Prefilled Syringes Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Disposable, Reusable), By Material (Glass Syringes, Plastic Syringes), By Application (Anaphylaxis, Diabetes), End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global prefilled syringes market size was valued at USD 18.43 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.95% from 2022 to 2030. Growing demand for efficient and easy-to-use drug delivery devices and increasing efforts of healthcare professionals to reduce hospital errors are the principal factors driving the market growth. The fast-paced development of feature-rich devices with underlying technological advancements extending safer and convenient self-injections for patients coupled with the impact of COVID-19 is expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period.

With the current COVID - 19 outbreaks, a huge surge in immunizations is expected around the world. COVID-19 has spurred the development of prefilled syringes, especially for low-temperature storage. For instance, in September 2021, by demonstrating their glass prefilled syringes, which are ideal for use with mRNA doses that must be stored at ultralow temperatures, BD has positioned itself to unlock a new COVID-19 vaccination opportunity. BD also analyzed 2,000 syringes that were maintained at minus 20 and minus 40 degrees Celsius to see how temperatures affected the delivery devices. Moreover, syringes with various glass barrel coatings, volumes, and other variables that could influence the response to deep cold storage were investigated. As a result, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, sales of prefilled syringes increased globally.

A steep rise in the development of biological therapies is expected to boost industry growth. Biologic drugs including therapeutic vaccines are rapidly replacing the traditional therapeutic options owing to their increased efficiency, efficacy as well as patient safety with reduced side effects. The constant introduction of biologic drugs has given rise to the demand for innovative packaging solutions to maintain the potency of these drugs as they are extremely unstable. More than 60% of the biologic drugs are currently in the pipeline and preferred with parenteral administration as any interaction with food and digestive enzymes results in their deterioration. Thus, prefilled syringes are considered to be an ideal container for the storage of such drugs. Moreover, the growth of the biologic drug market has a direct positive impact on the prefilled syringes market.

Needlestick injuries are potentially dangerous as they may lead to the transmission of fatal diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis. For instance, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in June 2021, 37.7 million [30.2 million–45.1 million] individuals worldwide were living with HIV in 2020. Additionally, according to the same source, 28.2 million people had access to antiretroviral therapy as of June 2021 which is anticipated to boost the industry growth. Moreover, patients, as well as physicians are at a high risk of developing needle stick injuries during dose preparation. For instance, in March 2021, according to Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), every year, two million healthcare professionals (out of a total of 35 million) suffer from accidental needle-stick wounds around the world which are anticipated to boost the business scale in the ensuing years.

Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that using safety measures like prefilled syringes in hospitals might reduce sharps-related injuries by 60-88 %. This is because prefilled syringes are an easy way to reduce these injuries as the application of these devices bypasses the various dose preparation steps and can easily be disposed of. In the case of self-injection systems, innovative modifications such as hidden needles are helpful in reducing such injuries, resulting in increased patient convenience. As prefilled syringes provide safety without the added price, the usage of the same is expected to increase in the future.

Along with the aforementioned factors, a growing number of approvals for prefilled syringes by regulatory bodies, such as the U.S., FDA, and the EU along with market expansion is predicted to actively contribute to industry expansion. For instance, in September 2022, Owen Mumford Pharmaceutical Services, a company of Owen Mumford Ltd., received approval as a combination product in Asia for their safety device which is named 1mL UniSafe for pre-filled syringes. 1mL UniSafe has also received regulatory approval in Europe and the medicine is currently available on the market as a combination product with a rheumatoid arthritis drug. Moreover, 1mL UniSafe is a revolutionary, spring-free, patented safety mechanism for prefilled syringes that delivers a variety of benefits to both pharmaceutical firms and their patients which is anticipated to increase the demand for prefilled syringes in near future.

The growing popularity of auto-injectors owing to their advantages such as patient convenience and minimal contamination are factors that are expected to boost their growth during the period in focus. For instance, in July 2021, following the complete conclusion of development, Owen Mumford Pharmaceutical Services unveiled its innovative Aidaptus auto-injector platform. Aidaptus is a two-step, single-use auto-injector, spring-powered with a versatile design that fits both 2.25 mL and 1 mL prefilled glass syringes in the same base device, which is projected to drive market growth in the near future.

