Viscosupplementation Market

Market Overview

The global viscosupplementation market size was valued at USD 4,538.67 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 9,824.99 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.96% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Factors such as increasing prevalence of osteoarthritis among geriatric population and increase in new products development, signficantly drives the viscosupplementation market demand by 2031.

Patients with hip, knee, ankle, or spine osteoarthritis may benefit from the medical therapy known as viscosupplementation. Other kinds of joint discomfort can also be treated with the procedure. In most cases, providing a numbing injection into the area around the knee joint constitutes the first course of treatment. Any extra fluid will be removed in this way, preventing the swelling of the joint. After some time, the region inside the joint will receive an injection of hyaluronic acid. As a result, the synovial fluid that typically lubricates the joint gradually loses some of its effectiveness. The fluid softens the joints while also acting as lubrication to lessen friction in the system. It has the viscosity of a thick gel. The liquid's thick gel-like consistency is why it has this effect.

Osteoarthritis patients have much lower levels of hyaluronic acid in their joints than healthy individuals. They experience stiffness, edema, and discomfort, which all add to their misery. Even after a hyaluronic acid injection into a joint, the patient could have discomfort after the procedure. Once patients have finished the specified course of medication, they may experience reduced discomfort.

Market Dynamics

Global Viscosupplementation Market Drivers

Increasing Prevalence of Osteoarthritis Among Geriatric Population

Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic cause of disability and is a painful degenerative joint condition. The illness typically manifests after age 30, and after ten years after diagnosis, it may become a disability. With a 10% global prevalence in the senior population, it is one of the most often diagnosed illnesses. Synovial fluid irritation, degradation, and eventual degeneration are the causes of osteoarthritis. Natural hyaluronan found in synovial fluid aids in lubricating joints. Therefore, an injection containing hyaluronic acid replenishes some of the hyaluronans in the joints.

Obesity and osteoarthritis incidence are predicted to increase as the older population grows. Viscosupplements are anticipated to have significant growth in demand throughout the forecast period due to a rise in the target population worldwide and a growing preference for non-corticosteroid treatments for managing joint pain. During the forecast period, the market for hyaluronic acid-based osteoarthritis medications is anticipated to rise due to an aging population, increasing prevalence and incidence of osteoarthritis, and an increase in lifestyle-induced illnesses like obesity.

New Product Development

An increase in the number of new product releases is one of the main factors that is anticipated to boost the market over the forecast period. This is an essential component projected to be one of the main drivers of market growth. The increasing number of companies investing money in the research and development of new products is one of the key factors that indicate the surging demand for viscosupplements. This is one of the main signs pointing to the explosive growth in demand for viscosupplements. The rising number of senior adults suffering from osteoarthritis is one of the causes that is expected to increase the demand for these products.

Several factors will help to raise the items' degree of acceptance. Another factor to consider is the growing body of knowledge about these items that is now available. Another factor contributing to the increase in market investments is the growth in commercial alliances among significant industry players. This factor is a factor in the increase in market investments.

Global Viscosupplementation Market Restraint

High Cost and Side Effects Associated with Hyaluronic Acid Cycles

Patients have a lower preference for hyaluronic acid treatments even though these products are quite effective. This preference can be attributed to the goods' higher cost. Both single- and multiple-injection cycles of hyaluronic acid are considered to be high-priced medicines, and as a result, not all patients have access to them. Hyaluronic acid can be found naturally in the body. The high cost of production is the primary driver behind the high price, which reflects the quality of the product. When used, hyaluronic acid can cause several uncomfortable side effects, including irritation and inflammation, among other things.

The continued suffering often associated with several injection cycles has the potential to act as a barrier to the expansion of the market. The market for viscosupplementation has a challenge in the form of restraint in the form of high prices, which, when combined with the related negative consequences, is projected to inhibit expansion to some degree.

Global Viscosupplementation Market Opportunities

Safety and Efficacy of Hyaluronic Acid Injected into Joints (Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid, Or IAHA).

Injections of hyaluronic acid, commonly known as viscosupplementation, can be utilized for managing osteoarthritis of the knee in several different ways. They are obtained from bacteria, rooster, or chicken combs and injected directly into the joint. Rooster combs are the most common source. The Food and Drug Administration has permitted intra-articular hyaluronic acid to treat knee osteoarthritis (O.A.) in the United States. Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (IAHA) is an alternate local therapy option that offers symptomatic relief without the risk of the systemic adverse effects of I.A. corticosteroid injections. Numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have been carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IAHA.

However, the results and conclusions have been mixed. It has been established that IAHA benefits both the sensation of pain and the function of joints. There is also an accumulation of evidence suggesting that numerous courses of IAHA can affect long-term outcomes, such as a decrease in the consumption of concomitant analgesics and a postponement of the requirement for total knee replacement surgery.

