MEPERIDINE (DEMEROL) MARKET ANALYSIS

The global meperidine (Demerol) market is estimated to be valued at US$ 493.4 million in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 1.5 % during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Analysts’ views on the global Meperidine (Demerol) market:

The rising number of injuries and surgeries, and the increasing prevalence of diseases like cancer are expected to boost the global Meperidine (Demerol) market growth over the forecast period. For instance, according to data shared by World Health Organization (WHO) on June 16, 2021, increasing caesarean section procedures continues to rise globally. It accounts for more than one in five (21%) of all childbirths. In caesarean sections, meperidine is used as painkiller, thus driving the global meperidine (Demerol) market growth over the forecast period.

Figure 1. Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market Share (%), by Form, 2023

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Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market - Driver

Increasing prevalence of knee replacement therapies

The growing geriatric population is fueling the need for surgical procedures related to chronic diseases, thus boosting the demand for meperidine. For instance, according an article published by Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches on November 19, 2021, almost 8,000,000 knee replacements are performed every year in the U.S. Out of these 90% knee replacements last for 10 years which requires resurgery. This high number of knee surgeries requires meperidine as a painkiller.

Strategies like geographical expansion by key market players

Facility expansion strategies can boost the reach of drugs, thus increasing the customer base of key market players. Hence, expansions can drive the growth of the global meperidine (Demerol) market over the forecast period. For instance, on June 5, 2022, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., an India-based pharmaceutical company, announced plans to increase its reach in the domestic market and boost geographical expansion. The company intends to expand across untapped regions.

Figure 2. Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market Value (US$ Million), by Region, 2023

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Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market - Regional Analysis

Among regions, North America is estimated to hold the dominant position in the global meperidine (Demerol) market over the forecast period. This is due to the increasing number of hysterectomy procedures in the U.S. For instance, according to an article published by Center for Disease Control and Prevention on January 2022, using the data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an increasing trend in hysterectomy prevalence by age and directional difference by race and ethnicity was observed. It was found that fewer than 2% of women aged 20-29 years and more than four out of 10 women aged 70-79 years reported had hysterectomy. Such surgical procedures need meperidine as an analgesic, which can drive the global meperidine (Demerol) market growth over the forecast period. 

Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market - Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease spread to over 100 countries across the globe, and the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency on January 30, 2020.

COVID-19 affected the economy in three main ways: by directly affecting the production and demand of drugs, by creating disruptions in distribution channels, and through its financial impact on firms and financial markets. Due to nationwide lockdowns, several countries, such as China, India, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Egypt, and others, faced challenges with the transportation of drugs from one place to another.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global meperidine (Demerol) market. This is because of the reduction in patient visits during the COVID-19 period. For instance, according to an article published by The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on November 9, 2021, OECD countries showed a sharp decline in hip and knee surgeries in 2020 due to the pandemic. There was more than 20% drop in hip replacement in Ireland and Italy and more than 10% drop in Norway and The Czech Republic compared to 2019. Knee replacements fell by around 30% in Italy, Ireland, and the Czech Republic in 2020 compared to 2019, and by 8% in Norway.

Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market Segmentation:

The global meperidine (Demerol) market report is segmented based on form, application, distribution channel, and region.

Based on form, the global meperidine (Demerol) market is segmented into tablet, injection, and syrup. The tablet segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period because of increased preference of patients to tablet dosage forms.

Based on applications, the global meperidine (Demerol) market is segmented into anesthesia, cough treatment, and diarrhea treatment. The anesthesia segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period, and this is attributed to the effectiveness of meperidine as an anesthetic.

Based on distribution channel, the global meperidine (Demerol) market is segmented into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and online pharmacies. The retail pharmacies segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period and this is due to the increasing visits of patients to retail pharmacies for the purchase of medication.

Among all segmentations, the application segment has the highest potential due to the increasing use of meperidine as anesthetic agent. For instance, according to an article published in Journal of Research in Medical Sciences on August 24, 2020, a clinical study was conducted to analyze the safety and efficacy of meperidine in cataract surgery in combination with propofol than with fentanyl. It was found that equivalence effects on hemodynamic parameters for both meperidine and fentanyl in combination with propofol could be seen. Hence they could provide appropriate sedation and safe anesthesia with lower complications and acceptable patients' and surgeons' satisfaction. Hence, meperidine can be used along with propofol instead of fentanyl-propofol combination for cataract surgery.

Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market Cross Sectional Analysis:

Increasing facility expansion by key market players in Europe is expected to drive the growth of the application segment in this region. For instance, on December 2, 2022, Pfizer Inc., a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company, announced to expand its manufacturing sites at Puurs and Belgium. The company will spend US$ 1.2 billion for this expansion. Such facility expansions can increase production and drive the market growth.

Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market: Key Developments

The increasing research and development activities by key market players can drive growth of the global meperidine (Demerol) market over the forecast period. For instance, according to an article published by European Heart Journal on October 14, 2021, a study was conducted on 66 patients, to study the prophylactic role of meperidine in avoiding radial artery spasm during transradial cardiac interventions. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A had 42 patients while group B had 24 patients. Patients were randomized to either meperidine 0.25mg administration (Group A) or normal saline (Group B) intravascular administration. 10 minutes before the beginning of the procedure, as standard prophylactic measures against spasm, both groups received verapamil 5mg and nitroglycerin 100μg, after sheath introduction in the radial artery. Artery spasm was assessed clinically by the difficulty in advancing or exchanging catheters. It was concluded that meperidine low dose administration before radial artery catheterization shows positive results in preventing spasm and reducing patient related discomfort.

