Pharmaceutical Gelatins Market 2024 – Market Size & Segments Analysis, Industry Trends, Manufacturers Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast 2034

Gelatin is a natural, water-soluble protein that is transparent and colorless. It is obtained through the controlled and partial hydrolysis of collagen from animal skin, bone, and tissue. The collagen itself is a fibrous protein that is composed of three intertwined polypeptide chains. When used in capsules, gelatin provides an effective means of protecting the filling from light, atmospheric oxygen, contamination and microbial growth. Gelatin also meets the viscosity requirements for capsule production. Gelatin also has an excellent absorption capacity, making it perfectly suitable for medical applications such as ostomy patches, hemostatic sponges, wound healing products, etc.   

MARKET OVERVIEW

The market valuation of pharmaceutical gelatins market was valued at approximately USD 1.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2.2 billion in 2034 exhibiting a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period of 2024-2034. Pharmaceutical gelatin helps protect sensitive ingredients from oxygen, light, microbial growth and other forms of contamination. The market is aligned with the healthcare sector, which makes it a sustainable and growing market. 

GROWTH DRIVERS

The capsule dosage forms include hard and soft gel, the capsules are widely preferred due to their ease of administration and patient compliance. For instance, in 2021, the Massachusetts Institute of Technologies, the collaboration with scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Novo Nordisk, is working on an alternative delivery strategy that could make it much easier for patients to benefit from monoclonal antibodies and other drugs that usually have to be injected.

They envision that patients could simply swallow a capsule that carries the drug and then injects it directly into the lining of the stomach.  the researchers demonstrated that their capsules could be used to deliver not only monoclonal antibodies but also other large protein drugs such as insulin, in pigs. The rise in geriatric population is one of the significant drivers of the market as this population is more incident to diseases which drives the need and rise in medicine consumption, driving the market towards growth. 

According to WHO, in 2019, the number of people aged 60 years and older was 1 billion. This number will increase to 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2050. Moreover, the UN also states that the proportion of people aged 65 years and above is increasing at a faster rate than those below that age. This means that the percentage of the global population aged 65 and above is expected to rise from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050. The growth in nutraceutical and dietary supplement market, contributing towards market growth. It is because pharmaceutical gelatins are used in their products for encapsulation and stabilization of vitamins minerals and other supplements.

According to The Hindu, the market for nutraceuticals is expected to double in 5 years in India as a growing number of people are seen adopting these products to boost immunity. Currently, the market size is about USD 7 billion including both domestic & exports and is expected to grow by 16 to 18% year on year. The market size will double in 5 to 6 years at this growth rate, by President of Association of Herbal and Nutraceutical Manufacturers of India (AHNMI) and Chairman of Omniactive Health Technologies.

MARKET SEGMENTATION:

·         By Source Type- Type A (bovine skin, bovine bone, porcine, poultry, marine), Type B and plant-based

·         By Application- Capsules (hard capsules and soft gels), tablets, encapsulation, emulsion, stabilizing and others

·         By Distribution Channel- Direct Sales, Distributors, Online Sales

·         By End-Users- pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, CROs and research and academic institutions

·         By Region- North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America

Pharmaceutical Gelatins Market Segment By Source Type Review:

Bovine skin and bone gelatin is derived from cows, buffalo, and oxen's skin, bones, and connective tissue. Bovine Gelatin is a protein-based gelling agent. It is produced by partial hydrolysis of collagen, a protein material extracted from animal tissue such as skin and bone. The gelatin molecule is made up of amino acids joined together by amide linkages in a long molecular chain. Porcine gelatine comes from collagen in pigs that are manufactured under strict hygiene and safety regulations.

The obtained gelatin from the poultry by-products such as skins, mechanically deboned residue and feet are known as poultry gelatins. They have high gel strength and relatively equal gelling and melting points to mammalian gelatins, which nominates it as a replacement for mammalian consumption in the industry. The marine gelatin is derived from fish skins and bones, known for their low melting point as compared to bovine and porcine gelatin. The type B gelatin is produced through an alkaline treatment process. It is derived from animal parts that have been treated with an alkaline solution to digest collagen. The plant-based gelatins are derived from various plant sources including agar-agar, carrageenan and others and are used as a substitute for animal derived gelatin.

Pharmaceutical Gelatins Market Segment By Application Review:

The pharmaceutical gelatin is widely used in various applications, including the production of capsules. They are used in hard capsules, primarily used for encapsulating powders and granules, while soft capsules are used for liquid and semi solid formulations. In the tablet formation it is used as a binder and coating agent. It improves the tablet's appearance, stability and taste while providing a protective layer that enhances the shelf life. In the encapsulation process, gelatin is used to encapsulate bioactive ingredients like vitamins, probiotics and other sensitive components in order to protect them from environmental factors including light, oxygen and moisture.

The gelatin is employed in emulsions to stabilize oil in water mixtures, ensuring the uniform distribution of ingredients. As it has amphiphilic nature which allows it to reduce the surface tension among oil and water phases which further prevents separation and improves the stability. It also acts as a stabilizer in various pharmaceutical formulations, helping to maintain the integrity and efficacy of the product through its shelf life.

Pharmaceutical Gelatins Market Segment By Distribution Channel Review:

The directs sales manufacturer selling pharmaceutical gelatins directly to the end users without intermediaries, this approach often includes customized solutions tailored to specific customer needs. The direct interaction with customers allows manufacturers to understand specific requirements and provide tailored solutions. The distributor acts as a middleman between manufacturers and end users, handling the sales and marketing of pharmaceutical gelatin. They typically operate in specific geographic regions or industrial sectors.

The distributors extend the market reach for manufacturers, allowing them to tap into new regions and customer segments. They have a deep understanding of local markets, regulations, and customer preferences, enabling effective sales strategies. The online sales involves the marketing and the sale of pharmaceutical gelatins through digital platforms. This channel leverages e-commerce websites, online marketplaces, and company websites to reach a broader audience. It allows customers easy access to information, specification, pricing and others facilitating informed purchasing decisions.

Pharmaceutical Gelatins Market Segment By End-Users Review:

The pharmaceutical companies are the largest end users of pharmaceutical gelatin, as they utilize it extensively in the production of capsules, tablets and other drug delivery systems. The biotechnology companies uses pharmaceutical gelatin primarily in the development and production of biologics, vaccines, and advanced drug delivery systems.

The contract research organizations uses it in various stages of drug development including from preclinical studies to clinical trials. The research and academic institutions employ pharmaceutical gelatin in experimental studies, formulation research, and educational works purposes. They explore new pharmaceutical formulations, study drug release mechanisms, and develop novel drug delivery systems.

Pharmaceutical Gelatins Market Regional Analysis:

North America is a significant market driven by factors like a well-established and robust healthcare sector with numerous key players of the market, supporting large scale production and consumption of pharmaceuticals. Moreover, the region has stringent regulatory requirements enforced by FDA, facilitating the use of safe and good product quality.

Europe is a valuable market driven by strict quality standards like the European Medicines Agency that enforces rigorous quality standards, driving the market adoption and growth of reliable excipients. Asia Pacific is a rapidly growing market driven by rapid industrialization and manufacturing growth, fueling the demand of the market. The Middle East and Africa market is expected to grow driven by the investments in infrastructure including healthcare infrastructure. South America is a growing market driven by the growing pharmaceutical industry and investments in healthcare.

Key Challenges:

Gelatin is a highly purified animal protein of pig, cow, and fish origins and is extensively used in food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. However, the acceptability of gelatin products greatly depends on the animal sources of the gelatin. Porcine and bovine gelatins have attractive features but limited acceptance because of religious prohibitions and potential zoonotic threats, whereas fish gelatin is welcomed in all religions and cultures. Thus, source authentication is a must for gelatin products but it is greatly challenging due to the breakdown of both protein and DNA biomarkers in processed gelatins. Moreover, some concern about contamination from sick animals may hinder the market growth.

Competitive Landscape:

In the highly competitive Pharmaceutical Gelatins Market, companies are investing heavily in research and development to innovate and improve their products and services. They are also collaborating, forming strategic partnerships, or acquiring other companies to gain access to new market segments, enhance distribution networks, and increase market share. The news and development include – in March 2021, CapsCanada, a company in capsule technology, introduced a new service for the production of liquid-filled hard capsules.

The goal of CapsCanada was to support the complete manufacturing process, from product discovery and formulation to full-scale production. In May 2021, GelDAT was launched by Darling Ingredients' Rousselot Brand. It launched X-Pure-GelDAT as an alternative for GelTYR-Gelatin Tyramine by considering the limitations, irreproducibility, and lack of a scalable production process of GelTYR. In May 2022, Lonza expanded its Capsugel offering with a titanium dioxide-free (TiO2-free) white hard gelatin capsule, fulfilling the demand of the food industry to meet requirements for foods in the European Union. In January 2022, Procaps Group acquired an 86,000 sq. ft. pharmaceutical production facility located in West Palm Beach, Florida, with a production capacity of approximately 1.8 billion capsules per year for its iCDMO (integrated contract and manufacturing organization) business unit to increase Procaps Group's product development capabilities by more than 70%.

Global Key Players:

·         Darling Ingredients

·         Nitta Gelatin

·         Tessenderlo Group

·         Gelita AG

·         Weishardt

·         Catalent

·         Aspire Pharmaceuticals

·         Sterling Gelatin

·         Trobas Pharmaceutical gelatine B.V.

·         Gelco International

·         Other Players