Pharma Tablet Coatings Market Assessment, By Type [Sugar Coated, Film Coated, Enteric Coated, Gelatin Coated, Others], By Polymer Type [Cellulosic, Vinyl, Acrylic, Others], By Functionality [Delayed-Release, Sustained-Release], By End-user [Pharmaceutical

Pharma Tablet Coatings Market Assessment, By Type [Sugar Coated, Film Coated, Enteric Coated, Gelatin Coated, Others], By Polymer Type [Cellulosic, Vinyl, Acrylic, Others], By Functionality [Delayed-Release, Sustained-Release], By End-user [Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global pharma tablet coatings market is projected to witness a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 1.01 billion in 2023 to USD 1.62 billion in 2031F. The growth of the market is supported by the expansion in the pharmaceutical sector and increasing research and development activities.

The rapid growth of the pharmaceutical sector is boosting the global pharma tablet coatings market size. The growth can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of various diseases and disorders and exponential rise in population in various regions across the globe. For instance, Invest India estimated that the pharmaceutical industry in the country is expected to reach USD 130 billion by 2030. Moreover, the increasing emphasis on the quality of pharmaceutical products manufacturing and rising adoption of generic drugs provide lucrative growth opportunities to the market, boosting the requirement for pharma tablet coatings. The increase in stringency by regulatory bodies regarding different excipients and drugs further bolstered the market expansion.

The rising investments by key players in the market to produce equipment that supports the delivery of viable pharma tablet coatings cost-efficient and timely are further propelling the global pharma tablet coatings market growth. Additionally, the rising popularity of biosimilars owing to their cost-effective nature, which increases the accessibility to various treatments and improves the quality of life of the patients, is supporting the expansion of the market for tablet coatings. For instance, 2022 Biosimilar Trends Report by Amgen Biosimilars estimates that for the biosimilars launched in the past three years, in the therapeutic areas, average share was 75%. Biosimilars mimic the active ingredient in the reference biologic and undergo extensive analysis to confirm the presence of similar characteristics to that of the reference biologics. Thus, the biosimilars sector is witnessing significant growth, which in turn is boosting the requirement for pharma tablet coatings and positively influencing the expansion of the market.

Increasing Adoption of Generics Boost Global Pharma Tablet Coatings Market Demand

The growing popularity of generics can be attributed to their cost-effective nature and the rising awareness of strict regulatory standards these drugs must follow. To receive the stamp of approval from the FDA, the generic drugs must be bioequivalent to their brand-name counterpart. It ensures that two drugs are chemically the same, though the makers of the generic medication are allowed a variation of twenty percent in the active ingredient from the original formula. Even though the wiggle room allowed by the FDA is up to 20%, variations of less than 4% are usually observed. Due to the increasing awareness among the general population about such strict regulatory standards followed by generic medications has boosted confidence in such drugs. For instance, the Association for Accessible Medicines estimates that approximately 90% of the prescriptions dispensed in the United States are of generics. Thus boosting the demand for pharma-coating tablets and supporting the market's growth.

Technological Advancements in Pharma Tablet Coatings Provide Lucrative Growth Opportunities

Introducing new process analytical technology (PAT) tools for data acquisition and real-time monitoring for filming coating operations is an emerging global pharma tablet coatings market trend. Various PAT tools include a wide range of techniques, such as microscopic techniques, spectroscopic techniques, and imaging techniques, to monitor the film coating operations. Recently, the successful development of various advanced technologies has aided in enhancing the scalability of the coating operations. For instance, the Raman spectroscopy technology underwent various improvements to make it more user-friendly, achieving a more compact form factor, and enhance the calibration stability. Similarly, a research group at Rutgers University comprehensively evaluated advanced multi-point NIR spatially resolved spectroscopy (SRS) probes. These probes provide rapid and precise measurements. The high efficiency and precision offered by this technology has allowed the inspection of approximately 200,000 tablets per hour. Such developments and advancements will provide lucrative growth opportunities to the market over the forecast period.