Increasing government investments in cutting-edge syringe production will drive market growth in the near future. For instance, in March 2022, the investment of USD 84.53 million in Hungary is intended to address the expanding global demand for prefill-able glass syringes. The extension is set to be complete by 2024 and it is expected to support the demand for the product in the near future.

Type Insights

Based on type, the disposable prefilled syringes segment captured the largest market share with around 78.98% in 2021 owing to its wide applications. These devices reduce contamination risks which are projected to boost their demand. Needlestick injuries are caused by unsafe activities such as multiple usages of a prefilled syringe and needle without taking preventative precautions as directed by healthcare professionals. Furthermore, while traditional disposable prefilled syringes safeguard the recipient they do not ensure the safety of patients. Therefore, a high preference for patient safety has resulted in increased usage of disposable devices in hospitals and home care settings. Such factors are anticipated to boost the segment growth.

The reusable prefilled syringes segment is expected to exhibit the fastest growth rate during the forecast period. Owing to the high prices of the devices and the advanced technology involved, companies are increasingly focusing on designing reusable devices, which will consequently save costs. The frequent and urgent requirement of timely dosages in conditions, such as diabetes and anaphylaxis, has raised the demand for multi-dose, reusable devices such as insulin pens and Epipen. The governments in emerging countries are undertaking initiatives to increase the use of reusable prefilled syringes & needles with an aim to reduce the transmission of diseases in patients; thereby, propelling the segment growth over the forecast period.

Material Insights

Based on the material, the glass syringes segment dominated the market with around 53.27% of the revenue share. Currently, glass syringes are the gold standard in prefilled syringes. With regard to healthcare professionals, glass syringes are easy-to-use and check for particulate impurities, if any. The clarity and inertness of glass ensure the purity of the dose thus rendering it a reliable alternative for healthcare professionals. However, increasing demand for safer products that allow self-administration of medication and greater fragility of glass during the transportation is anticipated to impede the use of glass syringes in the global prefilled syringes market.

Additionally, with respect to the manufacturers’ perspective, bulk sterilization and reuse of glass syringes reduce costs significantly hence increasing the profit margin. For instance, in October 2020, SCHOTT AG and Credence MedSystems have teamed together to use Credence Companion technology in conjunction with TOPPAC which is a polymer syringe, and syriQ which is a pre-fillable glass system. The two firms are likely to collaborate to integrate the technologies and provide pharmaceutical industries with a unique and new solution for injectable medicine administration using prefilled syringes.

The plastic syringes segment is anticipated to witness a considerable growth rate over the forecast period. Previously, plastic syringes were not preferred for most drugs because of the lack of clarity of the material and due to leaching-extracting problems that have adulterated the contents of the syringe. However, the introduction of innovative materials, such as Crystal Clear Polymer (CCP) and Polypropylene, which are inert to most drugs are expected to boost the application of plastic prefilled syringes. These syringes lend a few advantages such as increased patient safety, customization in accordance with patient requirements, and easy transportation.

Application Insights

Considering the scope of application, the diabetes segment dominated the industry with around 53.75% of the revenue share. A large patient base, a growing prevalence of diabetes, and the need for effective and safer insulin delivery devices are some of the factors expected to maintain the dominance of this segment throughout the forecast period. For instance, as per the International Diabetes Federation report, the number of people living with diabetes was estimated at 537 million (aged between 20 to79) in 2021 to nearly 783 million by 2045.

Moreover, major companies such as BD and others are producing prefilled syringes designed exclusively for chronic disease therapy in order to increase their market position. For instance, Hypak SCF PRTC glass pre-fillable syringe from BD is used to treat chronic disorders. Along with that in May 2021, BD announced plans to spin out its Diabetes Care division as a separate, publicly-traded company ("NewCo"). BD Diabetes Care has been a major force behind the adoption of insulin syringes and other products, generating roughly 8 billion injection devices each year and supporting approximately 30 million patients. Over the foreseeable term, such factors are expected to drive the product demand.  

