Oral Thin Film Drugs Market Analysis

Global Oral Thin Film Drugs Market Overview

The oral thin film drugs market size was valued at USD 3.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 3.7 Billion in 2023 to USD 7.38 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.01% during the forecast period (2023 - 2032). The key market drivers boosting the market growth of the oral thin film drugs are technological advancements in drug development and discovery processes, lower bioavailability of solid drugs, and imprecise dosage by liquid formulations.

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

Oral Thin Film Drugs Market Trends

• Increasing demand for oral thin film drugs delivery systems to enhance the market growth

Oral thin film drug delivery systems are becoming more popular due to their advantages over conventional drug delivery systems, including their larger surface area, precision medication, and pleasant color and flavor. Thin-film drugs are said to be the preferred choice of patients and doctors as they are more patient-friendly and provide high-quality results. Oral thin film medications are accessible to store and transport and have high patient compliance. Moreover, these provide precise and accurate dosing while producing the desired effective result. As a result, the market for thin film drug delivery systems has experienced significant growth. High acceptance and impressive benefits have propelled the oral thin film drugs market revenue.

Several factors influence the market CAGR of oral thin film drugs. However, improvements in this novel drug delivery are the main factor predicted to drive the market. Due to its growing popularity, numerous businesses worldwide are concentrating their investments on this new method of drug delivery. Key startup companies primarily focus on oral thin-film drug delivery route options for cannabis-based drugs. For example, XPhyto Pharma is working on 13 drugs that will be delivered via thin film. All its products are undergoing Phase II clinical trials in European nations as of February 2021. XPhyto Pharma is currently evaluating the generic form of in Phase 2 clinical trial to treat Alzheimer's disease. Another factor that is expected to influence market growth is the use of thin-film drug delivery methods by significant market players to extend the patent of critical molecules.

Oral Thin Film Drugs Market Segment Insights

Oral Thin Film Drugs Product Insights

Based on product, the market segmentation of oral thin film drugs includes fast-dissolving buccal film and sublingual. The sublingual segment held the majority share in 2022, contributing to around ~65-67% of the oral thin film drugs market revenue owing to the growing demands and adoption of oral medication. Sublingual films are thin, adhesive sheets placed under the tongue to absorb drugs. They can deliver prescriptions and vaccines directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the need to swallow. The sublingual film, a transdermal patch or gum, is a drug-delivery device that delivers medication through skin contact and enables rapid absorption by target organs. Sublingual films can be inserted under the tongue for absorption or systemic dissolution. The factors driving this segment's growth are its rapid adoption and rising usage in emergency care.

April 2022:Sublingual film, manufactured by BioXcel Therapeutics, has been approved by the FDA for treating adult patients with acute agitation brought on by schizophrenia or bipolar I or II disorder for the oral thin film drugs industry.

Oral Thin Film Drugs Disease Indication Insights

Based on disease indication, the oral thin film drugs market segmentation includes opioid dependence, nausea & vomiting, schizophrenia, and migraine. The schizophrenia segment dominated the market in 2022 and is projected to be the faster-growing segment during the forecast period, 2022-2030. Drug delivery is widely used in patients with schizophrenia due to underlying factors like difficulty swallowing tablets and liquids, quick drug absorption into the mucosal membrane, and simplicity of administration. The drug delivery method is also popular among migraine patients due to its effectiveness and rapid pain relief.

Oral Thin Film Drugs Distribution Channel Insights

Distribution channels have bifurcated the oral thin film drugs market data into retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and online drug stores. Retail pharmacies dominated the market in 2022 and are expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the projected period 2022-2030, owing to an end-user preference for retail pharmacies, easy availability of a broad range of products, and a rise in the number of retail pharmacies in developing nations. The greater accessibility of pharmaceutical products through retail channels was a factor in this segment's dominance.

Figure 2:  Oral Thin Film Drugs Market, by Distribution Channel, 2022 & 2030 (USD Billion)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

Oral Thin Film Drugs Regional Insights

By Region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The North America Oral Thin Film Drugs market accounted for USD 1.55 billion in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a significant CAGR growth during the study period. The key factors driving the market in the region are higher penetration of oral thin film drugs, product availability, and the presence of a substantial of suppliers compared to the other regional areas. Moreover, the rising prevalence of schizophrenia in developed countries such as the United States is expected to fuel regional market growth in the coming years.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure 3:  ORAL THIN FILM DRUGS MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (%)

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

European oral thin film drugs market accounts for the second-largest market share. Numerous elements, including the rising incidence of Parkinson's disease, impact the market's expansion in Europe. Moreover, more extensive research and development activities on thin-film drugs are expected to propel market growth in European countries. In addition, increased European government funding for innovative drug delivery models is expected to drive the oral thin film drugs industry in the coming years. Further, the German market of oral thin film drugs held the largest market share, and the UK market of oral thin film drugs was the fastest-growing market in the European region.