North America Accounts for a Significant Share of the Market

The growth of North America pharma tablet coatings market can be attributed to the rapid expansion of pharmaceutical sector in the region, strong presence of various leading market players, and increasing prevalence of several diseases and disorders. The rising investments by the market players based in the region towards the development of novel products and technologies are further aiding the growth of the market in North America.

For instance, in May 2023, Colorcon, headquartered in Pennsylvania, United States, introduced titanium dioxide-free film coating designed to mitigate the challenges associated with moisture-sensitive actives. Colorcon launched an Opadry film coating system that meets the moisture management requirements of pharmaceutical tablets without utilizing titanium dioxide. Through their portfolio of Opadry complete film coating systems, the company provides scope for reducing time-to-market and complexity by providing high-quality products to their customers. They are focused on carefully selecting ingredients that meet the local pharmaceutical regulatory requirements. Such regional developments will provide lucrative growth opportunities for the North American market.

Sustained Release Holds Significant Share of the Market

The growth of the segment can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of various diseases and disorders that require sustained and controlled release of drugs, including hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. For instance, the International Diabetes Federation estimated that, in 2021, approximately 10.5% of the adult population, i.e., individuals between the age of 20-79 years had diabetes. Also, by 2045 the number of cases of diabetes will witness an increase of 46% and 1 in 8 adults, about 783 million individuals will be living with diabetes. The increase in prevalence of diabetes will boost the requirement for sustained release pharma tablet costings, augmenting the market's growth.

Additionally, the utilization of sustained-release tablets offers various advantages, including slow drug release in the bloodstream, which allows for maintaining a constant level of medication in the bloodstream and removes the likelihood of burst drug release. Thus, it boosts demand and propels the market expansion.

Pharmaceutical Sector Accounts for Significant Market Share

The expansion of the pharmaceutical sector can be attributed to the exponential growth of the geriatric population, the increase in the prevalence of several diseases, and rising healthcare expenditure in various countries across the globe. Due to the growth, the requirement for pharma tablet coatings is increasing, augmenting the market demand. Additionally, the demand for tablet coatings by the pharmaceutical sector is augmenting as the prevalence of diseases that require tablet formulations as the primary form of treatment rises.

For instance, the rise in the number of cases of arthritis is boosting the demand for global pharma tablet coatings. According to the estimates of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 53.2 million adults in the United States, approximately 21.2% of the population, have been diagnosed by a doctor to have some form of arthritis in 2023. The increase in the number of cases of arthritis is providing lucrative growth opportunities to the market as various corticosteroid medications are consumed as pills for slowing the joint damage and reducing pain and inflammation. Thus, boosting the requirement for pharma tablet coatings and supporting the expansion of the market.

Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)

According to global pharma tablet coatings market analysis, the increasing emphasis on nanocoating technology will support the expansion of the market in the coming years. The growing utilization of nanotechnology will aid in enhancing the capabilities of the excipients. Nanocoating will aid in improving drug release profiles by enhancing the bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredient and controlling the release rate. Furthermore, the utilization of nanocoating technology will support the incorporation of different functional materials including antimicrobial agents, flavoring agents, antioxidants, and polymers, onto the surface of the tablet. The increasing utilization of nanocoating technology will provide various benefits and support the expansion of the market for pharma tablet coatings over the forecast period.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The increasing investments by the leading pharma tablet coatings market players towards the development of new coating manufacturing facilities will support the global pharma tablet coatings market growth. For instance, Colorcon is investing in the development of a new manufacturing facility in Johor State, Malaysia, through their subsidiary, Colorcon Malaysia. The facility will be producing advanced and high-quality film-coating products to cater to the requirements of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical manufacturers across the region of the Southeast Asia, comprising of New Zealand and Australia. With an investment of approximately USD 50 million, the strategic approach of Colorcon to be located closer to their customers will boost the ability of the company to cater to the expected growth in the region. Thus, increase in such investments over the forecast period will provide lucrative growth opportunities for the market.