Short Bowel Syndrome Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Drug Class ( GLP-2, Glutamine, and Growth Hormone), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Online Sales, and Retail Pharmacies), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 854.02 MIllion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.73%
Fastest Growing Segment	Online Sales
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 1262.37 MIllion

Market Overview

The Global Short Bowel Syndrome Market will grow from USD 854.02 MIllion in 2025 to USD 1262.37 MIllion by 2031 at a 6.73% CAGR. The Global Short Bowel Syndrome Market consists of pharmaceuticals and therapeutic biologics, such as glucagon-like peptide-2 analogs and growth hormones, designed to enhance intestinal adaptation and nutrient absorption in patients who have undergone extensive small bowel resection. The primary driver supporting market growth is the increasing prevalence of severe gastrointestinal disorders like Crohn’s disease and mesenteric ischemia which necessitate surgical interventions and subsequent chronic management. Additionally, the development of targeted therapies that reduce patient dependency on parenteral nutrition is actively bolstering demand by offering improved clinical outcomes and quality of life.

According to the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, in 2024, the estimated global prevalence of diagnosed short bowel syndrome-associated intestinal failure ranged from 0.12 to 2.74 per 100,000 adults. However, a significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the prohibitive cost associated with long-term therapy and advanced pharmacological treatments. This financial burden creates substantial reimbursement hurdles and restricts access for patients in developing healthcare infrastructures, effectively limiting the reach of novel medical solutions.

Key Market Drivers

Commercialization and Adoption of Novel GLP-2 Analog Therapies is fundamentally reshaping the Global Short Bowel Syndrome Market by reducing patient reliance on life-long parenteral nutrition. These advanced biologic treatments mimic natural gut hormones to promote intestinal adaptation, thereby significantly decreasing the volume and frequency of intravenous fluids required for survival. The rapid market uptake of these therapies underscores the urgent clinical demand for solutions that mitigate the complications associated with chronic catheter use. This commercial momentum is evident in the performance of established market leaders; according to Takeda, May 2024, in the 'FY2023 Full Year Results' report, sales for its flagship short bowel syndrome therapy, Gattex/Revestive, reached $796 million for the fiscal year 2023, driven by expanded patient access and high adherence rates.

Robust Clinical Pipeline of Next-Generation Therapeutics is simultaneously propelling the market forward by introducing long-acting formulations that promise to alleviate the burden of daily injections. Pharmaceutical developers are prioritizing the creation of once-weekly dosing regimens, which are anticipated to improve patient compliance and quality of life compared to current standards of care. For instance, according to Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, February 2024, in the 'Positive Topline Results from Global Phase III Trial' press release, the investigational drug apraglutide demonstrated a 25.5 percent relative reduction in weekly parenteral support volume. These innovations are strategically aimed at a niche but high-value patient population; according to Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, in 2024, Short Bowel Syndrome with Intestinal Failure affects an estimated 18,000 adult patients across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, creating a focused opportunity for these emerging therapeutic breakthroughs.

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Key Market Challenges

The prohibitive cost associated with long-term therapy and advanced pharmacological treatments stands as a substantial barrier impeding the growth of the Global Short Bowel Syndrome Market. High price points for specialized biologics and chronic parenteral nutrition create significant friction in payer adoption, often resulting in strict reimbursement criteria and frequent claim denials. This financial toxicity forces healthcare providers to limit the prescription of novel therapies to only the most severe or refractory cases, effectively stifling the volume of product uptake. Consequently, the market struggles to penetrate regions with developing healthcare infrastructures where public funding is insufficient to sustain such premium, lifelong treatments.

The economic burden placed on patients and insurers directly correlates with restricted market expansion. According to the PAN Foundation, in 2024, the financial assistance program for Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) offered an initial grant amount of $18,200 to eligible patients, highlighting the severe out-of-pocket costs that persist even for insured individuals. This magnitude of financial liability discourages patient adherence and limits the commercial reach of innovative medical solutions, thereby curbing revenue potential across the sector.

Key Market Trends

Expansion of Home-Based Parenteral Nutrition Services is prioritizing the transition of long-term care from clinical settings to residential environments, driven by the dual goals of improving patient quality of life and reducing hospital-associated costs. This trend effectively decentralizes the management of chronic intestinal failure, allowing patients to maintain daily routines while receiving essential nutritional support. However, the sustainability of this model is increasingly threatened by escalating operational expenses and supply chain instabilities that complicate service delivery. According to the National Home Infusion Association, August 2025, in the 'Ensuring Sustainable Access to Home Parenteral Nutrition' white paper, the cost to prepare home parenteral nutrition formulations increased by a compounded 75.4 percent from 2016 to 2024, creating significant economic pressure on providers attempting to scale these critical home-care services.

