Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disease that affects the large intestine. People with this disease experience cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea or constipation, or alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. Unlike inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, IBS does not cause changes in bowel tissue, and sufferers are not at increased risk of contracting colon cancer.
Currently, a precise cause for this disease is not known, but it may be due to be a faulty interaction between the brain, the nervous system, and the gut. An overactive immune system may also be to blame in those sufferers who have increased numbers of immune-system cells in their intestines or those whose IBS developed after a severe bout of gastroenteritis brought on by a bacterial infection or virus.
Globally, 10-15% of the population has this disease, most under the age of 50. Symptoms of IBS can be triggered by stress and certain foods such as wheat, dairy products, cruciferous vegetables, and carbonated drinks. More women than men have IBS; in the United States, 2 out of 3 patients are women. Many women with this disease report worsening of symptoms around the time of their menstrual periods, indicating that hormonal changes may also be a trigger in some people.
In the United States, 25-45 million people suffer from IBS. Because signs and symptoms can indicate many different conditions, doctors have trouble diagnosing this disease. According to a survey by IFFGD,1 a diagnosis of IBS typically takes more than 6 years after the onset of symptoms. Globally, 40% of patients have mild IBS, 35% a moderate form of the disease, and 25% a severe form. While IBS can affect a person’s emotional, physical, social and financial well-being no matter how mild or severe the symptoms, most patients taking prescription medication for their symptoms have moderate to severe IBS.
Today’s market size shows the worldwide irritable bowel syndrome treatment revenues for 2018 and projected for 2026. Growth in the market is expected over this time period due to a growing prevalence of the disease, especially IBS-C,2 and doctors increasingly prescribing medications to treat it. Several new drugs to treat this disease, currently in clinical trials, are expected to come to market in the coming years. Pharmaceutical companies are also expanding their product offerings in several regions of the world. In January 2019, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca received approval to market Linzess, a treatment for IBS-C, in China, enabling them to sell their product to potentially tens of millions of more patients. In addition to Linzess, other leading brand-name treatments include Xifaxan, Viberzi, and Amitiza.3 Linzess/Constella4 generated the largest revenue in 2018. Some major manufacturers of IBS treatments include Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Allergan; Astellas Pharma, Inc.; Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. AstraZeneca; and Sebela Pharmaceuticals Inc.
1 International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders2 Constipation-predominant IBS
3 Xifaxan and Viberzi treat IBS-D, diarrhea-predominant IBS. Amitiza treats IBS-C.
4 Linzess is marketed as Constella in Europe.
Geographic reference: World
Year: 2018 and 2026
Market size: $1.5 billion and $3.4 billion, respectively
Sources: “Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment Market Size, Share & Analysis Report by Type (IBS-C, IBS-D), by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2019-2026,” Grand View Research Report Summary, July 2019 available online here; “Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment Market Size Worth Around US$ 3.4 Bn by 2026,”Acumen Research and Consulting Press Release, July 16, 2019 available online here; and “Irritable Bowel Syndrome,” Mayo Clinic, March 17, 2018 available online here.
Image source: newsong, “pill-medicine-capsule-illness-pain-3264951,” Pixabay, March 27, 2018 available online here.