Corticosteroids Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Glucocorticoids, Mineralocorticoids), By Route of Administration (Inhaled, Topical, Injectable, Oral), By Application (Skin Allergies, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Acute Respiratory Diseases, Rheumatology Indications, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.24 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.18%
Fastest Growing Segment	Acute Respiratory Diseases
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 8.45 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Corticosteroids Market will grow from USD 6.24 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.45 Billion by 2031 at a 5.18% CAGR. Corticosteroids are a prominent class of steroid hormones and synthetic analogues that mimic the effects of hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, widely utilized in medicine for their potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive capabilities. The primary driver supporting the growth of this market is the escalating global prevalence of chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alongside a rising incidence of autoimmune disorders requiring long-term therapeutic management. According to the Global Initiative for Asthma, in 2024, asthma affected over 260 million people worldwide, highlighting the critical and sustained necessity for effective symptom control. Additionally, the expanding geriatric demographic contributes to market stability, as this population frequently requires intervention for age-related inflammatory ailments.

Despite the robust demand for these therapeutics, the market faces a significant impediment regarding the safety profile associated with prolonged usage. The potential for severe adverse effects, including osteoporosis, hypertension, and hormonal imbalances, often leads to patient non-compliance or prompts healthcare providers to prescribe alternative treatment modalities such as biologics. This safety concern remains a substantial challenge that could restrict market expansion as regulatory bodies and medical professionals continue to exercise caution regarding long-term corticosteroid regimens.

Key Market Drivers

The rising prevalence of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders is significantly propelling the Global Corticosteroids Market. As conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and rheumatoid arthritis become more widespread, the necessity for effective anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive interventions intensifies, directly boosting the demand for corticosteroid therapeutics. This increasing disease burden provides a sustained patient base dependent on these drugs for symptom management and acute exacerbation control. According to the World Health Organization, November 2024, in its 'Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)' fact sheet, COPD caused 3.5 million deaths in 2021, underscoring the massive scale of respiratory conditions requiring steroid intervention. Furthermore, regional data corroborates this extensive reach; according to the American Lung Association, March 2024, in the 'COPD Trends Brief', COPD affects 11.7 million adults in the United States alone, highlighting the critical role of these medications in managing widespread chronic illnesses.

The development of novel formulations and combination therapies is another critical factor driving market expansion. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly investing in advanced drug delivery systems, such as fixed-dose combination inhalers that integrate corticosteroids with long-acting beta-agonists and muscarinic antagonists, to improve patient adherence and clinical efficacy. These technological advancements address compliance challenges associated with complex dosing regimens, thereby enhancing the commercial viability of steroid-based treatments. According to GSK, February 2024, in the 'Annual Report 2023', global sales of Trelegy Ellipta, a single-inhaler triple therapy containing the corticosteroid fluticasone furoate, reached £2.2 billion, reflecting a 27% growth at actual exchange rates. This financial success exemplifies how innovative delivery mechanisms are securing market growth by offering superior convenience and therapeutic outcomes compared to traditional monotherapies.

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Key Market Challenges

The substantial safety concerns associated with prolonged corticosteroid usage present a critical challenge impeding the growth of the Global Corticosteroids Market. While these drugs are clinically effective, their long-term administration is inextricably linked to severe adverse events, including metabolic and skeletal disorders. This risk profile forces healthcare providers to exercise significant restraint in prescribing chronic regimens, thereby reducing the total volume of corticosteroid utilization. The apprehension surrounding these side effects limits market expansion as clinicians increasingly favor non-steroidal alternatives for long-term management.

This impediment is substantiated by recent clinical findings that highlight the magnitude of these risks in key patient populations. According to the European Respiratory Society, in 2024, a study indicated that asthma patients receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy exhibited cumulative incidence rates of approximately 6.2% for type 2 diabetes and 2.6% for osteoporosis. Such data reinforces the urgency within the medical community to minimize steroid exposure, directly hampering market revenue as the industry witnesses a strategic shift toward biologics and other steroid-sparing therapies that offer a more favorable safety profile.

Key Market Trends

The advancement of extended-release injectable therapeutics is reshaping the market, particularly for managing osteoarthritis-related pain where localized, sustained drug delivery is paramount. Pharmaceutical developers are utilizing proprietary microsphere technologies to formulate corticosteroids that provide prolonged analgesic effects while minimizing the systemic spikes associated with immediate-release injections. This innovation addresses the critical need for durable symptom relief in joint preservation, reducing the frequency of intra-articular administrations required for chronic conditions. According to Pacira BioSciences, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Financial Results', net product sales of ZILRETTA, an extended-release triamcinolone acetonide injection, reached $118.1 million in 2024, illustrating the growing commercial adoption of these long-acting formulations.

