SMALL MOLECULE INJECTABLE DRUGS MARKET ANALYSIS

Despite growth of biologic drugs, medicines based on small molecules remain important in the treatment of all types of diseases such as oncology disorders, infectious diseases, blood diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Small molecule injectable drugs are often necessary for the treatment of patients. Advantages of small molecule injectable drugs over biologics are:

• According to the Congressional Budget Office, in the year 2016, the small molecule drugs accounted for 84% of the pharmaceutical industry revenue. Moreover, Five of the top 10 drugs in terms of revenue, and nine out of the top 10 most-prescribed drugs, were based on small molecule APIs.
• Intravenous infusion provides an immediate therapeutic effect by delivering medication directly into the bloodstream. For small molecule drugs, such rapid delivery is needed to treat patients, and is most often needed in hospitals either in an emergency room situation or when there are unexpected complications.
• In some cases, patients are incapable of taking medications by mouth, and injection or infusion is the most effective route of administration. In others, the APIs may be degraded in the intestinal tract and therefore require parenteral delivery.
• Furthermore, the injectable products are manufactured as per very high quality and sterility standards

Global Small Molecule Injectable Drugs Market - Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to drive growth of the global small molecule injectable drugs market, owing to expansion of manufacturing facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, in 2021, Lonza, a pharmaceutical, biotechnology and nutrition products manufacturing company, was planning to expand its manufacturing facility by investing US$ 218.6 million to construct a new small molecule manufacturing facility at its site in Visp, Switzerland, the manufacturing facility will have six levels of manufacturing space. Initially, the company was built to manufacture antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), including all required containment measures for manufacturing of these products.

Market players are involved in entering into agreements, in order to develop new medicines for the treatment of various diseases such as, oncology disorders, infectious diseases, blood diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, this is expected to increase growth of market, over the forecast period. For instance, in 2021, ViiV Healthcare made an upfront payment of US$ 40 million to Halozyme for the exclusive license to four HIV small and large molecule targets and is obligated to make potential future payments of up to US$ 175 million for development of commercial milestones per target. Halozyme will also be entitled to receive mid-single digit royalties on sales of commercialized medicines using the technology.

The global small molecule injectable drugs market is estimated to be valued at US$ 188.9 Bn in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period (2022-2030)  

Figure 1: Global Small Molecule Injectable Drugs Market Share, (%), Analysis, By Drug Class, 2022

Market players are indulged in making investments, in order to develop new small molecule injectable drugs. This is expected to drive growth of the global small molecule injectable drugs market over the forecast period.

Market players are involved in investments and this is expected to drive growth of the global small molecule injectable drugs market over the forecast period. For instance, in January 2021, Novartis AG, a global healthcare company, invested in Credence MedSystems, a drug delivery and specialty pharmaceutical company to develop the scale of its drug delivery systems. Credence will use the money to advance an injectable system designed to improve user experience and fit into existing biopharma processes.

Key players are engaged in receiving approvals for their small molecule injectable drugs from regulatory authorities and this is expected to drive growth of the global small molecule injectable drugs market over the forecast period.

Product approvals by market players is expected to drive growth of the global small molecule injectable drugs market over the forecast period. For instance, in August 2021, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., a pharmaceutical company, announced that its subsidiary Eugia Pharma Specialties Limited., received approval for cyclophosphamide injection, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administrator (U.S. FDA) which is utilized in the treatment of various types of cancer such as lung cancer, Ewing's sarcoma (a type of bone cancer), and rhabdomyosarcoma (a type of cancer of the muscles).

Global Small Molecule Injectable Drugs Market – Restraints

Increasing number of product recalls is expected to hamper growth of the global small molecule injectable drugs market, over the forecast period. For instance, regulatory authorities such as U.S. FDA, are recalling some small molecule injectable drugs due to the presence of particulate matter identified as glass particles, which is expected to hinder growth of the global small molecule injectable drugs market over the forecast period. For instance, in October 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration identified that Merck & Co. is recalling one lot of CUBICIN (daptomycin for injection) 500mg for intravenous usage. As treatment with CUBICIN is likely to be initiated at a hospital or other monitored healthcare setting, the recall is being conducted to the user level, including administering and hospital institutions. This recall affected around 22,000 vials.

Global Small Molecule Injectable Drugs Market – Regional Analysis

On the basis of region, the global small molecule injectable drugs market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa

Among regions, North America small molecule injectable drugs market is expected to hold a dominant position during the forecast period, owing to increasing product approvals by regulatory authorities. For instance, in 2021, Baxter International Inc., a U.S.-based multinational healthcare company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved premix Norepinephrine Bitartrate in 5% Dextrose Injection. It is the only manufacturer-prepared ready-to-use formulation and is accessible in 8 mg/250 mL and 4 mg/250 mL strengths.

Moreover, in January 2021, ViiV Healthcare, a pharmaceutical company specializing in development of therapies for HIV infection, announced that Cabenuva (cabotegravir and rilpivirine, injectable formulation) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a complete regimen for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in adults who are virologically suppressed on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

Furthermore, Europe is also estimated to witness significant growth in the global small molecule injectable drugs market, owing to increasing prevalence of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and hypertension. For instance, according to the data provided by the National Health Service, Scotland as of May 2021, it is estimated that Alzheimer's disease affected around 850,000 people in the U.K, and the number of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is expected to rise to 1 million by 2025, and 2 million by 2050,

Figure 2: Global Small Molecule Injectable Drugs Market (US$ Bn), by Region, 2022

Global Small Molecule Injectable Drugs Market – Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in the global small molecule injectable drugs market include Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., AstraZeneca Plc, Baxter International Inc., Fresenius Kabi AG, Cipla Limited., Mylan N.V., GlaxoSmithKline Plc., Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi S.A., Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Genentech, Inc.), Amgen, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., and Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc.