URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID MARKET ANALYSIS

Ursodeoxycholic Acid Market Size and Trends

Global ursodeoxycholic acid market is estimated to be valued at USD 590.1 Mn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1,165.2 Mn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% from 2024 to 2031.

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Market Driver - Increasing prevalence of gallstones

Rising prevalence of gallstones across the globe can drive the market growth. Gallstones are solid deposits of cholesterol or bilirubin that form in the gallbladder. These are very common among adults aged 40 years and above. According to recent studies, around 10-15% of the adult population in America and Europe have gallstones. The major risk factors that lead to rise in gallstones include obesity, diabetes, rapid weight loss, and high cholesterol levels.

With changing lifestyles and dietary patterns, there have been increase in consumption of high fat/calorie diets. These diets interfere with normal gallbladder functioning and increase the likelihood of stones forming over time. As modernization spreads across developing regions, the westernization of diets also brings along non-communicable diseases like obesity.

The treatment for symptomatic gallstones is generally a surgical procedure called cholecystectomy, which involves removal of the gallbladder. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) plays an important adjuvant or alternative role in the management of gallstones. It helps dissolve small cholesterol gallstones and reduces symptoms in some patients, thus, delaying or avoiding surgery. It also finds application in dissolving residual stones post-surgery. With increasing patient pool suffering from gallstones, there will be huge demand for UDCA and related formulations.

For Instance, In April 2022, approximately 20 million Americans are estimated to have gallstone disease, according to an article from NCBI. Annually, nearly 300,000 cholecystectomy procedures are performed among these individuals. About 20% of gallstones are symptomatic, while approximately 10% are asymptomatic.

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Increasing awareness about liver conditions

There has been increase in awareness about liver conditions, their symptoms, and available treatment options among the general population as well as healthcare practitioners globally. Various factors have contributed to this positive trend - widespread availability of health information through internet and social media platforms, health advocacy programs by medical associations, growing health consciousness among urban populations.

Conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and autoimmune disorders like primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) were earlier neglected or misunderstood but now these are being diagnosed early and managed actively. Population studies indicate epidemic proportions of NAFLD prevalence rates in developing nations like India and China mirroring their obesity crisis. Autoimmune liver diseases are also increasing. More patients are seeking medical help for persistent non-specific symptoms like fatigue, abdominal pain and being correctly diagnosed.

This has boosted demand for drugs to treat underlying liver conditions. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is used to treat PBC since several decades with proven benefits. It is also often prescribed off-label for NAFLD patients. Various international liver foundations and patient advocacy groups are raising awareness about conditions and championing UDCA's role in treating these conditions. As more patients get screened and diagnosed early coupled with growing experience with therapies like UDCA, its use will likely expand in tandem with evolving treatment landscape for liver diseases.