Morphine Drugs Market Size & Outlook, 2024-2032

Morphine Drugs Market Overview

The global morphine drugs market size was valued at USD 21.15 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow from USD 22.82 billion in 2025 to reach USD 41.92 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period (2025–2033). Morphine's widespread use in pain management is expected to fuel the morphine drug market growth.

Key Market Indicators

• North America dominated the morphine drugs industry and accounted for a 51.6% share in 2024.
• Based on dosage, the injection segment had the most significant market share of 46% in 2024. 
• Based on the application, the pain management category had the highest revenue share, accounting for 32.8% of the market in 2024.
• Based on the distribution channel, hospital pharmacies accounted for the most significant portion with a share of 42.5% and are expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.4% from 2025 to 2033.

Market Size & Forecast

• 2024 Market Size: USD 21.15 billion
• 2033 Projected Market Size: USD 41.92 billion
• CAGR (2025–2033): 7.9%
• North America: Largest market in 2024
• Asia-Pacific: Fastest-growing region

Drugs classified as "morphine" are manufactured from the opium poppy plant and include morphine, a strong opioid analgesic. Particularly for cancer patients and those with acute or chronic pain disorders, morphine is one of the most potent painkillers on the market for treating moderate to severe pain. It influences how pain is perceived and causes pleasure and sedation by attaching to opioid receptors in the central nervous system.

The rising prevalence of pain-related medical problems is a significant driver of the worldwide morphine market. The aging population, rising cancer rates, and an increasing number of surgeries conducted worldwide all contribute to the demand for morphine. Furthermore, growing knowledge and understanding of the need for effective pain management in healthcare settings fuels market expansion. The possibility of abuse and addiction is one of the challenges facing the morphine business. While morphine is an extremely efficient pain reliever, it also increases the risk of dependence and addiction if not taken properly. To reduce these hazards and maintain patient safety, healthcare providers must carefully monitor morphine prescriptions and administration. Despite the challenges, the industry offers opportunities as well. Technological advancements in pain management research may result in the development of novel morphine formulations or delivery techniques that improve its efficacy and safety.

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Morphine Drugs Market Growth Drivers

Rising Cancer Incidence

Pain associated with cancer is a primary clinical concern for patients receiving cancer treatment or who have reached an advanced stage of the disease. The mainstay of pain management in cancer care is morphine, which enhances patients' quality of life while relieving cancer-related pain. The demand for morphine medications for the treatment of cancer pain is anticipated to increase due to the rising incidence of cancer worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income nations, which will propel market expansion.

In addition, the United States is predicted to have 609,820 cancer fatalities and 1,958,310 new cancer cases in 2023, according to the Cancer Progress Report. There are expected to be 2,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer in males, an estimated 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer, and 55,720 new cases of DCIS in women. Since cancer incidence and death rates are still rising globally, these numbers indicate a significant increase over previous years. In low- and middle-income nations, where access to cancer prevention, screening, and treatment services may be restricted, the cancer burden is exceptionally high.

Moreover, research has demonstrated that bettering the quality of life and prognosis of cancer patients requires efficient pain management. Organizations like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) advise using opioid analgesics like morphine as first-line therapies for moderate to severe cancer pain. The need for morphine medications for the treatment of cancer pain is anticipated to rise along with the incidence of cancer, propelling the expansion of the global morphine medication market. 

Market Restraining Factors

Concerns about Addiction and Abuse

Restrictions on opioid prescribing practices and heightened regulatory monitoring have resulted from the ongoing opioid epidemic, which is characterized by misuse, addiction, and overdose deaths linked to opioid drugs, particularly morphine. Prescription monitoring programs, prescribing guidelines, and limitations on the availability of opioids are just a few of the strategies that regulatory bodies and legislators have put in place to combat opioid abuse and misuse. The growth of the market may be impacted by these regulatory initiatives, which may restrict the prescription of morphine and other opioids for pain management.

Furthermore, one striking issue of opiate addiction and abuse is the opioid crisis in the United States. Over the past few decades, there has been a notable increase in overdoses, addiction, and deaths connected to opioids, especially morphine, which has been linked to opioid treatments. Every day, an estimated 187 Americans may die from opioid overdoses in the United States, most of which include illegal and potentially harmful forms of fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Moreover, patients' willingness to take opioid prescriptions for pain management may be impacted by stigma around opioids and anxiety about addiction. According to an American Society of Anesthesiologists poll, 57% of participants chose non-opioid pain management options, and 41% of respondents were concerned about opioid addiction after surgery.

