Sugar-Based Excipients Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The sugar-based excipients market is projected to grow with a CAGR of 4.6% over the forecast period.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmaceutical excipients companies faced significant problems, such as a shortage of medicinal items, and shutdown measures worldwide damaged the global supply chain of raw materials from manufacturing hubs. These restrictions hampered the medication research and manufacturing processes and had a significant impact on the corporations that rely on outsourcing. Moreover, the growing use of sugar-based excipients in the COVID-19 vaccines positively impacted the market. For instance, according to the review by the Connecticut Department of Health in April 2021, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine contains basic table sugar, generally known as sucrose, which is used as a stabilizer in vaccines. This component aids in the preservation of the molecules' form upon freezing. Thus, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sugar-based excipients market is expected to have an adverse impact initially, later due to the use of sugar-based excipients in COVID-19 drug and vaccine formulations which is likely to gain market growth over the study period.

The major factor attributing to the growth of the market is the increasing use of co-processed excipients, the rapid growth of the generic market, and the increasing development of orally disintegrating tablets. For instance, as per the report published by the journal of APhP in December 2022, new combinations of existing excipients are an interesting option for improving excipient functionality which includes pleasant taste, mouth feel, and sweetness in orally disintegrating tablets. Thus, due to the above benefits of the co-processed excipient, the demand for sugar-based excipients is expected to grow, as it is one of the ingredients in the pharmaceutical product, thereby boosting the market growth.

Furthermore, the growing preference for orally disintegrating tablets and their development is boosting the market. Orally disintegrating tablets differ from traditional tablets in that they are designed to be dissolved on the tongue rather than swallowed whole. As the number of geriatric population and pediatric patients increases, the demand for orally disintegrating tablets is increasing. For instance, according to the study published by MDPI in August 2022, saccharides and sugar alcohols have long been of interest in the area of orodispersible formulations due to their high-water solubility and taste-improving properties. As a result, several excipient combinations developed to manufacture orally dispersible dosage forms contain monosaccharides and/or their respective alcohols. Sugars or sugar alcohols, together with other excipients, are used to ensure the tablets' uniformity and structural integrity. The market for sugar-based excipients is therefore projected to rise as a result of the aforementioned advantages of sugar-based excipients in orally dispersible tablets.

However, the stringent regulatory requirements for sugar-based excipient products are expected to restrain market growth.

Sugar-Based Excipients Market Trends

Sugar Alcohol Segment is Expected to have Largest Share in the Market Over the Forecast Period

The sugar alcohol segment is expected to account for the largest share in the global market owing to its increased utilization in oral prescription medicines and pediatric formulations due to its non-toxicity and high efficiency. Sugar alcohols, also known as polyols, are ingredients used as sweeteners and bulking agents. They can be used to conceal the bitter taste of active agents, thereby making them more palatable.

The major factors increasing the market growth of the segment are the increasing birth rate and the growing pediatric patient pool. The actual sugars are used mainly in oral formulations due to their non-toxicity and negligible reaction with drugs. According to Childstats.gov 2022, the number of children aged 0-17 years in the United States is estimated at 73.6 million in 2021 and is likely to increase to 78.2 million by 2050. Thus, increasing the pediatric population is expected to drive the demand for sugar-based formulations, thereby boosting segment growth.

Additionally, some of the additional advantages of sugar alcohols in the pharmaceutical field help in the growth of the segment. For instance, as per the report published by the AAPS Journal in January 2022, when taken orally, the sugar alcohols sorbitol and mannitol are known to provide a strong osmotic effect. Hence, widespread applications of sugar alcohols it is expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

North America is Expected to have Significant Growth in the Market Over the Forecast Period

North America is expected to have significant growth in the sugar-based excipients market and is likely to maintain this over the forecast period. Factors such as the rapidly expanding pharmaceutical sector, the rising need for functional excipients, the presence of significant players in the region, and technological advances will drive market expansion throughout the projection period.

According to the report published by CDC in November 2021, sugar-based excipients are used as stabilizers to keep the vaccine potent during transportation and storage. Also, as per the same above-mentioned source, some of the vaccines in which sucrose is used as an excipient include Influenza (Afluria)Quadrivalent, Influenza (FluMist) Quadrivalent, MenB (Bexsero), MMRV (ProQuad), and Rotavirus (RotaTeq). Hence, the wide usage of these sugar-based excipients in the region as stabilizers is expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

Furthermore, strategic actions done by market participants, such as product launches, mergers, and acquisitions, contribute to the market segment's growth. For instance, in December 2021, Roquette Group intensified its pharmaceutical business expansion in the Americas to consolidate its worldwide leadership and underline its commitment to customer-focused innovation. Hence, these strategic actions of the major market players help in the widespread of the products in the region and are expected to boost the market over the study period.

Sugar-Based Excipients Industry Overview

The Sugar-Based Excipients market is moderately competitive and consists of several major players. Some of the companies which are currently dominating the market are DFE Pharma, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Ashland Inc., Roquette Group, The Lubrizol Corporation, Associated British Foods PLC, Cargill, Inc., Colorcon Inc., FMC Corporation, and Meggle AG.

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