Opioid addiction market to reach $2.4b by 2033

It will be driven by rising diagnosed cases, higher treatment rates, and the introduction of new drugs.

The opioid addiction market in eight major regions is set to grow from $2b in 2023 to $2.4b by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, according to GlobalData.

These regions include the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

The report said that the growth will be driven by rising diagnosed cases, higher treatment rates, and the introduction of new drugs, including cannabidiol, mazindol controlled release (CR), probenecid, and TRV-734.

Three of these late-stage products are non-opioids, which could reshape the treatment landscape.

Trevena’s TRV-734, a treatment for opioid withdrawal syndrome (OWS), is expected to be the standout, potentially generating $77.6m in global sales by 2033.

"Whilst the OUD pipeline agents will bring new mechanisms to market, they are unlikely to become first line treatments," said Jos Opdenakker, Neurology Analyst at GlobalData. "The need for effective non-opioid treatments that do not target the mu receptor, which could potentially replace opioids as first-line therapies, remains.”

However, growth will be hindered by the expiration of key drug patents, particularly in the US, which represented 74.1% of the market in 2023. Generic competition will erode sales of major treatments like Sublocade, Vivitrol, Brixadi, and Zubsolv.

Despite these challenges, rising awareness, diagnosis rates, and new therapies will continue to fuel market growth through 2033.

“Although the impending entry of numerous generic products will act as a major barrier to growth and the introduction of the late-stage pipeline products is limited in their potential to generate significant revenues to counter the generic erosion, the increase in diagnosed prevalence, treatment rates, and general awareness surrounding opioid addiction will continue to act as the main drivers of growth across the 8MM," Opdenakker concluded.