Osteoarthritis Therapeutics Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising geriatric population: According to the World Health Organization, by 2030, there will be 1.4 billion persons over 60 in the world, up from 1.1 billion in 2023. In emerging nations, this trend is more noticeable and swifter. The increasing aging population worldwide is a primary driver for the osteoarthritis therapeutics sector. Osteoarthritis primarily affects older adults due to the natural wear and tear of joints over time. As life expectancy rises, a larger proportion of the population is vulnerable to joint degeneration and related disorders. This demographic shift significantly raises the demand for effective therapeutics to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Governments and healthcare systems are also focusing more on age-related diseases, driving investments in osteoarthritis treatments.
• Rising prevalence of osteoarthritis and related risk factors: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that women were more likely than males to have arthritis (21.5%) in 2022, with the age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed arthritis among individuals aged 18 and older being 18.9%. The increasing prevalence of osteoarthritis is propelled by various factors, including obesity, sedentary lifestyle habits, and joint injuries. Increased weight on joints, especially on weight-bearing joints such as knees and hips, leads to further cartilage deterioration. Increased activity in sports leads to an increased prevalence of injuries, both in sports and in the workplace, leading to an earlier incidence of osteoarthritis.
• Advancements in disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs): The discovery of new disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs represents a major growth driver. DMOADs are differentiated from traditional therapeutics that manage osteoarthritis pain and inflammation in ways that create and promote long-term benefits by repairing cartilage and stopping or slowing the progression of the disease states. Healthcare providers and their patients are anticipating more of these treatments as available therapies emerge from the clinical trial phase and research results indicate the potential to impact their disease outcomes.

Challenges

• Limited disease-modifying treatment options: Despite continuing research, genuine disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOAD) are in short supply. Most treatments available are designed to relieve symptoms, not change the course of joint degeneration. As a result, long-term treatment efficacy for both patients and physicians is limited; disease management often tops patient outcomes related to achieving a cure.
• High cost of advanced therapies: Emerging modalities of treatment, such as biologics, regenerative medicine, and minimally invasive techniques, can be expensive, thus obstructing access and often complicating access for patients in low and middle-income populations. Barriers to affordability still exist, both for the patients and the healthcare system, and can pose difficulties for the dissemination of cutting-edge therapies.

Country-Specific Prevalence Rates of Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) in 2019

Sources: Frontiers

Country and Regional Osteoarthritis (OA) Prevalence and Burden Estimates (2020)

Source: NIH