Market Opportunity

Increasing Demand for Palliative Care

Palliative care is becoming more widely acknowledged as a means of enhancing the quality of life for patients with severe diseases and their families, particularly as the world's population ages and the prevalence of chronic and life-limiting illnesses increases. Palliative care addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients with severe diseases by emphasizing symptom control, psychosocial support, and holistic treatment. When it comes to advanced cancer, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other terminal disorders, morphine is an essential aspect of palliative treatment since it effectively relieves moderate to severe pain and manages symptoms.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 25.7 million individuals, or 56.8 million, require palliative care annually. But presently, just approximately 14% of those in need of palliative care get it. According to the Lancet Commission on Palliative Care and Pain Relief, 61 million individuals worldwide suffer from severe health conditions annually, with low- and middle-income nations accounting for the majority of these instances. In many areas, access to palliative care treatments, including necessary painkillers like morphine, is still insufficient despite the substantial burden of suffering.

Regional Insights

North America is the most significant global morphine drug market shareholder and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% over the forecast period. It is expected that the existence of well-established players will support market expansion. Regional expansion is anticipated to be boosted over the forecast period due to the strong demand in the pharmaceutical industry and the rising prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases. Additional prescriptions are being approved to address the unmet medical requirements in the area.

• In January 2025, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its new oral medicine, JOURNAVX™ (suzetrigine), a first-in-class, non-opioid treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe acute pain, including postoperative pain.

 The company also stated that it plans to introduce the non-opioid treatment in the United States by early next year. Branded as Maxigesic IV, the injectable medication was authorized for use in hospitals following surgery or in cases where patients cannot take oral medication.

Additionally, as of August 25, 2023, 51.6 million adults in the United States nearly 21% of the population live with chronic pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pain that lasts longer than three months is referred to as chronic pain. 17.1 million people with chronic pain have high-impact chronic pain, which severely restricts their capacity to work and engage in day-to-day activities. Comparably, around 8 million Canadians, or 1 in 5 individuals, experienced chronic pain as of November 2023. Consequently, it is anticipated that the region's researched market would be driven during the study period by the growing prevalence of chronic pain in the nation and the strain on the healthcare system. 

Asia-Pacific Morphine Drug Market Trends

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 8.3% over the forecast period. Regarding worldwide morphine market growth, Asia-Pacific is growing fastest. There are several reasons behind this quick expansion. Due to the region's massive and expanding population, there is a greater need for pain management options among patients. The demand for morphine in the area is also fueled by growing healthcare expenditures, advancing healthcare infrastructure, and the growth of healthcare institutions in nations like China and India. The rising frequency of chronic diseases, including cancer and arthritis, in the Asia-Pacific area, also presents a considerable market opportunity for morphine.

The European market held a substantial part of the market. The market is anticipated to expand faster due to several factors, including favorable government policies and a rise in research cooperation activities. Additionally, the European market for morphine had the most market share, while the market for morphine in the United Kingdom expanded quickly.

Dosage Insights

The injection segment had the most significant market share. Fast-acting morphine injections are used to treat moderate-to-severe pain, especially in acute environments like operating rooms, emergency rooms, and hospitals. Depending on the patient's state and the healthcare provider's discretion, injectable morphine can be delivered intravenously (IV), intramuscularly (IM), or subcutaneously (SC). It offers quick pain relief. Whereas IM and SC injections may be used for less urgent pain management needs, IV morphine is frequently used for postoperative care or emergency cases requiring rapid pain relief. When a patient cannot take oral drugs because of something like nausea, reduced consciousness, or difficulty swallowing, injectable morphine is the preferable option.

Oral morphine formulations provide patients with convenience, flexibility, and ease of administration in a variety of healthcare settings. They are frequently prescribed for the management of both acute and chronic pain. Both immediate-release and extended-release formulations of oral morphine are available, enabling customized pain management plans based on the patient's pain level, length of discomfort, and response to therapy. 

Application Insights

The pain management category had the highest revenue share. Pain from surgery, childbirth, cancer, and severe trauma from accidents can all be treated or lessened with it. In a variety of medical contexts, morphine is frequently used to treat acute, chronic, and cancer-related pain. By attaching to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, morphine, a potent opioid analgesic, works on the central nervous system to reduce moderate to severe pain. Applications for morphine in pain treatment include palliative care for patients with terminal illnesses, acute injury or trauma management, cancer pain management, and postoperative pain reduction.

