China's Transdermal Patch Market Surges: Domestic Pharma Companies Set Sights on Global Expansion
In recent years, the fervor surrounding the research, development, and sales of transdermal patches in China is well known to all industry peers.
In 2019, Beijing Tide Pharmaceutical partnered with Hisamitsu to secure the first approval in the Chinese market for a generic chemically synthesized drug hydrogel patch (flurbiprofen cataplasm). In its second year on the market, it generated nearly RMB 2 billion in sales, igniting intense competition across the entire hydrogel patch sector for chemically synthesized drugs.
In 2021, Hunan Jiudian’s loxoprofen sodium cataplasm received approval as the first generic version in China. It generated RMB 900 million in sales within seven months, accounting for 60% of Jiudian’s total pharmaceutical formulation revenue. By 2023, its annual sales exceeded RMB 1.5 billion, representing 58% of the company’s revenue. This success further invigorated the already hot market for chemical drug transdermal patches, sustaining its upward momentum.
According to incomplete statistics,More than 80 companies in China have transdermal formulations (including traditional Chinese medicine patches) in Phase I/II/III clinical trials or bioequivalence (BE) studies, with an estimated total of over 150 companies having entered this field.。
A Global Market Worth Billions: Opportunities and Challenges Coexist
According to the latest report released in March this year by Research and Markets, titled “Global Medical Transdermal Patches Market: Analysis by Type, Application, Distribution Channel, Region, and Forecast to 2029,” the global medical transdermal patches market was valued at USD 7.88 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 10.33 billion by 2029.The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2029.。
Europe is a vital global market for pharmaceutical research and development, manufacturing, and distribution. Currently, the European pharmaceutical market accounts for more than 30% of the global market share. Leading industry giants include Switzerland’s Novartis and Roche, Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, France’s Sanofi, as well as the UK’s AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, and Germany’s Bayer, Merck, and Boehringer Ingelheim.
In the field of topical preparations, Europe also holds a pivotal position. According to statistics,Among the original research transdermal patch products on the market, European pharmaceutical companies account for 37% of the global total.。
In recent years, there has been frequent interaction and cooperation between China and Europe in the field of transdermal patches. In 2019, the once-daily rivastigmine transdermal patch developed by Luye Pharma’s German subsidiary was approved for marketing in Germany. In 2021, the marketing application for Luye Pharma’s independently developed multi-day rivastigmine transdermal patch successfully passed the EU decentralized review procedure. In 2020, Livzon Pharmaceutical Group partnered with LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG (“LTS”) to co-develop an asenapine transdermal patch, which has entered the clinical stage this year.
Europe has consistently maintained a global leadership position in the research and development of topical formulations, excipients, and production equipment.. Germany’s LTS is a globally leading CRO specializing in the research and development of transdermal patches, having developed and manufactured nearly half of the FDA-approved transdermal drug delivery systems. Renowned companies such as Gattefossé (France), Lipoid (Germany), Henkel (Germany), and Croda (UK) are prominent suppliers of excipients for topical formulations and serve as excipient providers for numerous originator transdermal patch products. Additionally, hot-melt adhesive patch production equipment from Hanhui (Germany) has long been the preferred choice for many pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Due to their complex manufacturing processes, significant R&D challenges, and high technical barriers, many companies that have already entered the transdermal drug delivery sector continue to face numerous issues, such asChallenges in drug development, supply chain bottlenecks for excipients, failed pilot-scale scale-up, difficulties in establishing production lines, and high development costsetc.
Transdermal Technology Innovation Alliance (TTIA)Since 2023, through online live streams, offline salons, offline resource matchmaking events, and international study tours, we have been providing colleagues in China’s transdermal industry with global intelligence and networking resources covering the entire value chain and full lifecycle of transdermal drug delivery systems.Help industry stakeholders avoid common pitfalls in the field of transdermal drug delivery systems, anticipate future competitive landscapes, rationally accelerate R&D progress, align with sales resources in advance, and capture more cutting-edge business opportunities.. The China Transdermal Formulation Alliance (TTIA) will also provide in-depth, full-lifecycle services for transdermal formulation products, covering investment, project initiation, R&D, license holding, manufacturing, supply chain localization, sales, and product transfer.
If you are interested in the transdermal field, please feel free to contact us.
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Transdermal Technology Innovation Alliance – European Tour: Ride the Wind and Sail Far
In December last year, the Transdermal Technology Innovation Alliance organized its first “Japan Liaison and Exchange Event”, organized25 executives and mid-to-senior-level managers from Chinese pharmaceutical companies visited Japan to conduct on-site inspections of leading Japanese pharmaceutical firms and engage in in-depth business discussions with Japanese pharmaceutical companies and institutions interested in product licensing or technology transfer., which has gained widespread recognition.
By the end of this year,The Transdermal Technology Innovation Alliance will continue to take you into Europe，Conduct on-site visits to leading European pharmaceutical R&D, excipient, and production equipment manufacturers; engage in in-depth exchanges with renowned European pharmaceutical companies; negotiate collaborations with firms interested in product portfolio transfers; explore the feasibility for Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises to expand into the European market; and facilitate two-way exchange and cooperation between the Chinese and European pharmaceutical industries.。
Should you wish to learn more about the [Transdermal Alliance European Tour] program and collaboration opportunities, please feel free to contact us:
Li Meng 18600921680 (WeChat)