Global Pain Management Drugs Market - 2025-2033

The global Pain management drugs market reached US$ 59.71 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 113.39 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period 2024-2032.

Pain management drugs also called analgesics, are medications aimed at alleviating pain. These are classified into several categories which majorly include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, corticosteroids, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, etc.

NSAIDs are commonly used for mild to moderate pain and help reduce inflammation. Opioid analgesics, including morphine and oxycodone, are stronger medications prescribed for moderate to severe pain. They act by binding to specific receptors in the brain to block pain perception. Anticonvulsants, antidepressants adjuvant analgesics, and are effective for managing nerve pain and chronic pain syndromes.

Market Dynamics: Drivers & Restraints

Rising prevalence of chronic pain conditions.

Pain medications find their major applications in chronic, and painful conditions such as osteoarthritis, back pain, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and cancer-related pain. Due to the aging population, the prevalence of certain chronic pain conditions is rising, which can increase the demand for pain management drugs.

For instance, as per the global disease burden study conducted on arthritis and published in The Lancet Rheumatology journal has stated that in 2020, there will be approximately 595 million population suffering from osteoarthritis. By 2050, knee osteoarthritis cases are expected to increase by 74.9%, hand osteoarthritis cases are expected to increase by 48.6%, hip cases will increase by 78.6%, and other types of osteoarthritis are expected to increase by 95.1%.

Moreover, cancer-related pain is one of the major indications where pain medications are widely prescribed. The prevalence of different cancers is rising globally, increasing the patient population who may experience cancer-related pain. For instance, as per the International Agency for Research on Cancer projections, in 2030, the total incidence cases of cancer are expected to be nearly 24 million, and in 2040, nearly 30 million cancer cases are expected to be reported.

This alarming rise in chronic indications creates a huge demand for pain management drugs, which will propel the market growth in the forecasted period.

The side effects associated with Pain management drugs may restrain the market growth.

Pain management drugs play a crucial role in every individual's life, as they alleviate acute to chronic pain. However, prolonged usage of these drugs, especially opioids, NSAID's may pose serious side effects to the patients. The major side effects are due to opioids which have abuse potential and can lead to addiction by patients. The other adverse effects include gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular events, and respiratory depression.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are considered safe, however, long-term usage may lead to severe gastrointestinal events and may impair the patient's quality of life. For instance, a study published in Nature Scientific Reports in March 2024, has stated that 13-15% of NSAID users experience upper gastrointestinal discomfort, and nearly 25% of peptic ulcer cases are exacerbated by NSAID usage. In addition, NSAIDs are associated with a 25% increased risk of cardiovascular events.

These side effects are minimal in the acute usage population, however, they may pose a significant threat in chronic users. This may lead to decreased adoption of traditional pain management drugs in the forecasted period.

Segment Analysis

The global Pain management drugs market is segmented based on drug type, indication, mode of prescription, distribution channel, and region.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs are dominating the drug type segment with the highest market share.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of medications that reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and reduce body temperature and do not possess steroidal characteristics. Among NSAIDs, the commonly used drugs are ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. These drugs act by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway, with some drugs specifically active against COX1, some drugs active against COX2, and some non-specific.

The majority of the NSAIDs are available over-the-counter providing easy access to patients suffering from acute painful conditions such as headache, fever, body pains, etc. Moreover, The ability of NSAIDs to address both inflammation and pain makes them particularly valuable in treating conditions like arthritis.

Apart from the high usage rate for NSAIDs, manufacturers of these drugs are actively developing advanced formulations and taking initiatives to maximize the reach of these drugs to patients across the world. For instance, the Haleon group of companies, which is the major market player has launched several campaigns across the world to improve access to these basic medications. These campaigns have boosted the adoption of NSAIDs across several regions. To highlight, Haleon stated that in 2023 Panadol achieved strong growth in EMEA & LatAm as a result of the success of the new 'Release Starts Here' campaign. This campaign addressed specialist need states such as migraine, body pain, and headache. With the success of this campaign, the company further aims to fuel the growth of Panadol (Paracetamol-based pain reliever) by increasing our household penetration and accessibility and expanding systemic presence in other markets.

Geographical Analysis

North America is expected to hold a significant share of the Pain management drugs market.

North America currently holds a significant market share in the pain management drugs market due to various factors including, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, well-developed healthcare infrastructure, strong presence of market players and branded drugs, ease of accessibility to these top-selling branded pain medication, rising prescription rate, and high cost of these medicines etc.

For instance, a study published in the Journal of International Medical Research in January 2023, has stated that nearly 5.3 million adults use prescription opioids frequently or daily to manage their chronic pain. Moreover, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023 approximately 150 million opioid prescriptions were dispensed to American citizens across the country.

In addition, a study published in the Anaesthesiology Journal in March 2024 stated that there was a significant increase in prescriptions of NSAIDs, acetaminophen, opioids, neuropathic agents, and muscle relaxants in the past decade till 2022.

The high cost of prescription and OTC medication in the region, especially in the U.S. is a significant contributor to the highest revenue generation by the market players. For instance, as per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), In 2022, the prices across all drugs including branded and generics were nearly 2.78 times in the U.S. as compared to other nations.

All these factors stated above are significant contributors to the region's dominance in the global pain management drugs market.

Competitive Landscape

The major global players in the Pain management drugs market are Bayer AG, Haleon Group of companies., Kenvue Brands LLC, Purdue Pharma L.P., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Viatris Inc., Pfizer Inc., Abbott., Endo, Inc., and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. among others.

Emerging Players

The emerging players in the Pain management drugs market include Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Neumentum Inc., and Tris Pharma, Inc. among others.

Key Developments

• In February 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Naproxen Delayed-Release Tablets developed by ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. These delayed-release tablets are the generic version of the reference listed drug (RLD) EC-Naprosyn.
• In April 2024, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Received the U.S. Food and Drug (FDA) approval for Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Tablets generic tablets for commercialization in the U.S. market. These drugs are bioequivalent to Haleon's Advil(R)2 Dual Action with Acetaminophen Tablets, 250 mg/125 mg (OTC).
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The global Pain management drugs market report would provide approximately 70 tables, 74 figures, and 230 pages.

Target Audience 2023

• Manufacturers: Pharmaceutical, Biotech Companies, Contract Manufacturers, Distributors, Hospitals.
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