South Africa Abuse Deterrent Opioids Market Analysis

The South Africa Abuse Deterrent Opioids Market size stood at around xx Bn in 2023 and is projected to reach US $xx Bn by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period.

The South Africa Abuse Deterrent Opioids Market Analysis Executive Summary

Nonmedically used opioids or nonmedical opioids are opioids that are formulated in a way that cannot be altered or abused by opioid abusers. These include physical features that prevent crushing, chemicals that produce nausea effects or pro drugs which are ineffective if neutralized. It aims to help patients manage their pain while minimizing the likelihood of dependency and abuse of the drugs. Common prescription opioids (limited to natural, semisynthetic, and methadone) were involved in 17,000 deaths (45 deaths per day) in the US in 2021. Four ER opioids with FDA-approved abuse-deterrence label claims are currently available: Hydrocodone (Hysingla® ER, Purdue Pharma L. P. , SCT, USA), morphine (MorphaBond™ ER, Daiichi Sankyo, NJ, USA) and oxycodone (OxyContin® ER, Purdue Pharma; Xtampza® ER, Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc, MA, USA).

The market for abuse-deterrent opioids is a distinct segment of the opioid pharmaceuticals industry motivated by regulations, increased awareness of opioid abuse, and improvements in drug delivery systems. ADF including physical, chemical or biological barriers which makes it difficult or less effective to be manipulated in a way that it can be abused. With market leaders like Pfizer, Purdue Pharma, and Teva at the helm, there are still threats including greater implementing costs, reduced rates of take-up, and the possibility of avoidance. However, the market may grow as regulatory authorities encourage safer opioids and the ongoing campaigns against opioids increases. 

South Africa Abuse Deterrent Opioids Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

The use of abuse-deterrent opioids has been on the rise due to the following factors. The use of prescription opioids has been on the rise and this has led to a need for development of formulations that will help in its abuse. Consumers and physicians are also becoming more informed about the dangers posed by traditional opioids due to the recommendations of governing bodies such as the FDA, which has influenced the demand for abuse-deterrent formulations. Advanced drug formulations are improving through technological advancement and the conversion to value-based care systems that recommend the use of ADFs. Since the opioid crisis remains unaddressed, there is continued need for safer forms of pain relief, thus increasing the market for ADFs. 

Opportunity

There are several potential future opportunities which exist in the abuse-deterrent opioids market due to innovation and market trends. Some of these improvements include physical and chemical barriers to tampering of the opioids, and better delivery systems which are incorporated in ADFs. New ADFs benefit from favourable regulatory incentives as highlighted by the ease of getting FDA approvals. The expansion into emerging markets with growing opioid use is also other significant potential. Real-life surveys enhance the rationale of ADFs’ efficiency in decreasing abuse to support market acceptance. Other strategies for increasing ADFs’ adoption include implementing ADFs into large scale pain management programs and investing in provider education and professional development. Altogether, these opportunities suggest a high future potential for the abuse-deterrent opioids market. 

Market Restraints

ADE opioids are costly to formulate, mainly because of the cost of vanquishing opioid abuse, but this makes their availability scarce through increased cost making them accessible to fewer patients particularly in the developing world. Unfortunately, despite efforts to design tools which can help in the fight against opioid abuse, there is not much data available to support the efficiency of these tools in reality. These formulations are primarily anti-oral and since oral ingestion is the most common way in which drugs are abused, the amounts are not effectively deterred. Lack of prescriber education along with regulatory uncertainty also limits the widespread application of such opioids. 

Competitive Landscape for Abuse Deterrent Opioids Market in South Africa

Key Players

• Purdue Pharma
• Teva Pharmaceuticals
• Collegium Pharmaceutical
• Pfizer
• Inspirion Delivery Technologies
• Egalet
• Acura Pharmaceuticals

Recent Developments

June 2024, FDA approved a generic over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdose.

January 2024, FDA announced an extension on the shelf-life of Narcan 4 milligram (mg) naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray products from 3-years to 4-years. 

March 2023, FDA approved the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray, thereby expanding access and availability of the first-line treatment used for opioid overdose. 

May 2023, FDA approved an extended-release buprenorphine injection to treat moderate to severe opioid use disorder.

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape for Abuse Deterrent Opioids Market in South Africa

Policy changes and Reimbursement scenario

Current policies and new reimbursement models have appeared to be playing a huge part in influencing the abuse-deterrent opioid market. Under the flexible regulation and supportive approach, the FDA has been actively raising public awareness about ADFs to support the development of ABDs. Further, Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) endeavors to decrease opioid utilizations by advocating ADFs as safer options. Currently, prevention and control efforts for opioid abuse focus on the use of ADFs within large-scale interventions; at the same time, more attention is being paid to the exploration of the applicability of ADFs. Regarding reimbursement, insurance options for ADFs are differentiated, which directly affects patient access and prescribers’ choices. Some insurers are even reimbursing prescribers for prescribing ADFs, and subsidies are making safer options more affordable. With healthcare advancing towards the value-based care model, ADFs have steadily gained support due to the possibility of decreasing addiction and overdose risks in pharmacies.