Opioid-induced constipation treatment market to rise to $652.4 million by 2019

The opioid-induced constipation treatment market across the six major countries of the US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK will increase from an estimated $66.7 million in 2014 to $652.4 million by 2019, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData.

The company’s latest report, OpportunityAnalyzer: Opioid-Induced Constipation – Opportunity Analysis and Forecasts to 2019, states that the rising number of opioid-induced constipation sufferers is largely down to overall population increase and the continued use of opioids in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain, which is driving impressive market growth.

Claire Gibson, Ph.D., GlobalData’s Analyst covering Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, says that the introduction of novel targeted oral therapies for opioid-induced constipation, such as peripherally-acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs), will be a major driver of market growth during the forecast period.

Gibson explains: “While there is currently only one approved PAMORA, AstraZeneca’s Movantik, the anticipated approval of another four PAMORAs in the US and Europe during the forecast period will mark a shift in the way that drugs for opioid-induced constipation are prescribed.

“Although laxatives are likely to remain the first-line therapy, the advent of these highly-targeted drugs will increase the number of patients receiving non-laxative prescription treatments for opioid-induced constipation.”

US sales will represent 86% of the total market in 2019

GlobalData’s report also states that the majority of sales will come from the US, which will represent approximately 86% of the total market in 2019.   

Gibson continues: “The US is responsible for consuming 80% of the global opioid supply, despite making up just 4.6% of the global population. Opioids are the most commonly prescribed class of medication in the US, which is mainly due to an increasing awareness of chronic pain and its effect on patient quality of life.

“Patient and physician awareness is key to the development and use of opioid-induced constipation treatment, with US sales figures demonstrating the impact such awareness can have on the market.”