Overactive Bladder Treatment Market - Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
- Increasing prevalence of overactive bladder: With the increasing population of the older generation, the overactive bladder treatment market is growing. A report by NLM in March 2022 stated that 41% of middle-aged women experienced overactive bladder (OAB) with incontinence at a higher rate than 26% experiencing OAB without incontinence. Demand for effective OAB therapies continues to rise with the aging of populations and increasing risk factors relating to BMI and the environment. The healthcare systems and treatment providers can start interventions that address this need with available solutions.
- Rising awareness and proactive management of OAB: Growing familiarity with overactive bladder treatment as a chronic condition severely affects the quality of life while increasing the economic costs. As reported by NLM in July 2024, overactive bladder (OAB) imposed a substantial economic burden, with estimated annual costs reaching approximately €7 billion in Europe and USD 66 billion in the U.S. Increased recognition of this burden, including associations with diabetes, depression, and sleep disorders, has made healthcare providers very aware and proactive. This growing focus on early intervention is increasing the demand for new ways to manage OAB and supporting continued growth in the treatment market.
- Influence of cohabitation and shared environmental factors on overactive bladder prevalence: A report by NLM March 2022 emphasized that the environment in which individuals live and intimate social relationships influence the incidence of overactive bladder, particularly among middle-aged women. The report has also stated that a large-scale cross-sectional analysis involving 970 cohabiting couples revealed that women residing with partners affected by overactive bladder (OAB) exhibited an increased likelihood of developing OAB themselves. More precisely, the odds of OAB with incontinence (OABwet) were more than twice (OR 2.35) when the partner had OABwet, whereas the odds of OAB without incontinence (OABdry) increased significantly (OR 1.81) when the partner had OABdry.
Primary Endpoints for Phase III Trials Evaluating Mirabegron in Patients with OAB (2022)
|
Trial |
N |
Treatment |
Mean Number of Micturitions/24 h (SE) |
P value |
Mean Number of Incontinence Episodes/24 h (SE) |
P value |
|
SCORPIO (12 weeks) |
1987 |
Mirabegron 50 mg |
−1.93 (0.11) |
<0.001 |
−1.57 (0.11) |
0.003 |
|
Mirabegron 100 mg |
−1.77 (0.10) |
0.005 |
−1.46 (0.11) |
0.010 |
||
|
Tolterodine ER 4 mg |
−1.59 (0.11) |
0.11 |
−1.27 (0.11) |
0.11 |
||
|
Placebo |
−1.34 (0.11) |
– |
−1.17 (0.11) |
– |
||
|
ARIES (12 weeks) |
1328 |
Mirabegron 50 mg |
−1.66 (0.13) |
<0.05 |
−1.47 (0.11) |
<0.05 |
|
Mirabegron 100 mg |
−1.75 (0.14) |
<0.05 |
−1.63 (0.12) |
<0.05 |
||
|
Placebo |
−1.05 (0.13) |
<0.05 |
−1.13 (0.11) |
<0.05 |
||
|
CAPRICORN (12 weeks) |
1306 |
Mirabegron 25 mg |
−1.65 (0.13) |
0.007 |
−1.36 (0.12) |
0.005 |
|
Mirabegron 50 mg |
−1.60 (0.12) |
0.015 |
−1.38 (0.12) |
0.001 |
||
|
Japanese Patient Trial (16 weeks) |
1139 |
Mirabegron 50 mg |
−1.67 (2.21) |
<0.001 |
−1.12 (1.48) |
<0.05 |
|
Tolterodine ER 4 mg |
−1.4 (2.17) |
– |
−0.97 (1.61) |
– |
||
|
Placebo |
−0.86 (2.35) |
– |
−0.66 (1.86) |
– |
||
|
TAURUS (52 weeks) |
2444 |
Mirabegron 50 mg |
−1.30 |
– |
−1.05 |
– |
|
Mirabegron 100 mg |
−1.43 |
– |
−1.23 |
– |
||
|
Tolterodine ER 4 mg |
−1.47 |
– |
−1.33 |
– |
Source: NLM September 2022
Challenges
- Limited long-term efficacy of combination therapies: It is globally observed that combination treatments are believed to suffer from loss of effectiveness in the long term in some patients, which limits adherence and repeat usage, and thus market growth and pharmaceutical investment for newer, more durable therapies are discouraged the world over. As a result, people depend on the treatments that are easily available to them, with some not being completely effective in addressing patients' needs; the therapy progresses overall in a limited manner.
- Challenges in advanced drug delivery adoption: New drug delivery technologies such as liposomes and hydrogels face regulatory, cost, and infrastructure challenges. This scenario hinders the faster adoption of these technologies worldwide, thereby restricting the market growth, as conventional therapies are still the prescription in many regions, which are less patient-friendly and efficacious. Overcoming these hurdles requires coordinated efforts among regulators, manufacturers, and healthcare providers to ensure accessibility and acceptance.
Overactive Bladder Treatment Market Size and Forecast:
|
Base Year |
2025 |
|
Forecast Period |
2026-2035 |
|
CAGR |
5.1% |
|
Base Year Market Size (2025) |
USD 4.5 billion |
|
Forecast Year Market Size (2035) |
USD 7 billion |
|
Regional Scope |
|
Browse key industry insights with market data tables & charts from the report:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In the year 2025, the industry size of the overactive bladder treatment market is estimated to reach approximately USD 4.5 billion.
The market size for the overactive bladder treatment market is projected to reach around USD 7 billion by the end of 2035, rising at a CAGR of about 5.1% during the forecast period (2026-2035).
The major players in the global market are Bayer AG, Pfizer Inc., Allergan plc / AbbVie Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and others.
In terms of patient age group, adults (≥18 years) are anticipated to dominate with almost 85% of the market share by 2035.
North America is expected to hold the largest 41% share of the overactive bladder treatment market by 2035, attributed to robust government-funded clinical research and advancements in behavioral and neuromodulation therapies.
