The Arthritis Pain Management Market: Industry Demand, Market Drivers, and Recent Developments

Published: Feb 2023

Patients with arthritis are said to have soreness or swelling in their joints, and the illness's symptoms include joint stiffness and discomfort. The two most common kinds of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The patient's movement is severely restricted in this disease. The other name for arthritis is "joint inflammation." There are around 100 different forms of arthritis and related conditions. The most common types include osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), fibromyalgia, and gout.

The global arthritis pain management market is divided on the basis of drug type and end user. Based on drug type, the market is subdivided into anti-inflammatory biologics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroids, and others. Based on end-user, it is subdivided into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), and others.

Industry Demand and Market Drivers

According to OMR Research, the global arthritis pain management market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period (2023-2029). The increasing adoption of favorable policies by various governments, the growing older population, and the global incidence of arthritis-related ailments are the factors driving the market's growth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, more than 350 million people had arthritis, and one in every four individuals had arthritis in the US in 2020. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriatic arthritis affected about 3% of the global population in 2020. Furthermore, the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis is expected to climb over the next several decades. By 2040, an estimated 78.4 million people aged 18 and over will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, up from 58.5 million adults in 2013-2015. According to the CDC, women will make up two-thirds of those suffering from arthritis. Besides, around nine million individuals in the UK suffer from osteoarthritis, a condition in which the protecting cartilage within a joint wears away, resulting in bone grinding against bone and discomfort while moving the joint. It is commonly caused by wear and tear, although other determinants include obesity, a family history, and sports injuries.

Due to all such factors, researchers are developing new medicines and drugs to treat the arthritis condition. For instance, scientists at Egypt's Sadat City University launched the new clinical trial after previous research suggested that the low-cost diabetes medication could help with osteoarthritis by inhibiting inflammation, optimizing the way the body clears out damaged cells to make way for new, healthier ones, and enhancing the release of an enzyme that helps protect against cartilage wear and tear. In this study, Metformin is used, which has been used to regulate blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes since the 1950s. After research on mice showed that Metformin relieved pain and reduced joint degeneration, a trial involving 120 humans is now underway to explore whether it can help cure osteoarthritis of the knee. Such advancements and studies will result in higher marker development.

Further, as manufacturing capabilities improve, biopharmaceutical production capacity is likely to grow. Single use approaches are also employed in the manufacture and processing of biopharmaceuticals. Likewise, researchers are exploring for more productive species and ways of expression. The creation of reagents and cell lines that boost biological product production is projected to drive the biologics segment during the forecast period.

Recent Developments 

Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Inc., Allergen PLC, Amgen, Inc., Bayer AG, Bausch & Lomb, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. , Eli Lilly and Co., Endo Pharmaceutical, Inc., Catalent, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and other companies are assisting in the market’s growth with their various mergers, acquisitions, and new drug development activities. Some of the recent developments in the market include-

In January 2023, Dr Reddy's Laboratories Limited revealed the successful completion of clinical trials for DRL RI, its planned rituximab biosimilar candidate for submission in the United States, Europe, and other regions. DRL RI is being developed as a biosimilar to rituximab, a cytolytic antibody, for a variety of illnesses, including adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, pemphigus vulgaris, and microscopic polyangiitis, according to the company.

In May 2022, according to a press release, United Rheumatology and CreakyJoints joined forces to introduce the Rheumatoid Arthritis Wellness Center, which is a digital resource that strives to provide assistance to people with RA.

In January 2022, AbbVie's risankizumab-rzaa was authorized by the FDA for the treatment of people with active psoriatic arthritis, increasing its initial application from plaque psoriasis alone. The new approval for PsA follows the findings of the KEEPsAKE 1 and KEEPsAKE 2 studies, which found that patients who took the medicine saw significantly higher improvements in signs and symptoms compared to those who took a placebo. Risankizumab, according to AbbVie, has a PsA dosage schedule that is consistent with its existing plaque psoriasis regimen—a single 150 mg subcutaneous injection 4 times a year, after two starting doses at weeks 0 and 4. It can be used alone or in conjunction with DMARDs.