Bangladesh Anti-Rheumatic Drug Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027

Bangladesh anti-rheumatic drug market was valued at US$402.375 million in 2020. A leading factor for Bangladesh’s anti-rheumatic drug market is the country’s poor health infrastructure, which is coupled with an increase in chronic diseases among its older population. Many chronic diseases are caused by obesity which leads to another major health problem - arthritis. In Bangladesh, according to the International Diabetes Federation, around 12.5% of the population between the age of 20 to 79 has diabetes. Moreover, the WHO published the latest data on rheumatoid arthritis deaths in 2020. According to it, rheumatoid arthritis deaths in Bangladesh reached 815, or 0.11% of total deaths. Bangladesh has a world ranking of 18 in age-adjusted deaths.

Increasing cases of musculoskeletal conditions and related disabilities among the adult population

The increasing number of musculoskeletal conditions and related disabilities is alarming. According to a survey undertaken by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, 30.4% of the 1,843 individuals who took part were diagnosed with musculoskeletal conditions. A patient’s dexterity and functions are affected by the musculoskeletal condition, which thereby, impacts their daily life activities. Lower back pain cases in Bangladesh continue to top the charts of the Institute of Health Matrix. As per the survey, the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis was found to be 1.6%, and knee osteoarthritis stood at 7.3%. The occupations that demanded heavy physical work like homemaking, cultivation, and rickshaw pulling had higher rates of rheumatic conditions.

Market Restraints

A majority of the Bangladeshi population lives in rural areas; whose data is not easily available. Moreover, there are no nationally representative data on musculoskeletal conditions. Since the rural population tends to treat back aches as a seasonal illness or due to other reasons, they aren’t well-versed in the chronic diseases that are linked with it.

Market Developments:

• In February 2020, a fast-growing manufacturer of generic pharmaceutical products, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited, announced the signing of a commercial agreement for the distribution of certain products of Mylan in Bangladesh. Mylan’s portfolio of key monoclonal antibodies would be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, chronic diseases, different types of cancers, ulcerative colitis, and other medical conditions.
• In April 2019, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals decided to take up the phase III trials of its lupus nephritis disease drug in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Lupus nephritis is kidney inflammation that is caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The company employed mitigation strategies that included stricter vetting of sites and better training of investigators in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted patients with rheumatic diseases, as it put them at a higher risk of catching the COVID-19 virus in comparison to the general population. Furthermore, with the outbreak, it was difficult to provide disease-related medicines, even the production units were shut due to which deliveries were furthermore delayed. However, in the second half of 2020, the market grew with the launch of new products with better investments due to the rising prevalence of arthritis. Several acquisitions and mergers took place for the development of several therapeutics and medications.

Market Segmentation:

By Type of Disease

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Gout
• Lupus
• Others

By Type of Molecule

• Pharmaceuticals
• Biopharmaceuticals

By Sales Channel

• Prescription
• Over-The-Counter (OTC)