Strategic Focus on Pediatric Label Expansions is simultaneously emerging as a decisive growth catalyst, as pharmaceutical companies actively widen their clinical targets to address the underserved pediatric population. By securing regulatory approvals for children, manufacturers are establishing early intervention protocols that aim to mitigate the long-term developmental impacts of short bowel syndrome, distinguishing their commercial strategies from a purely adult-centric approach. This shift towards younger demographics is yielding tangible financial results and broader market penetration for established therapies. According to PharmaLive, October 2025, in the 'Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. 2025: Going Global' article, sales for the short bowel syndrome therapy Gattex/Revestive rose 22.6 percent to reach $966 million for the fiscal year 2024, a growth trajectory explicitly attributed to increased demand resulting from pediatric indication label expansions.

Segmental Insights

The Online Sales segment represents the fastest-growing distribution category within the Global Short Bowel Syndrome Market. This rapid expansion is driven by the increasing patient preference for home-based care and the convenience offered by accredited e-pharmacies for chronic disease management. Individuals requiring ongoing parenteral support and specialty medications utilize these digital platforms to ensure consistent supply without frequent hospital visits. Additionally, the adherence of online vendors to safety guidelines established by regulatory bodies like the US Food and Drug Administration ensures the secure and verified dispensing of these complex therapeutics.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading share in the global Short Bowel Syndrome market, driven primarily by the high prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders and advanced healthcare facilities. The region’s dominance is supported by the presence of major pharmaceutical firms investing heavily in therapeutic product development. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a crucial role by offering expedited pathways for orphan drug approvals, which encourages innovation. Comprehensive reimbursement structures further enhance patient access to expensive long-term treatments, ensuring sustained market expansion throughout the United States and Canada.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, Zealand Pharma received a Complete Response Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding its New Drug Application for glepaglutide, a treatment for short bowel syndrome. The regulatory agency concluded that the application did not provide sufficient evidence to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed commercial dose and recommended an additional clinical trial. Despite this setback, the company expressed continued confidence in the potential of glepaglutide as a long-acting GLP-2 analog and committed to engaging with regulators to define a path forward. This development represents a significant delay in the potential commercialization of the therapy in the United States.
• In December 2024, Hanmi Pharmaceutical confirmed that the World Health Organization had officially designated the international nonproprietary name "sonefpeglutide" for its novel drug candidate HM15912. This investigational long-acting GLP-2 analog is currently being evaluated in a global Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with short bowel syndrome. The company noted that the standardized name reflects its proprietary platform technology designed to extend the half-life of peptide therapeutics. This regulatory designation marks a key step in the development process as the company advances the monthly injectable therapy with the aim of reducing the frequency of administration for patients dependent on nutritional support.
• In May 2024, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, in collaboration with the healthcare community Inspire, presented novel research findings at Digestive Disease Week 2024 regarding the burden of short bowel syndrome. The joint study utilized a mixed-methods approach to assess the real-world experiences of patients and their caregivers, revealing the profound physical, social, and emotional challenges associated with the condition. The research underscored the significant impact of parenteral nutrition dependency on daily life, including employment and travel. This collaboration provided critical insights aimed at developing more effective, patient-centered support systems and interventions for the global short bowel syndrome community.
• In March 2024, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals announced positive topline results from its pivotal Phase III STARS clinical trial evaluating apraglutide in adults with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure. The study successfully met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that patients treated with the once-weekly subcutaneous injection achieved a statistically significant reduction in weekly parenteral support volume compared to those receiving a placebo. The company highlighted that the drug was generally well-tolerated and showed consistency across key secondary endpoints. Based on these breakthrough data, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals declared its intention to submit a new drug application to regulatory authorities to bring this once-weekly GLP-2 analog to market.

Key Market Players

• Dentsply Sirona Inc.
• Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Novartis AG
• OPKO Health, Inc.
• OxThera AB
• Pfizer Inc.
• Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB
• Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

By Drug Class	By Distribution Channel	By Region
GLP-2 Glutamine and Growth Hormone	Hospital Pharmacies Online Sales and Retail Pharmacies	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Short Bowel Syndrome Market, By Drug Class:

• GLP-2
• Glutamine
• and Growth Hormone

• Short Bowel Syndrome Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Hospital Pharmacies
• Online Sales
• and Retail Pharmacies

• Short Bowel Syndrome 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