Non-Injectable Insulin Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Non-Injectable Insulin Market is projected to expand from USD 3.69 Billion in 2025 to USD 6.46 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 9.78%. This market sector focuses on alternative administration routes, including pulmonary inhalation and oral formulations, aimed at delivering insulin without invasive needles. The core catalyst for this growth is the increasing global prevalence of diabetes alongside the urgent necessity to enhance patient adherence among those experiencing needle phobia or injection fatigue. Data from the International Diabetes Federation indicates that approximately 589 million adults worldwide were living with diabetes in 2025, a vast patient population that drives significant demand for convenient therapeutic alternatives capable of overcoming the physical and psychological hurdles of traditional subcutaneous delivery.

Despite the evident benefits for patient quality of life, the market confronts a major obstacle regarding the reduced bioavailability of non-injectable forms compared to standard injectables. This physiological constraint typically requires higher dosage amounts to attain equivalent therapeutic results, which significantly elevates manufacturing expenses and the ultimate cost to the patient. Consequently, strict reimbursement frameworks and the substantial economic burden associated with these treatments serve as primary barriers that could hinder widespread clinical uptake and restrict market growth in regions sensitive to cost.

Market Drivers

The primary factor driving the non-injectable insulin industry is the rising global incidence of diabetes mellitus, which intensifies the need to improve patient compliance among those burdened by the psychological and physical aspects of daily injections. This increasing disease prevalence demands scalable, user-friendly therapies that alleviate needle phobia. Projections from the International Diabetes Federation's 'IDF Diabetes Atlas 11th Edition' in 2025 estimate that the adult diabetic population will rise to roughly 853 million by 2050, emphasizing the critical need for alternative delivery systems. The magnitude of this demand is reflected in major pharmaceutical operations; for example, Novo Nordisk reported serving over 45.2 million individuals with serious chronic diseases in 2024, illustrating the massive scale of the patient base awaiting less invasive treatment methods.

Concurrently, the sector is being advanced by increased investment in research and development for alternative insulin formulations. Pharmaceutical companies are aggressively funding innovations in inhaled and oral delivery systems to surmount historical bioavailability issues and enhance therapeutic effectiveness. These financial commitments are essential for moving new technologies from clinical trials to commercial reality. A notable example occurred in February 2025, when Oramed Pharmaceuticals announced a strategic joint venture with a combined capital contribution of $75 million to expedite the development and commercialization of its oral insulin platform. Such significant capital injections confirm the industry's dedication to non-invasive solutions and are projected to fuel the next phase of market expansion by making pain-free insulin administration achievable.

Market Challenges

The principal impediment to the growth of the Global Non-Injectable Insulin Market is the physiological issue of lower bioavailability in pulmonary and oral formulations relative to standard injectables. Since these alternative delivery methods face difficulties in efficiently permeating biological barriers, manufacturers are required to formulate drugs with considerably larger amounts of active insulin to guarantee the patient receives the requisite therapeutic dose. This necessity for increased active pharmaceutical ingredients directly raises production costs, leading to a significantly higher end-price that restricts accessibility for both insurers and patients.

This price disparity creates a major obstacle in regions where healthcare budgets are already under severe strain. Rigid reimbursement policies frequently prioritize lower-cost traditional injectables, leaving costlier non-injectable options without sufficient coverage. The scale of this economic pressure is highlighted by recent statistics on the financial impact of the disease; according to the International Diabetes Federation, global health expenditure due to diabetes reached at least 1 trillion US dollars in 2025. Given these massive existing costs, payers remain hesitant to adopt premium-priced therapies, thereby limiting widespread clinical acceptance and impeding market growth in cost-sensitive areas.

Market Trends

The market is being reshaped by a focus on Ultra-Rapid Acting Inhaled Insulin, which prioritizes formulations that replicate the physiological insulin spike of a healthy pancreas more precisely than traditional subcutaneous injections. This trend emphasizes optimizing the aerodynamic particle size of dry powder formulations to guarantee deep lung deposition and rapid systemic absorption, thereby mitigating the risk of post-prandial hyperglycemia. Manufacturers are effectively converting this pharmacokinetic benefit into commercial success, confirming the demand for rapid-onset non-invasive alternatives. For instance, MannKind Corporation reported in its 'Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results' in November 2024 that Afrezza net revenue rose to $15.0 million, indicating a clear growth trajectory for inhaled therapeutics fueled by rising patient demand and better gross-to-net adjustments.

Concurrently, innovation in Buccal and Sublingual Insulin Sprays is gathering speed as researchers utilize novel peptide carriers to traverse the mucosal barrier without the degradation problems associated with gastrointestinal delivery. This trend focuses on creating liquid formulations administered under the tongue, where high vascularization permits direct entry into the bloodstream, bypassing the hepatic first-pass metabolism that frequently neutralizes oral medications. This technological advancement is directly meeting the needs of substantial national patient populations looking for pain-free options. As noted by the University of British Columbia in the June 2024 article 'UBC-developed oral insulin drops offer relief for diabetes patients,' these new sublingual drops are specifically designed to assist the 11.7 million Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, underscoring the vast regional market potential for such mucosal delivery innovations.

Key Players Profiled in the Non-Injectable Insulin Market

• Midatech Pharma PLC
• Shreya Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
• Boston Therapeutics, Inc.
• Coromed, Inc.
• Diabetology Ltd.
• Emisphere Technologies, Inc.
• Oramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Diasome Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Generex Biotechnology Corp.
• Biodel, Inc.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Non-Injectable Insulin Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Non-Injectable Insulin Market, by Product:

• Pills
• Sprays
• and Others

Non-Injectable Insulin Market, by Distribution Channel:

• Hospital Pharmacies
• and Online Pharmacies
• Drug Stores

Non-Injectable Insulin Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Non-Injectable Insulin Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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