Diabetes is a condition where there is a lack of insulin in the body and the presence of high blood glucose levels. Antidiabetic drugs are prescription medications used to treat diabetes. It lowers blood sugar levels by activating gluconeogenic enzymes and glycogen phosphorylase, which reveals slower rates of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. The demand for antidiabetic drugs is anticipated to increase significantly owing to an increase in the prevalence of diabetes. For instance, as per the statistics by World Health Organization (WHO) more than 422 million people suffer from diabetes globally and around 1.5 million deaths are recorded each year. Also, the number of patients suffering from diabetes is increasing rapidly in recent years due to unhealthy lifestyle habits and a lack of physical activities.
Antidiabetic drugs come in many various forms, such as insulin, pramlintide (Amylin), GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Byetta and Victoza), and oral hypoglycemics (tablets). According to the European Society of Cardiology, the number of patients suffering from diabetes is expected to reach 628.6 million by 2045. These factors are driving the research activities related to antidiabetic drugs that could save the lives of millions of people. For instance, along with diet and exercise, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Mounjaro (tripeptide) injectables to help adults with type 2 diabetes to help them in regulating their blood sugar levels. In clinical investigations, Mounjaro was compared to other diabetic treatments and found to be more effective at lowering blood sugar.
Furthermore, increased glucose tolerance with age is anticipated to increase demand for antidiabetic drugs among the elderly which is anticipated to drive the antidiabetic drug market share in the coming years. At present, some of the widely used antidiabetic medications include metformin, insulin/analogs, gliptins, SGLT-2i, sulfonylurea, glitazones, GLP-1a (2.8%) and glucosidase inhibitors. These drugs help in regulating the blood glucose levels thereby reducing the risk of hypoglycemia. These factors are anticipated to generate excellent opportunities in the antidiabetic drugs industry during the forecast period.
Among metabolic disorders, the demand for antidiabetic medications is increasing rapidly surpassing that of cardiac drugs. These statistics reflect that the number of the diabetic patient population is increasing significantly. Hence, there have been huge research & development activities in the field of antidiabetic drugs market paving the way for new medications. For instance, in February 2023, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., the leading pharmaceutical company in India, has received approval from Drug Controller-General of India (DCGI) for the launch of novel anti-diabetic drug named Lobeglitazone.
However, the high cost of antidiabetic drugs and potential side effects associated with these drugs is anticipated to restrain the market growth during the projection timeframe. For instance, the consumption of metformin drug is linked with nausea, diarrhea, and bloating, and can lead to B12 deficiency.
The adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the pharmaceutical industry for drug development is predicted to drive the antidiabetic drug market growth. For instance, Tandem Diabetes Care announced in February 2022 that the Food and Drug Administration has approved a smartphone app for scheduling insulin delivery for diabetes patients. According to a statement from the company, it is the first mobile software that can supply insulin for iOS and Android users.
New product launches to flourish the marketIn January 2023, Novo Nordisk introduced oral Semaglutide in tablet form to treat diabetes in India. The company also offers modern analogs and human insulin for the management of diabetes. For patients in India, Novo Nordisk is developing a once-weekly insulin regimen. The leading pharmaceutical company is conducting trials with 217 patients across 27 sites in India.
Teplizumab, the flagship investigational medication candidate of Provention Bio, has been introduced by Sanofi U.S. in October 2022 to postpone the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes (T1D). The partnership enables Prevention to use Sanofi's expertise and financial resources to support the introduction of teplizumab.
Segment Overview: By Drug Type: This segment is divided into insulin, DPP-4 inhibitord, GLP-1 receptor, agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, and others. Among these, insulin sub-segment accounted for the highest market share. This growth is majorly owing to the product's high usage rates and potent therapeutic effects. In addition, this segment is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace during the projection period due to the launch of new products and the potential commercialization of items presently under development.
By Diabetes Type: This segment is classified into type 1 and type 2 sub-segments. Among these, the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has accounted for a highest market share in 2021. According to the WHO, more than 95% of people suffer from type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is primarily brought on by increased body weight and inactivity.
By Route of Administration: This segment is classified into oral, subcutaneous, and intravenous. Among these, the oral sub-segment is anticipated to grow at a significant rate during the analysis timeframe. The oral antidiabetic drug has high clinical efficacy, low cost, high adherence rate, safety, general availability, and other factors.
By Distribution Channel: This segment is classified into online, offline, and retail pharmacies. Among these, retail pharmacies accounted for a significant share in the coming years. This is majorly owing to the increased availability of open-angle glaucoma medications through retail pharmacies and the rise in the proportion of retail pharmacies in developed countries. Furthermore, retail pharmacies are gaining huge popularity owing to the ease of accessibility of medications at an affordable price.
By Region: The market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Among these, North America accounted for a significant share of antidiabetic drug market. This growth is majorly owing to increased adoption of modern insulin products such as Onglyza, Januvia, and Nesina, which are long-lasting and show quick relief. Growing awareness regarding diabetes, an increase in FDA product approvals, and extensive research & development activities are driving the antidiabetic drug market growth in the North America region.
Competitive Analysis Competitive analysis and profiles of the major antidiabetic drug market players, include Novo Nordisk India Pvt., Ltd., Sanofi, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ USA, and its affiliates., Lilly, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Novartis AG, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Bayer AG, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, company analysis is provided in this report. These companies have adopted key strategies such as product launches and acquisitions to improve their portfolio and stay competitive.
Key Market Segments
- By Drug Type
- Insulin
- DPP-4 inhibitord
- GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
- SGLT2 Inhibitors
- Others
- By Diabetes Type
- By Route of Administration
- Oral
- Subcutaneous
- Intravenous
- By Distribution Channel
- Online
- Offline
- Retail Pharmacies
- By Region
- North America
- Europe
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- UK
- Russia
- Rest of Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- India
- South Korea
- Australia
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- LAMEA
- Brazil
- South Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE
- Argentina
- Rest of LAMEA
Key Market Players
- Novatis AG
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
- Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd
- Eli Lilly and Company
- takeda pharmaceuticals
- Merk & Co Inc
- AstraZeneca plc
- Johnson & Johnson Services Inc.
- Sanofi
- Bayer AG