The market for osteoarthritis therapeutics is anticipated to be marginally affected due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Among drug types, the use of corticosteroids has reduced. Although there is no evidence to suggest that corticosteroid injections lead to a substantial increase in the risk of infection, there is a possible reduction in the immune response for up to a few weeks following the procedure. While this risk is extremely low, it needs to be considered when deciding to proceed with the procedure.

Topical, oral, and parenteral pain medications are widely used to manage pain associated with osteoarthritis. Although alternatives such as orthopedic braces are used as part of a noninvasive approach for pain management, the adoption of pain medications for the condition is high owing to the ease of administration and the affordability of pain medications.

Pain relievers such as oral analgesics (acetaminophen and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, tramadol, opiates, and duloxetine), topical agents (such as capsaicin and topical NSAIDs), intra-articular agents (such as corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid), and nutraceuticals (glucosamine and chondroitin) are widely used. Studies reveal that these medications offer a 30% reduction of chronic pain on administration.

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[201 Pages Report] The osteoarthritis therapeutics market is projected to reach USD 11.0 billion by 2025 from USD 7.3 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2020 to 2025. The presence of a large geriatric and target patient population and the improving healthcare infrastructure in several APAC countries are expected to offer growth opportunities in the market during the forecast period.

OTC and prescription NSAIDs are widely used to relieve pain in osteoarthritis patients. As per a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2019, more than 50% of osteoarthritis patients in the US are prescribed NSAIDs. Similarly, in Europe, of the total number of osteoarthritis patients using prescription medications (47%), 60% received NSAIDs.

The use of NSAIDs is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Both cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective NSAIDs (coxibs) and non-selective NSAIDs increase CVD risk in patients. A study presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) stated that more than two-thirds of the increased cardiovascular risk associated with osteoarthritis is linked to NSAIDs. Such risks associated with the use of NSAIDs can potentially discourage doctors from prescribing these medications while driving patients using OTC NSAIDs to opt for alternative products.

Based on anatomy, the market is segmented into knee, hip, hand, and small-joint osteoarthritis therapeutics. Knee osteoarthritis therapeutics is the largest and the fastest-growing segment in this market. This can primarily be attributed to the high incidence of knee osteoarthritis.

The analgesics segment is subsegmented into duloxetine and acetaminophen, while the NSAIDs segment is subsegmented into naproxen, aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs. The viscosupplementation agents segment accounted for the largest share of the osteoarthritis therapeutics market in 2019. The rising incidence of knee osteoarthritis is the major factor driving the growth of this segment.

The major players operating in osteoarthritis therapeutics market are Sanofi (France), Horizon Therapeutics PLC (Ireland), Johnson & Johnson (US), GlaxoSmithKline PLC (UK), Bayer AG (Germany), Abbott (US), Pfizer, Inc. (US), Eli Lilly (US), Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (US), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Ferring Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland), Bioventus (US), Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US), Fidia Farmaceutici s.p.a. (Italy), Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (US), Pharmed Limited (India), Virchow Biotech (India), Kitov Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Israel), Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. (US), Atnahs (UK), Almatica Pharma LLC (US), OrthogenRx (US), LABRHA (France), Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd. (Korea), and Laboratorio Reig Jofre (Spain).