NIGERIA NEUROPATHIC PAIN MANAGEMENT DRUGS MARKET ANALYSIS

Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system, which includes peripheral fibers (Aβ, Aδ and C fibres), central neurons, and affects 7-10% of the population. Multiple causes of neuropathic pain have been identified and its prevalence is expected to rise due to aging global population, and increase in incidences of diabetes mellitus. The intricacy of neuropathic symptoms, poor results, and challenging treatment decisions contribute to the burden of chronic neuropathic pain. Most importantly, people with neuropathic pain have a lower quality of life as a result of increased medicine prescriptions, frequent visits to health care providers, as well as morbidity from the pain and the instigating disease. Despite obstacles, advancement in understanding the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain are stimulating the development of innovative diagnostic tools and tailored therapies.

The Nigeria neuropathic pain management drugs market is estimated to be valued at US$ 8.1 million in 2021 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.2% over the forecast period (2021-2028).

Figure 1. Nigeria Neuropathic Pain Management Drugs Market Share (%), By Drug Class, 2021

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The emerging opportunity for local production of neuropathic pain management drugs in the market is expected to drive growth of the Nigeria neuropathic pain management drugs market over the forecast period.

There are limited number of players in Nigeria such as May & Baker Nigeria Plc. and CHI Pharmaceuticals Limited who manufacture analgesics, NSAIDs, and other pain medications. Majority of these medications are imported from countries in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific regions. Manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region export generic medications  to the country in large amounts.

Manufacturers have significant scope to produce generic products in the country with cGMP guidelines and build a scalable business. Majority of drugs such as TCAs, and anticonvulsants are imported in the country, therefore manufacturing these drugs into the country could prove to be a sustainable business.

Figure 2. Nigeria Neuropathic Pain Management Drugs Market Share (%), By Disease Indication, 2021

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Presence of branded as well as generic versions of drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain is expected to drive the market growth over the forecast period.

Key players in the market such as GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and others offer products in Nigeria for management of neuropathic pain. Moreover, several manufacturers from India and China export generic drugs for management of neuropathic pain to the country which are cheaper versions of off-patent drugs. Generic versions of tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and NSAIDs are available for under US$ 1 per tablet which makes them affordable for patients. Moreover, local manufacturers such as Biofem Group, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, CHI Pharmaceuticals Limited, and others offer analgesics as well as other drugs in the Nigerian market.

Nigeria Neuropathic Pain Management Drugs Market– Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in various countries across the globe have negatively impacted the financial status of businesses across all sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire supply chain of the healthcare industry mainly due to strict lockdown in several regions. COVID-19 frequently causes central or peripheral neurological complications, it is predicted that a number of the chronic pain complications associated with COVID-19 will be neuropathic. Even though COVID-19 most commonly exhibits acute respiratory symptoms but other symptoms mostly involves joint pain, muscle pain, and headache at the acute phase, or pain due to critical illness myopathy or polyneuropathy. Neuropathic pain may be cause indirectly caused by SARS-CoV-2 or by COVID-19 after ICU treatment. The pervasiveness of persistent pain after ICU has been expected to range from 28% to 77%. Another possible mechanism responsible for neuropathic pain after COVID-19 is the indirect or direct impact of the virus on the nervous system.

Nigeria Neuropathic Pain Management Drugs Market: Restraint

The Nigeria pharmaceutical market suffers from several challenges such as scarce local production of pain management drugs, problem of counterfeit drugs, opioid drugs abuse (tramadol), heavy reliance on import of drugs from international manufacturers, and others. These factors are inadvertently affecting all the sectors of the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria including the neuropathic pain management drugs market.

For instance, in November 2018, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria, seized 581 million Tramadol tablets which were illicitly brought into the country.

Moreover, other issues such as low awareness about neuropathic conditions and the management of these conditions, as well as lack of proper diagnostic techniques is expected to restrain growth of the neuropathic pain management drugs market in Nigeria over the forecast period.

Key Players

Major players operating in the Nigeria neuropathic pain management drugs market include Pfizer Inc., Novartis AG, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, and Biofemgroup Ltd.