The Asia-Pacific Oral Thin Film Drugs Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2030. Factors such as a larger senior patient pool, rising healthcare spending, and improved infrastructure support market growth in this region. An increase in awareness of thin-film therapeutic applications is expected to propel the market during the forecast timeframe. Other factors driving the regional development of the oral thin film drugs industry include key product launches, a higher concentration of market players or manufacturers, acquisitions, partnerships among significant players, and an increase in cases of target diseases in the region. Moreover, China’s market of oral thin film drugs held the largest market share, and the Indian market of oral thin film drugs was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Oral Thin Film Drugs Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

Major market players in the oral thin film drugs industry are investing in the research and development of fast-dissolving oral thin film drugs to improve their competitive advantage by introducing new platform technologies, including soluleaves, XGEL, and waferTab. R&D contributes to developing novel drug delivery solutions that are more convenient, beneficial, and efficient. A robust pipeline of molecules, contractual agreements, mergers & acquisitions, and unique product launches are key market development strategies major market players use to increase customer reach.

Companies are rushing to develop and launch new products to increase their market share. The oral thin film drugs market major players such as IntelGenx Corp., C.L. Pharma, CURE Pharma, ZIM Laboratories Ltd, and others are working to increase market demand by investing heavily in research and development activities. Manufacturing companies locally to cut operating costs is one of the vital business strategies manufacturers use in the oral thin film drugs industry to benefit customers and expand the international market sector.

CURE Pharmaceutical is an advanced drug delivery, and development firm focused on enhancing drug efficacy, safety, and patient experience through patented technology drug dosage forms and delivery methods. CURE has an industry-leading full-service cGMP manufacturing facility. It is a leading developer and manufacturer of the most advanced oral thin film drugs delivery system (CureFilm) on the market today. CURE has collaborated with top pharmaceutical firms and created several products using innovative delivery systems. CURE has established partnerships in the United States, Israel, Canada, and Germany, among other markets, to advance a variety of therapeutic categories, including pharmaceutical cannabis. CURE Pharma Holding Corporation received patent authorization from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in November 2021 for its CUREfilm Blue Advanced technologies, an oral solubilized film of USPTO.

LTS LOHMANN Therapie-Systeme AG, a business based in Germany that specializes in creating and manufacturing drug delivery systems like oral thin films (OTF), purchased Tapemark Inc. in September 2022 for an undisclosed sum. With this acquisition, LTS took advantage of Tapemark's top CDMO, which has experience with products for iontophoresis, unit dosage semi-solid drugs, and oral thin film drugs. Tapemark Inc is a CDMO headquartered in the United States that specializes in topically applied drug delivery systems and oral thin film drugs.

Key Companies in the oral thin film drugs market include

• Johnson & Johnson Services


• Pfizer Inc


• CURE Pharmaceutical


• LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG


• GlaxoSmithKline Plc


• Indivior Plc


• Novartis AG

Oral Thin Film Drugs Industry Developments

October 2022: IntelGenx Corp, a leading pharmaceutical oral thin film drugs delivery Company, partnered with Atai Life Sciences to develop new composition on IntelGenx polymer film technology solutions and utilize Atai's digital therapy for situational settling and adjusting patient support.

August 2022: Libervant Buccal Film from AquestiveTherapeutics has been approved by the FDA for the short-term management of episodic, stereotypical episodes of prevalent seizure activity.

July 2022: TFF Pharmaceuticals increased the size of its facilities by renting a facility in Austin, Texas, to meet the growing demand for oral thin film drugs freezing technologies.

Oral Thin Film Drugs Market Segmentation

Oral Thin Film Drugs Product Outlook

• Fast Dissolving Buccal Film


• Sublingual

Oral Thin Film Drugs Disease Indication Outlook

• Opioid Dependence


• Nausea & Vomiting


• Schizophrenia


• Migraine

Oral Thin Film Drugs Distribution Channel Outlook

• Retail Pharmacies


• Hospital Pharmacies


• Online Drug Stores

Oral Thin Film Drugs Regional Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  


• Europe
  
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  
  


• UK
  
  
  
  • Italy
  
  
  • Spain
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  


• Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • South Korea
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  
  


• Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • Rest of the World
  
  
  • Middle East
  
  
  • Africa
  
  
  • Latin America