North American URTI Market 2022-2028

North American URTI Market 2022-2028

North American Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Oral Liquids and Others), by Category (Narcotics and Non-Narcotics), and by Age Group (Age Group >18 to 400 Years, Age Group >40 to 65 Years, and Age Group >65 Years) Forecast, 2022-2028

Market Overview

Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is a medical illness caused by an acute infection in the upper respiratory tract, which includes the larynx, pharynx, sinuses, and nose. Some of the most common upper respiratory tract illnesses include pharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, and the common cold, among others. The direct penetration of the mucus barrier by bacteria or viruses causes upper respiratory tract diseases. Some of the most common symptoms seen in individuals with upper respiratory tract illnesses include sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sore throat, nasal discharge, cough, fever, malaise, and odynophagia. The common cold continues to be a large burden on society, economically and socially. The most common virus is the rhinovirus. Other viruses include the influenza virus, adenovirus, enterovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus.

Risk Factors for a URTI

● Close contact with children- Both daycares and schools increase the risk of URTIs.

● Medical disorder- People with asthma and allergic rhinitis are more likely to develop URTI.

● Smoking is a common risk factor for URTI.

● Immunocompromised individuals, including those with cystic fibrosis, HIV, those who use corticosteroids, and those who went through transplantation and are in the post-splenectomy period, are at high risk for URTI.

● Anatomical anomalies, including facial dysmorphic changes or nasal polyposis, also increase the risk of URTI.

Bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs that modify respiratory secretions (e.g., mucolytics, mucokinetics, and expectorants), antitussive drugs, and decongestants can be used to treat URTIs. Prescribed treatment options to manage upper respiratory tract symptoms include acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, codeine, dexamethasone, and prednisone, among others. The most widely prescribed decongestants for URTI include phenylephrine, oxymetazoline, and pseudoephedrine.

Additional Information-

Across the region, URTIs are one of the top three diagnoses in the outpatient setting.

URTIs such as the common cold are common during the winter season and, for the most part, are benign, but they can seriously affect the quality of life for a few weeks. A few individuals may develop pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, and bronchitis.

The goal of treatment for the common cold is symptom relief. Decongestants and combination antihistamine/decongestant medications can limit cough, congestion, and other symptoms in adults.

Topical and oral nasal decongestants (i.e., topical oxymetazoline, oral pseudoephedrine) have moderate benefits in adults in reducing nasal airway resistance.

The North American URTI treatment market is projected to reach $8.6 billion in 2028 from $5.4 billion in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period (2022-2028). The increasing prevalence of URTIs such as sinusitis and acute pharyngitis and the continuous innovation and development of new products such as Gefapixant (MK-7264) by Merck are driving industry growth. Moreover, favorable reimbursement conditions and advanced medical infrastructure in developed countries are further supporting the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Other drug types include oral tablets and capsules, injectables, and inhalable drugs. The market size for these drug formats was $4.0 billion in 2021, and it is estimated to reach $6.5 billion by 2028. Continuous product development and clinical trials are contributing to the highest market CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period.

The prescribed oral liquid market size was $1.3 billion in 2021, which is estimated to reach $2.1 billion by 2028. Demand for cough suppressant combination drugs such as promethazine/dextromethorphan is driving market growth by 5.6% during the forecast period.

The non-narcotics prescribed drugs market held the highest market share of 82.0% and accounted for $4.4 billion in 2021, which is estimated to reach $7.1 billion by 2028, growing at the highest CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period.

The narcotics drugs market was valued at $969 million in 2021 and is estimated to reach $1.5 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period. In the narcotics drugs segment, prescription opioids are powerful pain-reducing medications that include oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, among others. Prescription narcotic antitussives are highly recommended for cough relief.

The age group >18 to 40 years held the largest market share of 54.4% in 2021 and accounted for $2.9 billion, which is projected to reach $4.7 billion by 2028. The market is mainly driven by the increasing URTI incidence in this age group. Further, the highest number of hospital visits in this age group is also contributing to the highest CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period.

The age group >40 to 65 years accounted for the second highest market share with $1.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $2.2 billion by 2028. Whereas the age group >65 years held the least market share of 19.9% with $1.1 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to reach $1.6 billion by 2028.

