Market Trends of Infertility Drugs Industry
Gonadotrophins Segment is Expected to Witness Growth Over the Forecast Period
Gonadotrophins are hormones that the anterior pituitary produces and releases. They act on the gonads (testes and ovaries) to boost the production of sex hormones and encourage either ova or sperm production. Gonadotrophins are a component of fertility treatments that help women induce ovulation and develop mature follicles. In men, it boosts sperm counts during fertility treatment. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH) are the main gonadotropins. Some gonadotrophins available in the market are chorionic gonadotrophin (hcg), Pregnyl, Gonal-f, Ovidrel, Menopur, Novarel, Follistim, and others.
The gonadotrophin segment is anticipated to witness significant growth in the infertility drugs market over the forecast period owing to factors such as the high efficacy of gonadotrophins to treat infertility issues among the population and new product launches. For instance, according to an article published in Cell in May 2022, it was observed that male infertility is an increasing and serious medical concern that affects approximately half of infertile couples worldwide. Also, an article published in the International Bar Association in March 2022 showed that fertility rates consistently declined to below replacement levels across developed countries globally. It is anticipated to fuel the demand for drugs to treat infertility problems, propelling the segment's growth.
Furthermore, the increasing number of research studies related to gonadotropin drugs is also contributing to segment growth. For instance, as per an article published in the Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology in July 2021, a study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone alfa (r-hFSH-alfa; GONAL-f) with urinary highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG HP; Menogon HP), during assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments in Germany. It was observed that the cycles stimulated with r-hFSH-alfa exhibited higher cumulative live birth rate (LBR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), and ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR), as well as lower cancellation rates and gonadotropin usage per oocyte retrieval as compared to hMG HP. Thus, the high effectiveness of -hFSH-alfa is expected to increase its adoption among users for treating infertility cases, which is anticipated to boost the segment growth over the forecast period.
Moreover, the rising number of new product launches increases the availability of effective drugs in the market. For instance, in August 2021, Merck launched the Pergoveris Pen for fertility treatment in India. The product combines recombinant follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones in a ready-to-use device. It enables individuals to be treated by an IVF specialist for severe FSH and LH deficits for a better experience.
Therefore, owing to the factors above, such as the high prevalence of infertility cases, the rising number of research studies, and new product launches, the studied segment is anticipated to grow over the forecast period.
North America is Expected to Hold the Significant Market Share Over the Forecast Period
North America is anticipated to hold a significant share of the market due to rising incidences of infertility problems, menopausal disorders, urinary infections, thyroid problems, endometriosis, and others due to busy lifestyles and a rise in stress among women. In addition, increasing demand for more advanced infertility drugs and growing company activities are also contributing to the market growth.
The number of male fertility cases is rising due to increased levels of smoking, consumption of alcohol, use of certain illicit drugs, and underlying conditions such as obesity. For instance, an article published by StatPearls in July 2022 found that the estimated male infertility rate is between 4.5% and 6% in North America. Also, as per the 2021 data published by the WHO, 12% of the people in Canada smoke regularly, and people aged 20 years or above hold the highest rate of smoking (11%) as compared to people aged 15 years to 19 years (4%). The rising prevalence of smoking is associated with a high level of ferroptosis in seminal plasma, which affects the quality of semen and lowers the probability of getting pregnant, which is expected to propel the growth of the studied market over the forecast period.
Furthermore, the increasing government and company initiatives to promote fertility treatment are also contributing to the high demand for fertility drugs in the market. For instance, in November 2021, EMD Serono launched its enhanced Fertility LifeLines patient support program based on feedback from reproductive health medical professionals and patients on their fertility journey in Canada. Such initiatives are expected to raise awareness among the population regarding fertility treatment, which is anticipated to fuel market growth.
Therefore, owing to the factors above, the studied market is anticipated to grow over the forecast period.