In addition to the above, other segments are anticipated to witness a considerable growth rate over the forecasted period. Other uses of prefilled syringes include vaccines and other biotech drugs which usually are highly sensitive and vulnerable to alterations in their safety and stability due to their interaction with the material of the storage container. In addition, the special requirements for storage of these drugs are simplified through the use of prefilled syringes, which bypass the need to transfer from vials to syringes.

Distribution Channel Insights

The hospital segment dominated the market holding a share of 52.39% in 2021 owing to increasing admissions of patients suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Hospitals are primary users of these syringes due to their wide range of applications. Additionally, increasing focus on the development of healthcare infrastructure in developing economies of the Asia Pacific and Africa is expected to propel the segment growth. The surging trend of self-care and the availability of devices enabling fewer visits to healthcare professionals are expected to have a negative impact on the growth of this segment.

Mail order pharmacies segment is expected to exhibit the fastest growth rate during the forecast period. Mail order pharmacies help in serving patients suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes and anaphylaxis. Subscriptions through mail order pharmacies are preferred mostly by the patients with chronic conditions who need to take regular doses by injection. This helps in reducing the total cost incurred to the patient during the course of therapy. Prefilled syringes sold through this channel are required to be designed with utmost patient convenience as patients are required to self-inject the doses on their own.

Regional Insights

Geographically speaking, Europe dominated the prefilled syringes market with the highest share of 39.51% in 2021 owing to factors such as the high preference of the healthcare practitioners for prefilled injectable devices in order to decrease needle-related injuries. Additionally, the region has a presence of major market players such as Gerresheimer AG, SCHOTT group, Stevanato Group, Haselmeier AG, and Owen Mumford Ltd. These companies have strengthened their presence in the region over the years. This condition has made the market consolidated in the region, thus making the entry of new players difficult. These companies have expanded their presence worldwide and are dominating the global market, thus bringing most of the global revenue to Europe. Various government measures to reassure the use of single-use medical supplies to prevent infections, as well as the presence of prominent market participants in the region are expected to help the region's growth.

Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest CAGR from 2022 to 2030 with the development of fast-growing economies and the presence of a huge untapped market. Favorable demographic factors such as the large population and growing prevalence of various chronic diseases are expected to fuel the market growth in the region. Countries such as China represent the developed prefilled syringes market. According to Front Public Health in 2020, chronic NCDs account for about 80% of mortality in China among adults aged 60, with Ischemic Heart Disease, Stroke, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Type 2 Diabetes is the most common. On the other hand, countries such as Japan and India provide large growth opportunities by attracting major market players with increasing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as product demand.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key players are involved in adopting strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, partnerships, and launching new products to strengthen their foothold in the market. For instance, in April 2021, Packaging Nipro Pharma CURACASE was introduced which is an individually packaged product in a compact and well-designed hard-plastic packaging that takes up the least amount of space in secondary packaging. Because of its clever design, it works well with feeders and automated pick-and-place systems. The introduction of CURACASE needles enhances the company’s ability to manufacture and provide full injection systems to the pharmaceutical industry, which is projected to drive market growth in the near future.

In August 2021, SCHOTT AG, a German specialty glass business along with its latest partnerSerum Institute of India purchased a 50% stake in the SCHOTT Kaisha joint venture in India. Serum guaranteed its supply of high-quality pharma packaging through the acquisition in the face of escalating worldwide demand. The syringe manufacturing market is becoming more consolidated. However, new competitors with advanced and creative drug-filling technologies can quickly enter this market and offer new and better designs. Some prominent players in the global prefilled syringes market include:

• Gerresheimer AG

• Schott Group

• Unilife Corporation

• Nipro Medical Corporation

• Owen Mumford

• Haselmeier AG

• BD & Others

Prefilled Syringes Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth and provides an analysis on the latest trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global prefilled syringes market report on the basis of type, material, application, distribution channel, and region:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Disposable Prefilled Syringes

  • Reusable Prefilled Syringes

• Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Glass Prefilled Syringes

  • Plastic Prefilled Syringes

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Anaphylaxis

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

  • Diabetes

  • Others

    • Vaccines and Other Biotech Drugs

• Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Hospitals

  • Mail Order Pharmacies

  • Ambulatory Surgery Centers

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

    • Colombia

  • Middle East and Africa (MEA)

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE