Viscosupplementation Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Single Injection, Three Injection, Five Injection), By End Use (Hospitals, Orthopedic Clinics/ASCs) By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 5.15 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.62%
Fastest Growing Segment	Hospitals
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 8.46 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Viscosupplementation Market will grow from USD 5.15 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.46 Billion by 2031 at a 8.62% CAGR. Viscosupplementation is a medical procedure involving the intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid into synovial joints to restore physiological viscoelasticity and alleviate pain primarily associated with osteoarthritis. The market is largely driven by the rapidly aging global population and a concurrent rise in the prevalence of degenerative joint diseases which necessitates effective non-surgical management options. Additionally, a growing patient preference for minimally invasive therapies that delay the need for orthopedic surgery further supports the demand for these products. According to Versus Arthritis, in 2025, over 20 million people in the United Kingdom were reported to live with a musculoskeletal condition, highlighting the extensive burden of disease propelling this sector.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the restrictive and inconsistent reimbursement landscape for hyaluronic acid injections across various healthcare systems. Regulatory bodies and insurers often scrutinize the clinical efficacy of these treatments relative to their cost, leading to limited insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket expenses that constrain patient access and reduce market penetration.

Key Market Drivers

The strategic shift toward single-injection regimens is fundamentally altering the Global Viscosupplementation Market by addressing the need for patient convenience and clinical efficiency. Healthcare providers are increasingly adopting cross-linked hyaluronic acid formulations that require only one administration, thereby reducing the frequency of clinic visits and minimizing the risk of injection-site complications associated with multi-dose courses. This preference for high-molecular-weight, single-shot therapies is directly correlating with robust segment growth. For instance, according to Bioventus, March 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results', the company achieved double-digit revenue growth in its Pain Treatments vertical, which was primarily driven by the performance of its single-injection Durolane product. Such adoption patterns underscore a broader industry pivot towards treatments that optimize resource utilization within orthopedic practices while enhancing patient adherence to therapy.

Concurrently, the surge in obesity rates is acting as a critical catalyst for market expansion by accelerating the onset of degenerative joint diseases. Excess body mass imposes severe mechanical load on weight-bearing joints, causing rapid cartilage erosion that necessitates non-surgical intervention such as viscosupplementation to delay invasive procedures. According to the World Obesity Federation, March 2025, in the 'World Obesity Atlas 2025', the global number of adults living with obesity is projected to rise to 1.13 billion by 2030. This expanding demographic of patients with lifestyle-induced joint disorders is fueling demand for effective pain management solutions, reflected in the financial performance of key market players. According to Seikagaku Corporation, May 2025, in the 'Consolidated Financial Results for the Fiscal 2024', sales from its Pharmaceutical business segment increased 6.1% year-on-year to 27,513 million Yen.

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Key Market Challenges

The restrictive and inconsistent reimbursement landscape for hyaluronic acid injections constitutes a critical barrier hampering the growth of the Global Viscosupplementation Market. Insurance providers and regulatory authorities frequently scrutinize the clinical efficacy of these intra-articular treatments relative to their costs, often resulting in stringent coverage policies or complete payment denials. This fiscal rigor transfers the financial burden directly to patients, creating substantial out-of-pocket expenses that render the therapy economically inaccessible for many individuals. As a result, the market witnesses reduced adoption rates, as patients unable to afford the procedure are forced to forego treatment despite the clinical necessity.

This economic limitation severely constrains market penetration even amidst rising demand. According to the Arthritis Foundation, in 2024, osteoarthritis affected more than 32.5 million adults in the United States. Although this figure represents a vast patient population requiring non-surgical management, the lack of uniform insurance support prevents the market from effectively capitalizing on this volume. Consequently, the gap between disease prevalence and treatment affordability limits revenue generation and slows the overall expansion of the sector.

Key Market Trends

The proliferation of combination therapies featuring corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid is reshaping the market by offering patients immediate analgesic relief alongside sustained viscoelastic improvement. This trend addresses the delayed onset of action often associated with standalone viscosupplements, thereby enhancing patient satisfaction and compliance through a dual-mechanism approach. Market players are capitalizing on this demand by expanding their international portfolios of these hybrid formulations. For instance, according to Anika Therapeutics, March 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results', the company reported that its Commercial Channel revenue increased by 17% in 2024, a growth trajectory significantly driven by the strong performance of its International OA Pain Management segment which markets the combination product Cingal.

Simultaneously, the industry is witnessing a decisive shift towards non-animal derived, bio-fermented hyaluronic acid sources to mitigate the risks of avian protein allergies and ensure consistent product purity. This transition allows manufacturers to scale production efficiently while adhering to stricter safety profiles required by global regulatory bodies. Leading pharmaceutical companies are heavily directing capital into research to optimize these bio-technological manufacturing processes and expand their portfolios. According to Fidia Farmaceutici, May 2025, in the 'Fidia Farmaceutici: revenues exceed €500 million in 2024' press release, the company invested €29.3 million in R&D during the fiscal year to support its innovation pipeline, including advancements in its proprietary hyaluronic acid technology platform.

Segmental Insights

The Hospitals segment is projected to experience the fastest growth within the Global Viscosupplementation Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the increasing admission of patients with severe osteoarthritis who require the comprehensive, interdisciplinary care unique to hospital environments. Unlike standalone clinics, hospitals are equipped to manage elderly individuals with multiple comorbidities, ensuring a higher safety profile during treatment. Additionally, continuous global investments in healthcare infrastructure are expanding orthopedic departments, enabling hospitals to effectively accommodate the rising volume of complex joint preservation procedures.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific holds a dominant position in the global viscosupplementation market, primarily driven by a rapidly expanding geriatric population and a high prevalence of osteoarthritis. Nations such as China and Japan contribute significantly to this demand as their healthcare systems prioritize minimally invasive orthopedic solutions. The market expansion is further supported by distinct approval processes from regulatory bodies like the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in Japan, which facilitate the introduction of hyaluronic acid products. Additionally, increased healthcare spending and rising patient awareness regarding joint preservation therapies continue to strengthen the regional market presence.

Recent Developments

• In April 2025, KiOmed Pharma and Aptissen signed a global license and supply agreement to commercialize KioMedinevsone, a single-injection treatment for refractory osteoarthritis. Under this strategic alliance, Aptissen was granted exclusive rights to market and distribute the chitosan-based therapeutic in selected international markets, leveraging its established network in orthobiologics. KiOmed Pharma retained responsibility for post-market clinical development to further substantiate the product's evidence base. This collaboration aims to accelerate the global adoption of the carboxymethyl-chitosan technology, which serves as a synovial fluid substitute to improve joint mobility and reduce pain.
• In February 2025, Seikagaku Corporation initiated Phase III clinical studies in Japan for Gel-One, a single-injection cross-linked hyaluronate hydrogel for the treatment of osteoarthritis. While Gel-One was previously approved for knee osteoarthritis in other markets, this new clinical program evaluates its efficacy and safety for both knee and hip osteoarthritis in Japanese patients. The company aims to expand the indication to include the hip joint, addressing a broader patient population with its proprietary cross-linking technology designed to provide extended pain relief through a single intra-articular injection.
• In February 2025, Contura Orthopedics announced the launch of its Canadian subsidiary, Contura Orthopedics (Canada) Ltd., following the regulatory approval of Arthrosamid by Health Canada. This strategic expansion introduced Arthrosamid, a novel non-biodegradable polyacrylamide hydrogel injection, to the North American market for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The product is positioned as a long-acting alternative to traditional hyaluronic acid viscosupplements, offering sustained pain relief by integrating into the synovial tissue to cushion the joint. This launch marked a significant milestone in the company's global commercialization strategy for its injectable osteoarthritis therapy.
• In May 2024, Anika Therapeutics announced the renewal of its exclusive distribution agreement with Pendopharm, a division of Pharmascience Inc., for its osteoarthritis pain management portfolio in Canada. This extended collaboration ensures that Pendopharm will continue to be the sole distributor of Anika’s viscosupplement products, including Cingal, Monovisc, and Orthovisc, in the Canadian market through 2030. The agreement reinforces the long-standing partnership between the two companies, which aims to provide Canadian patients with access to minimally invasive, hyaluronic acid-based therapies for the relief of pain associated with osteoarthritis.

Key Market Players

• Sanofi SA
• Seikagaku Corporation
• Smith & Nephew PLC.
• Lifecore Biomedical, LLC.
• Fidia Farmaceutici S.p.A
• F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
• LG Life Sciences Ltd.
• Ferring Pharmaceutical B.V.
• Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc
• Anika Therapeutics, Inc.

By Product Type	By End Use	By Region
Single Injection Three Injection Five Injection	Hospitals Orthopedic Clinics/ASCs	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Viscosupplementation Market, By Product Type:

• Single Injection
• Three Injection
• Five Injection

• Viscosupplementation Market, By End Use:

• Hospitals
• Orthopedic Clinics/ASCs

• Viscosupplementation 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