The US held the largest share of 89.3% with $4.8 billion in 2021 in the North American URTI market and is estimated to reach $7.7 billion by 2028, growing at the highest CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. The increasing incidence of URTIs in the US is projected to contribute to the market share. Each year, 1 billion incidences of URTIs occur, as per the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). California, Texas, Florida, and New York represent nearly 33% of these cases. Coverage of prescription drugs under healthcare plans and growing R&D and product launches are major factors contributing to the market’s growth during the forecast period.

The URTI market in Canada was valued at $385 million in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period. The market value in Canada is expected to reach $589 million by 2028. The common cold, due to continuous cold weather, is relatively common in the country. Each year, over 5 million cases of acute respiratory infection cases are registered in Canada. The respiratory system was responsible for 307 thousand mortalities in Canada.

The Mexican URTI market was valued at $193 million in 2021 and is estimated to reach $303 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period. Growing healthcare facilities and awareness of the complications of the common cold if left untreated are some of the factors contributing to the industry’s growth in Mexico. In Mexico, there are almost 25 million estimated cases of acute respiratory infections each year. The availability of healthcare facilities (inpatient and outpatient) is contributing to the growing number of hospital visits, which will contribute to industry growth.

Other drug forms (oral tablets and capsules, inhalables, injectables, and others) held the highest number of prescriptions in 2021 in North America with a share of 85.6%. The total prescriptions were 130 million in 2021 and are estimated to reach 170 million prescriptions by 2028.In adults, capsules and tablets, and injectables held the highest market share as the preferred form of treatment due to the demand for high dosages to manage the disease.

Oral liquid prescriptions held 14.3% of the North American URTI market in 2021. The number of registered oral liquid prescriptions was 21 million in 2021, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.8% during the forecast period. The high availability of OTC drugs has limited the market.

Non-narcotic prescriptions were 144 million in 2021 and are estimated to reach 188 million by 2028. The availability of effective non-narcotic combos consisting of a combination of analgesics, antihistamines, decongestants, or expectorants is contributing to the industry's growth.

Narcotics prescriptions were 8 million in 2021 and are projected to reach 9 million by 2028. Stringent regulations by the FDA related to opioid medicine prescriptions due to overuse have restrained the narcotics segment’s growth.

The age group >18 to 40 years accounted for the highest number of hospital visits in 2021. The total number of prescriptions by this age group was 80 million in 2021, which is estimated to reach $106 million by 2028. There were emergency department visits, doctor visits, and urgent care visits, which accounted for around 258.3 million visits in 2021. Among these, 45% were in the age group >18 to 40 years. The prescription numbers for the 18- to 40-year-old age group will have the highest CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period.

The US had 120 million prescriptions in 2021, which accounted for 78.9% of the total prescriptions in the North American region. The US had the highest number of hospital and emergency department visits, with 1 billion physician/hospital/ED/family doctor office visits. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the common cold ranked first in general physician visits, while acute upper respiratory infection ranked second in emergency department visits in the US. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acute URTI, excluding pharyngitis, is among the top 5 diagnoses each year. Total number of patients using the prescription in the US was 98.5 million in 2021.

Mexico had the second highest prescriptions of 19.3 million in 2021. Growing accessibility to healthcare and awareness regarding healthcare plans are expected to increase the number of hospital visits in upcoming years. Total number of patients using the prescription in Mexico was 12.5 million in 2021.

Canada had 12.8 million prescriptions in 2021, which are anticipated to reach 14.6 million by 2028. A high number of acute URTI cases has resulted in a significant number of prescriptions, and the availability of top healthcare facilities with full medical coverage has contributed to significant hospital visits. Total number of patients using the prescription in Canada was 9.6 million in 2021.

Key factors attributing to the growth of the market across the region include the growing number of clinical trials and drug approval activities. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved numerous drugs used for treating different types of respiratory disorders. For instance-

In May 2022, Sandoz, the Novartis Unit, launched the first fully sustainable US generic of Roche’s idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) therapy Esbriet. IPF is an immunological disorder involving the respiratory tract. It’s characterized by chronic inflammation of the lung, leading to irreversible scarring of lung tissue. The rare disease affects about 140,000 Americans.