Market Challenges And Opportunities
Global Epinephrine Autoinjector Market- Drivers
- Growing prevalence of anaphylaxis: The prevalence of life-threatening allergies such as food allergies and insect stings have been steadily rising across the world over the past few decades, posing a serious health concern. According to recent studies by organizations like World Allergy Organization data in 2021, approximately 500 million people globally suffer from potentially serious allergic conditions. If recent trends continue unabated, by the year 2050, over 50% of the population is projected to suffer from one or more allergic diseases. The impact of increasing allergy rates is already evident on healthcare systems and resources. Anaphylaxis reactions triggered by foods, medications or stings can be fatal if not addressed urgently through emergency medication like epinephrine injections. This has led to increase in demand for epinephrine auto-injectors which provide pre-filled doses of epinephrine to be administered during an allergic reaction. According to the data pulished by the U.S. National Institute for Health in 2021, over 400,000 individuals received emergency treatment for anaphylaxis in the U.S. alone in 2020 signifying a rise of nearly 25% from previous years. Epinephrine auto-injectors have become crucial lifesaving devices for people at risk of anaphylaxis.
- Rising Prevalence of Food Allergies: Rising prevalence of food allergies across global populations is a key driver behind the growth of the epinephrine autoinjector market. According to recent data published by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), 32 million Americans suffer from food allergies. This represents a significant increase over previous estimates and indicates that food allergies have been growing steadily each year. Similarly, research by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in Australia showed that around 4-6% of children and 1-2% of adults in that country have a diagnosed food allergy. Autoinjectors allow patients to self-administer epinephrine via an easy to use prefilled syringe mechanism, as opposed to relying on syringes or vials that require assembly during an emergency reaction. The convenience and ease of use of autoinjectors has made them a vital treatment option for the millions of people now living with food allergies globally.
Global Epinephrine Autoinjector Market- Opportunities
- Expanding into emerging markets: Expanding into emerging markets holds immense promise for growth in the epinephrine autoinjector market. Many large and populous developing nations are experiencing increasing prevalence of allergies andaphylaxis conditions triggered by environmental or food-related factors. However, access to emergency treatment devices remains limited in these underserved regions. Taping into the needs of such fast-developing healthcare sectors can open up revolutionary opportunities.
- Development of needle-free injection technologies: The development of needle-free injection technologies could provide a major opportunity in the epinephrine autoinjector market. Needle-free options would help alleviate many patients' fears surrounding typical injections containing needles. This is especially true for those requiring epinephrine autoinjectors, like individuals with severe allergies. Not having to use a needle would make epinephrine administration less anxiety-provoking during allergen exposure. The adoption of needle-free technologies for administering epinephrine could enhance the willingness of at-risk patients to promptly use the treatment during reactions, potentially resulting in further increases in treatment rates. The overall accessibility and acceptability of lifesaving allergy treatments would be greatly enhanced as a result.
Global Epinephrine Autoinjector Market - Restraints
- High prices of branded devices: The high prices of branded epinephrine autoinjectors are significantly restraining the growth of the overall epinephrine autoinjector market. Epinephrine autoinjectors are life-saving devices used for emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions also known as anaphylaxis. However, the exorbitantly high prices of branded autoinjectors like EpiPen by Pfizer are putting them out of reach for many patients who need them. The high branded device prices are also restricting healthcare organizations and schools from stocking adequate quantities of epinephrine autoinjectors. According to the study published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 2021, almost 25% of schools surveyed in Chicago cited high drug costs as a barrier for stocking epinephrine autoinjectors. With more affordable generic alternatives becoming available in recent years, the market has witnessed gradual shift towards lower-priced options. However, the overall market opportunity remains under-tapped as long as availability and affordability issues persist due to exorbitant branded device pricing.
- Stringent regulations: Stringent regulations on the epinephrine autoinjector market by several government regulatory bodies are indeed restraining the growth potential of this sector. The approval process for new autoinjector devices and drugs has become very lengthy and complex in recent times. Several requirements have been added by authorities like the FDA in the U.S. and EU regulators regarding safety, efficacy and quality standards that manufacturers need to fulfil. This has significantly increased the time, cost and risk involved in bringing new products to the market. As a result, many smaller companies and startups are finding it prohibitive to enter this domain and compete with large established players. Lengthy clinical trials, rigorous testing and long review periods before approvals are delaying the launch of improved and innovative products.