by Sulfasalazine is an oral medication used primarily in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. It works by suppressing the immune system’s inflammatory response. Sulfasalazine consists of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and sulfapyridine linked by an azo bond. It has antibacterial properties and is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is becoming highly prevalent globally due to sedentary lifestyle and obesity. As per the Arthritis Foundation, around 54 million adults and 300,000 children suffer from rheumatoid arthritis in the United States. High adoption of sulfasalazine in rheumatoid arthritis treatment is expected to drive the market.
The global sulfasalazine market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2.32 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 18% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
Market Dynamics
High Prevalence of Rheumatoid Arthritis
According to the Arthritis Foundation, around 1.3 million US adults are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. It is more common in women as compared to men. The increasing prevalence is attributed to growing geriatric population and sedentary lifestyle. The current treatment approach aims to control symptoms, slow disease progression, and minimize joint damage. Sulfasalazine, being a long-established disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, is highly adopted as a first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. This high disease prevalence and adoption in treatment are expected to boost the sulfasalazine market growth over the forecast period.
Wide Acceptance as Primary Treatment
Sulfasalazine enjoys widespread acceptance and preference among healthcare professionals as a primary treatment due to its efficacy and safety profile. It is usually well-tolerated with mild and infrequent side effects. The American College of Rheumatology recommends it as one of the initial treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis. It has established its effectiveness as monotherapy and in combination with other DMARDs. This high acceptability as the first line of treatment is projected to propel market expansion.
Segment Analysis
The global sulfasalazine market can be segmented based on application into rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative collitis, and crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease segment dominates the market and accounts for more than 50% market share. This is because sulfasalazine is one of the first line treatment options and most prescribed drug for crohn’s disease by physicians across the world. It helps induce and maintain remission in patients suffering from mild to moderate crohn’s disease.
PEST Analysis
Political: The government policies and regulations across various countries are supportive for the sulfasalazine market. For example, initiatives to increase awareness about inflammatory bowel diseases will positively impact the market growth.
Economic: Rising healthcare expenditure and growing disposable income in developing countries is driving the demand for sulfasalazine drugs. Additionally, availability of generic versions make the treatment affordable.
Social: Growing cases of crohn’s disease and rising risk factors like changing lifestyle and diet patterns are increasing the social impact of these diseases. This is increasing the adoption of sulfasalazine drugs for the treatment.
Technological: Most companies are focusing on developing newer drug delivery systems like targeted drug delivery to tissues and organs to reduce side-effects of sulfasalazine. Some players are also developing novel extended release formulations.
Key Takeaways
The Global Sulfasalazine Market Size is expected to witness high growth at a CAGR of 18% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2031.
Regional analysis shows that North America will continue dominate the market due to presence of major players and growing patient pool. Europe also captures around 30% market share due to accessibility of healthcare facilities.
Key players operating in the sulfasalazine market are Ophthotech Corporation, Aptamer Sciences, Inc., Novartis AG, NeoNeuro SAS, Aptagen LLC, Aptus Biotech S.L., AM Biotechnologies, LLC, Base Pair Biotechnologies, Vivonics Inc., CAGE Bio Inc., TAGCyx Biotechnologies Inc., AstraZeneca, GlyTech, Inc., GC Biopharma Corp., Achiko AG, Agilent Technologies, Inc., SomaLogic Operating Co., Inc., Amsbio, and IVERIC bio, Inc. Key players are focusing on development of targeted drug delivery systems and extended release formulations to gain more market share.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