In certain medical situations, morphine may also be utilized as a diarrhea suppressor. This is especially true when treating severe or refractory diarrhea that is not improving with traditional therapies. Because it can slow down gastrointestinal motility and decrease intestinal secretions, morphine is thought to have antidiarrheal properties. This helps the colon reabsorb fluids and electrolytes. 

Distribution Channel Insights

Hospital pharmacies accounted for the most significant portion. The distribution of morphine medications in hospital settings, such as inpatient units, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and surgical centers, is facilitated by hospital pharmacies. Under the supervision of medical specialists such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, hospital pharmacies guarantee the safe and appropriate delivery of morphine drugs to hospitalized patients. Pharmacists are essential to medication management in hospitals because they help with medication reconciliation, dose calculations, and drug reaction monitoring. Throughout the projection period, the growing number of accidents and trauma cases, together with the widespread usage of morphine for painkillers and surgical procedures, are anticipated to fuel the segment's rise.

Retail pharmacies are conveniently positioned in communities where patients can receive prescribed morphine drugs for both acute and chronic pain management needs. Retail pharmacies improve patient education and adherence to treatment regimens by providing individualized patient counseling, drug distribution, and refill services. Retail pharmacies may also have a range of morphine formulations, such as oral solutions, extended-release capsules, and tablets, to accommodate patients' needs.

End Users Insights

Hospitals and clinics had the most revenue share. Critical end-users of morphine medications are hospitals and clinics, which offer a variety of healthcare services, such as acute care, surgical procedures, and specialized medical treatments. Morphine is frequently used in hospital settings for pain management in a variety of therapeutic contexts, such as postoperative pain relief, acute injury or trauma management, pain management for cancer patients, and palliative care for patients with terminal illnesses. To fulfill the various pain treatment needs of patients across multiple departments and specialties, hospitals and clinics often retain extensive formularies of drugs, including morphine forms such as injectables, oral pills, and transdermal patches. Some adverse effects of morphine include overdosing, headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness, and mood swings. Therefore, using it under a doctor's supervision is preferred.

Ambulatory surgical centres (ASCs) are convenient outpatient alternatives to traditional hospital-based care for patients undergoing elective or minimally invasive procedures. ASCs specialize in same-day surgical procedures and medical treatments. To improve patient comfort and recovery, morphine may be utilized in ASCs for perioperative pain management. This medication is an analgesic before, during, and after surgical procedures. ASCs can provide morphine by a variety of methods, such as oral drugs, intravenous (IV) injections, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps, based on the type of surgery, medical background, and anesthesia plan of the patient.

List of key players in Morphine Drugs Market

1. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (US)
2. Purdue Pharma (US)
3. Johnson Matthey Fine Chemicals (UK)Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (US)
4. Alcaliber (Spain)
5. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (India) 
6. Janssen Pharmaceuticals (US)
7. Sanofi (France)
8. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Israel)
9. Noramco (US)
10. Macfarlan Smith (UK)
11. Tasmanian Alkaloids (Australia)
12. Lannett Company (US)
13. Alkaloid AD Skopje (North Macedonia)
14. Alcaliber SA (Switzerland)
15. Rusan Pharma Ltd (India)
16. Napp Pharmaceuticals (UK)
17. Cipla Ltd (India)
18. Indivior PLC (UK)
19. Purdue Pharma LP (US)
20. Rhodes Pharmaceuticals (US)
21. Eli Lilly
22. Ascend Laboratories, LLC

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Recent Developments

• July 2025: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recommendation to control certain 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The FDA noted that 7-OH, a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant, is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine and poses a threat to consumers. This development shows regulatory action against emerging synthetic opioids that could impact the market for traditional morphine.
• June 2025: Eli Lilly announced a definitive agreement to acquire SiteOne Therapeutics, a biotech company focusing on non-opioid treatments for chronic pain. The acquisition includes a non-addictive pain therapy, STC-004, which is in Phase II of development. This M&A activity highlights a trend of major pharmaceutical companies expanding their pipelines in the pain management sector, with a focus on alternatives to traditional opioids like morphine.
• May 2025: Ascend Laboratories, LLC, launched morphine 15 mg and 30 mg immediate-release tablets, helping to address a drug shortage of these products.