South Africa Gastrointestinal Drugs Market Analysis

The South Africa Gastrointestinal Drugs 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 Gastrointestinal Drugs Market Analysis Executive Summary

Gastrointestinal medications encompass prescription and non-prescription drugs, conventional and non-conventional, small molecules, macromolecules and large recombinant protein molecules. These medications can be classified based on their use: antiemetics and prokinetic agents, laxatives and antidiarrheal agents, drugs for acid peptic disease, drugs for irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and miscellaneous categories. Globally, in 2019, there were 88.99 million DALYs due to digestive diseases (3.51% of global DALYs). Digestive diseases were the 13th leading cause of DALYs globally in 2019. Famotidine, sold as Pepcid, was one of the top prescribed medications for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in 2022, ranking as the third-most prescribed GI medication with 5.8% of all GI prescriptions. Other common medications include Proton Pump Inhibitors such as Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec that are used for constant heartburn, stomach acid, or ulcers.

The global gastrointestinal (GI) market has steady growth due to the rising incidence of GI diseases, increased awareness, and new product development. This is due to higher demand for managing       Chronic conditions such as GERD and IBD and an aging population that is more liable to these disorders. Current drivers include new biologics and targeted therapies as well as an increasing emphasis on personalized medicine. Reimbursement policies and regulatory approval significantly contribute to drug access and market conditions. Cost factors and insurance fluctuations influence pricing and patients’ availability; reimbursement and regulatory barriers and cost issues arise. It is believed that the said market will grow further with improvements in the kinds of treatment and health policies.    

South Africa Gastrointestinal Drugs Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

Several factors contributed to the development of the market for GI drugs in the historic period, such as a rise in incidence of GI disorders resulting from changes in lifestyle continued economic revolution in emerging markets, and accelerated research and development costs by pharmaceutical companies. Other factors that prompted the increase in demand of GI drugs were increased insurance coverage and spending on healthcare, as well as an aging population. In the future, the growth of the market is anticipated to remain on an ascending slope due to the growing rates of GI diseases and continuing innovations in the development of drugs and their delivery systems. Furthermore, the continually increasing health care costs and the growth of the geriatric population will continue to drive demand for efficacious remedies and thus contribute to steady growth in the gastrointestinal drugs market. 

Opportunity

The market for gastrointestinal drugs is predicted to increase tremendously in the near future because of advancement in biologic medicines and the new trend towards personalized treatment methods which are more precise than the usual medication. Market potential can be seen as the FDA continuously approves biologic drugs like Remicade and Entyvio. Targeted therapy according to genetic and molecular characteristics is increasingly applied, as such approach is more effective and less toxic. Wearables, telemedicine etc improve patient’s experience and results with possible disruptions from startup and pharmaceuticals cooperation. Also, the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions remain largely unexplored markets where the increase in rates of gastrointestinal diseases and expenditure on healthcare can be capitalized on through local production and partnership. Diversifying drug interactions and fine-tuning therapeutic approaches to GID could be a promising avenue of research to enhance patient care. 

Market Restraints

Rising competition due to generic products resulting from expiring patents resulting in cheap prices for gastrointestinal drugs and less market share for the big pharmaceutical firms undermining their revenues growth. Side effects such as nausea vomiting and diarrhea that may accompany the use of some GI medications reduce the level of patient compliance and confidence. Economic downturn might also affect healthcare expenditure and reduce customers’ ability to afford costly treatments, thereby hampering market expansion. Furthermore, disruption of supply chain, can result into scarcities of strategic raw materials for production and distribution.

Competitive Landscape for Gastrointestinal Drugs Market in South Africa

Key Players

• Sanofi
• Bayer AG
• Pfizer Inc.
• GlaxoSmithKline plc
• The Procter & Gamble Company
• PV Pharma Healthcare
• Roche India
• SwisscheM Healthcare Pvt.Ltd 

Recent Developments

June 2024, Sun Pharma inks pact with Takeda to introduce gastrointestinal drug in India. Vonoprazan is a novel, orally active potassium competitive acid blocker (PCAB), used to treat reflux esophagitis and other acid peptic disorders.

May 2023, Upadacitinib, an oral, reversible Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, recently received its seventh FDA approval and first for for Crohn’s disease, making this the first oral therapy approved for moderate to severe disease.

Mergers and Acquisitions

June 2024, AbbVie has entered into a $150 million deal with China's FutureGen Biopharmaceutical to secure global rights to FG-M701, an antibody drug targeting TL1A, a molecule associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

April 2024, ONO Enters into a Definitive Agreement to Acquire Deciphera Pharmaceuticals. Deciphera Pharmaceuticals is known for its expertise in kinase biology and its development of cancer drugs, such as QINLOCK® (for gastrointestinal stromal tumor, GIST) and vimseltinib (for tenosynovial giant cell tumor, TGCT).

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape for Gastrointestinal Drugs Market in South Africa

Policy changes and Reimbursement scenario

The nature and trends of the GI medication market are influenced by changes in payment and reimbursement policies. For instance, policy changes that reduced access to metoclopramide resulted in greater use of cisapride. Governments and healthcare systems are also acting to enhance patient access to GI drugs, including for long-term diseases, by promoting rational pricing and efficient registration procedures. Availability and extent of insurance, which differ between public and private insurance programs, thus influence patients’ ability to receive treatments. Reimbursement typically involves a lot of paperwork, which can make it hard. As more therapies are being developed reimbursement strategies are gradually improving to accommodate for new treatment options.