Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Introduction of innovative treatment approach: The rising popularity of preventive measures is gaining traction in the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) market. As people gain knowledge and awareness about the importance of early detection and intervention to stop the condition from worsening grows, adoption and development in the diagnosis category increases. For instance, in April 2023, Laborie Medical Technologies introduced a wireless pH-capsule reflux testing system, alpHaONE, to identify GERD and generate monitoring data up to 96 hours. Similarly, the introduction of minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures is creating new long-term options for patients, diversifying the pipeline.

• Global expansion of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines: Besides the improvement in direct-to-customer services, the easy availability of generic solutions is also boosting revenue generation in the market. According to a 2020 NLM article, up to 1,00,000 marketed products in the U.S. belonged to the OTC medications, which saved a total of USD 102.0 billion in the national healthcare expenditure. Medicines from this category, such as antacids and low-dose PPIs, are enhancing public access to disease management, fueling growth in this sector. Moreover, MedTech companies are also creating diagnostic OTC products to mitigate the accessibility issues in this sector from every aspect.

Challenges

• Limitations in long-term efficacy and accurate prognosis: Despite the growth in availability and accessibility in the market, there are major adverse effects of this scenario. One of them is the misuse of OTC drugs among older citizens. In addition, the use of mainstay treatment such as PPIs for a long-run may cause severe side-effects, such as kidney disease, bone fractures, and gut microbiome disruption. Thus, the growing safety concerns about these products are slowing the global expansion in this field. To mitigate this roadblock, companies must invest more in extensive R&D to develop safer alternatives such as disease modifying therapeutics.