Regional Analysis

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

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

Asia-Pacific is the most significant global Viscosupplementation Market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 9.48% over the forecast period. The rapid economic expansion that has been observed in developing nations like China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as India, has resulted in the upgrading of medical facilities in these countries, which has resulted in the Asia Pacific area being anticipated as the market with the most potential to be profitable. In contrast to its cousin, the multiple-injection therapy cycle has shown better demand in Asia. This can be explained by the fact that it has more than one injection every treatment cycle. This is because people in this region have a larger need for goods that are available at lower prices.

Europe is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 10.39% over the forecast period. The region's market development slowed slightly due to ongoing economic turmoil and intensifying market competition. With the introduction of single-injection remedies, the market is anticipated to recover. The European market for viscosupplements is anticipated to experience a significant transition from multiple-injection cycle products to single-injection treatments due to the latter's greater convenience. Due to the greater relative cost-benefit offered by single-injection treatments over the forecast period, the three-injection treatment segment is also anticipated to lose a portion of its market share to single-injection treatments.

Furthermore, numerous regional organizations are working to reduce the prevalence of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO) provides efficient practitioners with the most recent economic and clinical information and serves as a forum for interaction among clinical scientists concerned with bone and muscle disorders, the pharmaceutical industry developing newer compounds in this field, responsible regulators for the registration of such drugs, health policymakers, and others.

In North American market, expanding preference for shorter treatment regimens, despite high prices, and expanding prevalence of target conditions, such as osteoarthritis, are high-impact rendering drivers that may be attributed to the substantial portion of this share. In recent years, the application of hyaluronic acid in the form of viscosupplements for managing osteoarthritis in the North American region has been the most lucrative. It is projected that the single-injection cycle would display the most constant increase since, compared to its three-injection and five-injection counterparts, it provides greater convenience. In the coming years, the growing demand for shorter treatment cycles among the public may be the primary factor that drives the expansion of single-injection cycles.

Latin America is seen as a potential market for viscosupplements due to the improvement made to the region's healthcare system and the growing average income per person in the region. The cycle of only one injection per day is becoming increasingly common in this region of the world. Individuals in Latin America focus more on reimbursement and pricing when choosing a hyaluronic acid therapy than on efficacy and safety ratings, which are considered in other parts of the world. This is in contrast to individuals in other parts of the world. There has been an increase in the number of individuals looking for pain treatment through viscosupplements due to the growing tendency among medical practitioners to postpone knee replacement surgery for as long as it is practically possible. Establishing local distribution networks is one strategy that many companies utilize to penetrate this area's market.

In the Middle East and Africa, westernization has led to an increased prevalence of obesity, which eventually can be attributed to the rising number of osteoarthritis patients in the region. Rising concerns over the scenario of musculoskeletal disorders in the region may increase the demand for viscosupplements. For instance, a division of the Emirati Medical Association (EMA) and the Emirates Osteoporosis Society (EOS) in association have contacted the government to raise awareness about osteoporosis treatment and prevention. Moreover, increasing reimbursement policies in the region may further drive the viscosupplementation market in this region. For instance, the treatment of osteoporosis and DXA exams are reimbursed for UAE nationals. Although viscosupplements have not been well-penetrated in the region, the market is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period. MONOVISC and ORTHOVISC are available in certain countries in the Middle East.

Segmental Analysis

The global viscosupplementation market is bifurcated into product and end-user.

Based on the product, the global market for viscosupplementation market is bifurcated into single injection, three injections, and five injections.

The three-injection segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 8.55% over the forecast period. Since the beginning of the 2000s, several injections have become commercially available, and as a direct result, they have successfully cornered a substantial portion of the market for viscosupplementation. After the first injection, a second dose will be planned based on the findings, and within six months following the first injection, it will be put up for review and approval. In patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis, medical professionals will frequently propose the administration of three injections as a feasible alternative to knee replacement surgery. It is anticipated that an increase in the number of FDA approvals for three-injection viscosupplements will benefit the viscosupplementation market's growth. This is because there is a growing demand for these products.

Based on end-users, the global viscosupplementation market is divided into hospitals, orthopedic clinics/ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). 

The orthopedic clinics/ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 9.95% over the forecast period. Ambulatory Surgical Centers, or ASCs, are outpatient surgery centers primarily providing surgical care on the same day. This can include both diagnostic and preventative (surgical) procedures. Various procedures, including knee replacement, ACL surgery, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, and others, can be performed on the same day at ASCs. These procedures are less involved and need shorter time, if any, in the hospital. In addition, treating issues relating to the musculoskeletal system is the primary focus of orthopedic clinics. This involves the surgical and non-surgical treatment of issues involving the joints, bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves in the spine and other body areas. One of the primary aspects anticipated to contribute significantly to expanding this market segment is the rising incidence of osteoarthritis in older people.

Recent Developments

• April 2022- Juniper Biologics signed a licensing deal with Kolon Life Sciences to develop and commercialize TissueGene-C low dose (TG-C LD), non-surgical investigational therapy administered as a single intra-articular injection, to treat knee osteoarthritis. Under the licensing deal, Juniper will develop and market gene therapy to medical professionals and hospitals in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.