Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for Alzheimer’s drugs. In 2022, North America held the largest share of the global Alzheimer’s drugs market owing to extensive research and development activities by pharmaceutical companies, and prevalence of AD and associated dementia in the aging population in the region. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2023, over 6 million people in America were diagnosed with AD, and ~1 in 9 individuals aged 65 years or above—representing 10.7% of the American population— were affected by AD. Additionally, according to statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in October 2020, AD is the sixth leading cause of death among US adults. Further, the increasing spending on healthcare services across the US boosts the demand for AD treatment drugs, facilitating the Alzheimer’s drugs market growth in the region.

Increasing Prevalence of AD Drives Alzheimer’s Drugs Market Growth

The growing cases of AD and related dementia propels the Alzheimer’s drugs market size. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia reported globally, accounting for 60–70% of all cases. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that worsens gradually over the years and is more common in the aging population. As per the World Health Organization (WHO) report published in October 2022, the global population aged 60 years and above will grow to 1.4 billion by 2030 and reach 2.1 billion by 2050. This growing geriatric population is anticipated to increase the disease burden, facilitating the demand for related medical treatments in the coming years.

Furthermore, rising awareness about AD, improving diagnosis rates, and increasing investments in the development of new treatments are considered to be the growth enablers of the market. For instance, according to a report published by the Alzheimer’s Association in 2021, US$ 63 million was invested by the association in 2020 to advance the research for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Side Effects of Drugs Hamper Market Growth

Potential side effects have significant implications affecting the Alzheimer’s drug market progression. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and NMDA receptor antagonists are the class of drugs commonly prescribed for the treatment of AD. Although these drugs are widely used and considered to be generally safe when used as directed, several specific side effects and concerns are associated with their use. The most significant adverse effects associated with AD drugs are dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain in case of overdosing or when used inappropriately. This is a major concern and can impact consumer confidence in the product, potentially leading to decreased usage.

Alzheimer’s Drugs Market: Segmental Overview

The global Alzheimer’s drugs market analysis was performed by considering the following segments: drug class and distribution channel. By product, the market is subsegmented into cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA receptor antagonists, combination drugs, and pipeline drugs. The cholinesterase inhibitors segment accounted for the largest Alzheimer’s drugs market share in 2022. The pipeline drugs segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2030. The cholinesterase inhibitors segment is further divided into Donepezil, Galantamine, and Rivastigmine. Cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed by specialists such as psychiatrists or neurologists for early- to mid-stage AD. These drugs boost the levels of acetylcholine in the brain, a neurotransmitter that helps nerve cells communicate with each other.

By distribution channel, the Alzheimer’s drugs market is segmented into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and online pharmacies. In 2022, the hospital pharmacies segment held the largest market share. Online pharmacies segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during 2022–2030.

The scope of the Alzheimer’s drugs market report encompasses North America (the US, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Russia, and the Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (Australia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, and the Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa), and South & Central America (Brazil, Argentina, and the Rest of South & Central America).

Alzheimer’s Drugs Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Pfizer Inc.; Siemens Healthcare GmbH; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.; GlaxoSmithKline plc; Sanofi; Novartis AG; AstraZeneca; AbbVie Inc.; Eisai Co., Ltd.; and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited are among the prominent players profiled in the Alzheimer’s drugs market report. These companies adopt product innovation strategies to meet evolving customer demands, which allows them to maintain their brand name in the Alzheimer’s drugs market.  

A few of the recent developments in the global Alzheimer’s drugs market are mentioned below:

• In January 2024, Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. announced that the distribution of their collaborative development, LEQEMBI, has been approved in China. It is a humanized, anti-soluble aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) monoclonal antibody developed for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD and mild AD dementia.
• In May 2023, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Co. Ltd. and Lundbeck LLC announced that their collaborative development, supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) of REXULTI containing brexpiprazole, received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptom in Alzheimer’s dementia.

• In May 2023, Eli Lilly and Company announced the positive result for TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 Phase 3 study of its Alzheimer’s drug, Donanemab. According to the study, Donanemab significantly slowed cognitive and functional decline in people with early symptomatic AD.
• In September 2022, Corium, Inc. launched ADLARITY, a donepezil transdermal system in the US. It is a prescription drug intended to treat mild, moderate, or severe dementia in patients with AD. This transdermal system is the first and only once-weekly patch that delivers consistent doses of donepezil through the skin and has no gastrointestinal side effects.