According to an article published by Iraqi Journal of veterinary Sciences on December 25, 2022, a study was conducted on rats to understand meperidine pharmacokinetics and impact on it due to tramadol co-administration. The findings showed that meperidine and tramadol showed synergistic action. An alteration in meperidine pharmacokinetics could improve meperidine effectiveness in the rats.

According to an article published by journal The Horizon of Medical sciences on July 2021, a comparison of intravenous ketamine, meperidine, and dexamethasone to prevent postoperative shivering in patients undergoing general anesthesia was evaluated. The results showed that all three drugs are effective in preventing postoperative shivering. There was no difference between these medications in prevention of postoperative shivering.

According to an article published by Journal of Investigative Surgery on February 8, 2021, the effectiveness of Caudal Block (CB) with low doses of dexmedetomidine and meperidine in transrectal prostate biopsy were studied. A Study was conducted on total 68 patients with mean age of 65 years. The pain levels of the patients were determined using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores to evaluate the effectiveness of CB. Preoperative and postoperative post void residual urine volumes were also calculated. It was concluded that the combination of dexmedetomidine and meperidine for CB in transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsy provided quality analgesia for the patient and prevented the development of postoperative urinary retention.

Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market: Key Trends

Growth strategies like expansions can drive the growth of the global meperidine (Demerol) market over the forecast period. For instance, on December 5, 2022, Pfizer Inc., a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company announced that it will invest US$ 750 million to expand its facility in Michigan, U.S. The goal of the investment is to establish the facility as one of the most technologically advanced in the world and to ensure the uninterrupted supply of Pfizer medicines and vaccines.

Increasing research and development activities can drive the global meperidine (Demerol) market growth. For instance, according to an article published by Menopause Review on November 24, 2021, a total of 152 patients undergoing total or subtotal thyroidectomy were studied. Patients allocated to group A received a combination of intravenous (IV) paracetamol and intramuscular (IM) meperidine, patients in group B received a combination of IV paracetamol and IV parecoxib, while patients in group C received IV paracetamol monotherapy. It was found that the combinations of IV paracetamol with IM meperidine are superior to IV paracetamol monotherapy in achieving pain control in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market: Restraint

Side effects associated with meperidine

The side effects associated with meperidine can hamper the market growth. There are several concerns about adverse reactions, drug interactions, and normeperidine neurotoxicity, which may hamper the market growth. For instance, according to an article published by Pain Physician on March 23, 2020, comparison of analgesic efficacy and side effects of meperidine with other analgesic drugs was carried out for acute postoperative and labor pain in adults. A total of 62 randomized controlled trials were reviewed in this study. It was concluded that considering the availability of other effective analgesics with potentially fewer side effects, the use of meperidine for acute postoperative or labor pain should not be recommended.

This limitation can be overcome by carrying research activities and make meperidine safer with fewer side effects.

Presence of alternative medicines as analgesic

Meperidine has several side effects such as addictive nature and neurotoxic side effects. The presence of other alternative analgesic drugs can hamper the market growth. For instance, according to an article published by International Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences on June 2022, a study was conducted to analyze the use of meperidine in Taiwan-based medical centers including National Taiwan University Hospital, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, and National Cheng Kung University Hospital. The study was conducted from August 2018 to December 2021. The use of nalbufin, an alternative to meperidine was analyzed in the study. It was concluded that the average monthly usage of Meperidine fell to 151 per month in 2019, there was an average of 47 per month remaining in 2021, and the decline reached 91.37% during the four-year period from 2018 to 2021. While the average monthly usage of nalbufin, an alternative to meperidine was increased from October to December 2021 and reached about 165, while the average monthly usage of Meperidine was reduced to less than 50 per month (from October to December 2021) from more than 500 from August to October 2018.

This restrain can be overcome by reducing the side effects associated with meperidine and making people aware of such developments.

Global Meperidine (Demerol) Market - Key Players

The major players operating in the global meperidine (Demerol) market include Pfizer, Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Epic Pharma, Inc., Vintage Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sun Pharmaceutical, Egalet Corporation, and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.

 Definition: Meperidine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes referred to as narcotics. Meperidine acts on the Central Nervous System (CNS) to relieve pain. Several physicians prefer to prescribe Meperidine for the treatment of acute and chronic severe pain as it has lesser risk of addiction and is safer than morphine. Meperidine should not be used to treat long-term or ongoing pain. It should only be used to treat sudden episodes of moderate to severe pain. This medicine is available only under a restricted distribution program called the Opioid Analgesic REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program. Meperidine is available under the following different brand names: Demerol and Pethidine. Demerol comes in the tablet or liquid forms. The tablets are circular in shape, white in color, and come in the 50 mg or 100 mg strengths. As a liquid, Demerol comes in a syrup or as an injectable solution.