Constipation Treatment Market Expected to Reach $10.1 Billion by 2032—Allied Market Research

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Constipation Treatment Market," The constipation treatment market was valued at $5.9 billion in 2022, and is estimated to reach $10.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2032.

Constipation is a medical condition characterized by infrequent bowel movements or difficulty in passing stools. It generally involves having fewer than three bowel movements in a week, as well as experiencing dry, hard, and often painful stools that are difficult to pass. Constipation can be caused by various factors, including a lack of dietary fiber, inadequate fluid intake, sedentary lifestyle, certain medications, hormonal changes, and medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or hypothyroidism. In more severe or persistent cases healthcare professionals recommend over-the-counter laxatives or prescribe medications to alleviate the symptoms and promote regular bowel movements.

Rise in the number of adoptions of key strategies such as product launch, product approval, and others by market players who manufactures drugs for constipation treatment drives the growth of the market. For instance, in June 2023, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc., a healthcare company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved LINZESS (linaclotide) as a once-daily treatment for pediatric patients ages 6-17 years-old with functional constipation. LINZESS is the first and only FDA-approved prescription therapy for functional constipation in this patient population.

Moreover, in April 2022, Ardelyx, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company announced the launch of IBSRELA, the first and only sodium-proton-exchanger subtype 3 (NHE3) Inhibitor for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults. IBSRELA is the first FDA-approved product for Ardelyx.

Moreover, increase in number of R&D activities and rise in number of clinical trials for constipation treatment drugs are expected to promote the growth of the constipation treatment market during the forecast period. For instance, in September 2022, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company announced positive topline data from a Phase III clinical trial evaluating LINZESS (linaclotide) 72 mcg in pediatric patients aged 6-17 years with functional constipation (FC). The trial met its primary and secondary endpoints, demonstrating that linaclotide (72 mcg) improved frequency of spontaneous bowl movements (SBM) and stool consistency. Linaclotide was generally well-tolerated, and the safety profile is consistent with previously reported studies with linaclotide in FC and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in pediatric patients.

In addition, rise in prevalence of opioid-induced constipation (OIC), chronic idiopathic constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) is anticipated to boost the demand for constipation treatment drugs. Thus, this factor is anticipated to drive the growth of market. According to National Library of Medicine, published in August 2022, it was reported that, opioid-induced constipation (OIC) accounts for over 40% to 60% in patients without cancer receiving opioids.

Constipation treatment such as laxatives should be started at the same time as the opioid to prevent OIC. Once the disorder is established, treatment involves both pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies. OIC may present immediately when a patient takes the opioid, or it may present gradually during opioid therapy. Thus, rise in prevalence of constipation is anticipated to boost the growth of market.

However, preference of population toward using natural remedies, dietary changes, or home remedies to treat their constipation instead of relying on pharmaceutical products is expected to hinder the growth of the  constipation treatment market.

In addition, high presence of market players who manufacture constipation treatment drugs, rise in awareness among the population regarding chronic idiopathic constipation, and surge in adoption of key strategies such as business expansion, agreement and others by market players of constipation treatment market are anticipated to drive the growth of constipation treatment market size.

By product type, the constipation treatment market analysis is classified into opioid antagonist, laxative, chloride channel-2 activator, guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist and others. Others include selective 5-ht agonists and sodium-proton-exchanger subtype 3 (NHE3) inhibitor. The laxative segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period owing to rise in prevalence of chronic pain and increase in number of populations suffering from opioid use disorder. 

By disease type, the constipation treatment market size is classified into opioid-induced constipation, chronic idiopathic constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. The  chronic idiopathic constipation segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period owing to high presence of market players who manufacture chronic idiopathic constipation drugs  and change in lifestyle of population which induced idiopathic constipation. .

By prescription type, the constipation treatment market share is classified into prescribed drugs and over-the-counter drugs. The prescribed drugs segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period owing to rise in awareness among the people regarding effectiveness of prescribed drugs and high presence of market players who manufacture prescribed drugs for treatment of constipation.

By distribution channel, the constipation treatment market share is classified into online pharmacy, and drug store & retail pharmacy and others. Others include hospital pharmacies and general stores. The retail pharmacy segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period owing to rise in dependency of population over retail pharmacy and high presence of retail pharmacies.

Region-wise, North America had the highest constipation treatment market trends in 2022 and is expected to maintain its lead during the forecast period owing to increase in number of populations suffering from constipation and high presence of market players who manufacture constipation drugs. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit fastest growth during the forecast period owing to increase in awareness among the people regarding treatment for constipation, rise in availability of drugs, and increase in prevalence of constipation.

Key findings of the study

• By product  type, the laxative segment dominated the constipation treatment market forecast in 2022.
• By disease type, the chronic idiopathic constipation segment dominated the constipation treatment industry in 2022.
• By prescription type, the prescribed drugs segment dominated the constipation treatment industry in 2022.
• By distribution channel, the drug store & retail pharmacy segment dominated the market in 2022.
• By region, North America dominated the market in 2022 and is expected to grow during the forecast period.