and launching new products also contributes to the market's growth. For instance, per a March 2021 update, Ipsen invested USD 66 million in an electronic autoinjector for its blockbuster cancer drug, Somatuline. The company partnered with Phillips-Medisize on a delivery device to enable patients to administer the drug independently at home.

Based on end-users, the global drug delivery devices market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and other end-users. 

The ambulatory surgical centers segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.31% during the forecast period. Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are modern healthcare facilities that offer same-day surgical care, including diagnostic and preventive procedures, to patients who do not require hospital admission for a long time. Patients prefer ambulatory surgery centers due to the longer wait times at hospitals and clinics. This is one of the factors that will expedite the segment's growth over the forecast period. As per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare-certified ASCs in the United States increased from 5,105 in 2019 to 5,935 in 2020. As a result, the increasing number of ASCs will ultimately influence outpatient services and the total number of surgical procedures, thereby driving the demand for drug delivery systems.

Hospitals are expected to show lucrative growth because of the increasing prevalence of cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders, and other chronic diseases. Patients with critically severe diseases prefer hospital treatment supported by experienced and well-trained healthcare professionals. The demand for drug delivery devices is anticipated to increase across hospital settings due to the growing number of hospital stays, mostly from patients with long-term illnesses, and an increasing number of hospital facilities adopting newer drug delivery systems. Moreover, intravenous drug delivery injectables are most widely used across hospitals to provide fluid solutions and medications for patients.

Recent Developments

• June 2023: Stevanato Group, S.p.A., a global provider of drug containment and delivery solutions for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences industries, introduced Vertiva, its On-Body Delivery System (OBDS), designed to switch between basal and bolus injections and to be compatible with a wide range of subcutaneous therapies.

• April 2023: Lohmann Therapie-Systeme (LTS) acquired Sorrel's wearable injection device division. The transaction will add a drug delivery platform for large molecules to LTS's expanding portfolio of drug delivery systems.