Simultaneously, there is a strategic shift toward localized and non-systemic administration routes, most notably within the ophthalmic sector, to overcome the compliance burdens of topical drops. Companies are commercializing bioresorbable intracanalicular inserts and implants that deliver consistent steroid dosing directly to the target tissue, thereby ensuring treatment adherence and mitigating ocular surface toxicity. This approach effectively decouples therapeutic efficacy from the patient's ability to self-administer complex regimens following ophthalmic surgeries. According to Ocular Therapeutix, March 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results and Business Highlights', total net revenue driven principally by the sales of DEXTENZA, a dexamethasone ophthalmic insert, rose to $63.7 million in 2024, underscoring the market’s transition toward physician-administered, preservative-free delivery systems.

Segmental Insights

The Acute Respiratory Diseases segment constitutes the fastest-growing category within the Global Corticosteroids Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the rising global prevalence of conditions such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and complications arising from severe viral infections. Agencies such as the World Health Organization have emphasized the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids in managing severe respiratory failure, which has significantly bolstered clinical adoption. Additionally, worsening air quality and urbanization are increasing the frequency of acute breathing disorders, creating a sustained requirement for effective anti-inflammatory treatments in emergency and critical care environments.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global corticosteroids market due to the rising prevalence of chronic respiratory and autoimmune diseases across the United States. This leadership is reinforced by substantial research and development activities conducted by established pharmaceutical entities within the region. Additionally, the market benefits from a structured healthcare framework and consistent product approvals from regulatory authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration. These factors, combined with comprehensive insurance coverage that facilitates patient access to essential treatments, ensure North America remains the primary revenue generator in this sector.

Recent Developments

• In June 2024, ANI Pharmaceuticals entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Alimera Sciences in a transaction valued at approximately $381 million in upfront consideration. This strategic acquisition was designed to expand the company’s rare disease business by adding two commercialized corticosteroid intravitreal implants, Iluvien and Yutiq, to its portfolio. Both products release fluocinolone acetonide to treat conditions such as diabetic macular edema and chronic non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye. The company stated that the deal would leverage its existing commercial infrastructure to accelerate the growth of these durable steroid therapies in the global ophthalmology market.
• In March 2024, Formosa Pharmaceuticals and AimMax Therapeutics received FDA approval for clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05% to treat post-operative inflammation and pain following ocular surgery. This event represented the first entry of a new ophthalmic steroid into the United States market in over 15 years. The approved product utilizes a proprietary nanoparticle formulation platform to deliver a potent corticosteroid via a convenient twice-daily dosing regimen without the need for tapering. Eyenovia, the commercialization partner for the U.S. market, prepared to launch the suspension to address the substantial demand for effective topical steroids in the ophthalmic surgical sector.
• In March 2024, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals executed the commercial launch of Agamree (vamorolone) oral suspension in the United States for patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy aged two years and older. Vamorolone is a dissociative anti-inflammatory drug that functions as a corticosteroid but is structurally distinct, designed to dissociate efficacy from safety concerns such as bone fragility and growth stunting. The company positioned this therapy as a significant advancement in the standard of care, offering a treatment option that maintains the anti-inflammatory benefits of traditional corticosteroids while aiming to mitigate the severe side effects typically associated with long-term steroid use.
• In February 2024, Takeda announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved Eohilia (budesonide oral suspension) for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis in individuals aged 11 years and older. This regulatory decision marked the introduction of the first and only FDA-approved oral therapy specifically indicated for this chronic immune-mediated condition. The product features a novel corticosteroid formulation with thixotropic properties, allowing it to flow freely when shaken and return to a viscous state upon swallowing to coat the esophagus. The company supported the approval with efficacy data from two randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies demonstrating significant histological remission and symptom improvement.

Key Market Players

• AbbVie Inc.
• AstraZeneca plc
• Bayer AG
• Eli Lilly and Company
• F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
• GlaxoSmithKline plc
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Novartis International AG
• Pfizer Inc.
• Sanofi S.A.

By Type	By Route of Administration	By Application	By Region
Glucocorticoids Mineralocorticoids	Inhaled Topical Injectable Oral	Skin Allergies Gastroenterology Endocrinology Acute Respiratory Diseases Rheumatology Indications Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Corticosteroids Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Corticosteroids Market , By Type:

• Glucocorticoids
• Mineralocorticoids

• Corticosteroids Market , By Route of Administration:

• Inhaled
• Topical
• Injectable
• Oral

• Corticosteroids Market , By Application:

• Skin Allergies
• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology
• Acute Respiratory Diseases
• Rheumatology Indications
• Others

• Corticosteroids Market , By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE