Ear infection treatment market

Ear infections happen when bacteria or virus infect and trap fluid behind the eardrum, causing pain and swelling/bulging of the eardrum. Children are more prone to ear infections than adults. There are different types of ear infections. Middle ear infection (sometimes called acute otitis media) is an infection in the middle ear. It is the second most common pediatric diagnosis in the emergency department following upper respiratory infections. Otitis media with effusion is a collection of non-infected fluid in the middle ear space. Ear infection treatment varies and may include watchful waiting, antibiotics, or anti-inflammatory medicines. For mild infection, a doctor might recommend watchful waiting or delayed antibiotic prescribing. Doctor diagnose an ear infection by asking about symptoms and examining the patient.

Market Statistics:

The global ear infection treatment market was valued at US$ 10,671.9 Mn in 2021 and is forecast to reach a value of US$ 14,345.6 Mn by 2028 at a CAGR of 4.3% between 2022 and 2028.

North America held dominant position in the global ear infection treatment market in 2020, accounting for 38.7% share in terms of volume, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific, respectively.

Figure 1. Global Ear Infection Treatment Market Share (%), by Region, 2022

Recent Developments:

In April 2021, Pfizer acquired US-based Amplyx Pharmaceuticals to advance its expertise in infectious disease and expand its anti-infectives pipeline.

In May 2020, GlaxoSmithKline clinical study showed that Synflorix, a pneumococcal vaccine, can effectively prevent Korea-Acute Otitis Media (K-AOM) among Korean infants.

Market Drivers:

1. Rising prevalence of ear infections across the globe is expected to boost growth of the global ear infection treatment market during the forecast period. Ear infections can sometimes cause hearing loss. This is due to inflammation and fluid build-up in the area behind the eardrum. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2.5 billion people around the world are expected to have some degree of hearing loss, and around 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation by 2050.
2. High demand for safe and effective ear infection treatment is expected to augment the growth of the global ear infection treatment market during the forecast period. For instance, in August 2020, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories announced the launch of a generic version of Ciprodex, used for the treatment of ear infections, in the U.S. The newly launched product is a therapeutic equivalent generic version of Ciprodex (ciprofloxacin 0.3% and dexamethasone 0.1%) Otic Suspension, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Figure 2. Global Ear Infection Treatment Market Share (%), by Infection, 2022

Market Restraints:

1. High cost of treatment is expected to hamper the growth of the global ear infection treatment market. Antibiotics prescribed for a bacterial ear infection, such as Amoxicillin, cost between US$ 20 and US$ 110 for a week's treatment. The average cost of surgery for patients without insurance ranges from US$ 2000 to US$ 3000. Moreover, a study titled ‘Understanding Costs of Care in the Operating Room’ in 2018 reported that the mean cost of operating room time is US$ 36 to US$ 37 per minute, and this in turn restrict the patients from opting for surgeries.
2. Complications related to surgical procedures are expected to hinder growth of the global ear infection treatment market. For instance, sensorineural hearing loss, dural injury, postoperative tympanic membrane perforation, labyrinthine fistula, chorda tympani interruption, accidental ossicular chain disruption, and/or facial nerve paralysis are among the most relevant/common possible complications related to ear surgery.

Market Opportunities:

1. Exposure to cigarette smoke is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for player in the global ear infection treatment market. Smoking weakens the immune system and it damages tissues in the nose and throat, making them more susceptible to infections that affect the ears, too. Moreover, inhaled smoke irritates the eustachian tube, which connects the back of the nose with middle ear. This causes swelling & obstruction which interferes with pressure equalization in the middle ear, leading to pain, fluid and infection.
2. Continuous innovation and increase in awareness about ear infections is expected to provide significant growth opportunities for player in the global ear infection treatment market. An ear infection is a common health problem in children. There has been increased awareness among parents about otitis media (AOM) in children around the world. Moreover, pharma companies and insurance companies are focusing on launching novel treatments and are offering insurance coverage for the treatment of ear infections in developed countries.

Market Trends/Key Takeaways:

1. Increase in research and development is expected to propel growth of the global ear infection treatment market. For instance, in July 2021, Researchers developed a new technique to treat middle ear infections. In a new study, U.S. National Science Foundation-funded researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign designed developed a miniaturized 3D-printed device to inactivate Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common bacterium that causes the infection.
2. Introduction of novel products by market players is expected to drive growth of the global ear infection treatment market. For instance, in May 2020, Smith+Nephew announced the first commercial procedure with the Tula System, which is an in-office solution for the placement of tympanostomy tubes or ear tubes. Tula System enables ENT surgeons to place ear tubes in an awake child during an office visit without the support of general anaesthesia.

Competitive Landscape:

1. Olympus Corporation
2. American Diagnostic Corporation
3. Pfizer Plc
4. Novartis AG
5. Grace Medical
6. Sanofi SA
7. GlaxoSmithKline Plc
8. Johnson & Johnson
9. Cipla Ltd.

Detailed Segmentation:

• Global Ear Infection Treatment Market, By Infection:
• • Inner Ear Infection
  • Middle Ear Infection
  • Outer Ear Infection
• Global Ear Infection Treatment Market, By Cause:
• • Viral Infection
  • Bacterial Infection
• Global Ear Infection Treatment Market, By Type:
• • Medication
  • Surgery
• Global Ear Infection Treatment Market, By Geography:
• • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
  • South America
  • Middle East & Africa