Short-Acting Insulin Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Short-Acting Insulin Market is projected to expand from USD 8.16 billion in 2025 to USD 10.49 billion by 2031, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 4.27%. This therapeutic category functions as a vital prandial hormone replacement, designed to regulate blood glucose levels by mimicking the body's natural insulin release immediately following food ingestion. The primary catalyst for this growth is the escalating global incidence of diabetes mellitus alongside rising obesity rates, both of which necessitate effective glycemic control to prevent severe health complications. According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 589 million adults aged 20 to 79 were living with diabetes worldwide in 2024, creating an urgent and sustained demand for reliable therapeutic interventions across an expanding patient demographic.

However, market expansion is significantly impeded by the high costs associated with insulin manufacturing and the stringent regulatory requirements necessary for product approval. These economic and legislative hurdles often create disparities in access and affordability, particularly within low-to-middle-income regions where healthcare resources are limited. Such challenges effectively restrict the widespread adoption of these critical treatments and negatively impact patient adherence rates in key growth markets, preventing the sector from fully capitalizing on the rising global need for diabetes management solutions.

Market Drivers

The introduction and adoption of cost-effective biosimilar insulins act as a transformative driver for the Global Short-Acting Insulin Market, particularly as patents for originator biologics expire. This transition fosters intense price competition and broadens patient access in both developed nations and price-sensitive emerging economies, alleviating financial pressure on healthcare systems while accelerating volume uptake among populations previously constrained by cost barriers. The success of this shift is highlighted by Biocon Biologics, which reported a 19% year-over-year revenue increase in its biosimilars portfolio, including key insulin assets, in its October 2024 earnings update, underscoring the rapid market penetration and commercial viability of these affordable therapeutic alternatives.

Concurrently, advancements in insulin delivery devices and technology are further propelling market growth by enhancing the precision and convenience of administration. The integration of smart insulin pens and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems improves patient adherence and glycemic outcomes, thereby securing consistent demand for compatible fast-acting insulin formulations. The impact of this technological synergy is evident in Insulet Corporation’s November 2024 financial results, where revenue surged by 25.7% to $543.9 million driven largely by tubeless pump adoption. Additionally, Novo Nordisk reported a 10% growth in insulin product sales during the first nine months of 2024, reflecting sustained global usage of these essential therapeutics.

Market Challenges

A substantial restraint on the global short-acting insulin market is the prohibitive cost of manufacturing combined with stringent regulatory requirements. Developing insulin products involves complex, capital-intensive biological processes that must strictly adhere to safety protocols and quality standards established by international health authorities. These rigorous compliance obligations necessitate significant investment in specialized facilities and technical expertise, creating a high production price floor that prevents manufacturers from aggressively lowering costs to capture volume in price-sensitive developing regions without compromising their financial sustainability.

Consequently, these economic and legislative barriers directly limit patient access and restrict the market’s revenue potential in critical growth territories. High retail prices often exceed the financial capabilities of individuals and healthcare systems in low-to-middle-income countries, leading to suboptimal treatment uptake. According to the World Health Organization, more than 50% of people living with diabetes worldwide were not receiving treatment in 2024, a significant gap largely attributed to the lack of access to affordable insulin and essential care in lower-income settings. This widespread affordability crisis reduces patient adherence and prevents the market from fully serving the expanding global patient population.

Market Trends

Advancements in inhalable short-acting insulin solutions are driving a significant market shift by offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional prandial injections. This trend focuses on enhancing patient quality of life and compliance through pulmonary delivery systems that utilize specialized particle engineering to provide ultra-rapid absorption kinetics comparable to physiological insulin secretion. The commercial appeal of such innovative formulations is reflected in MannKind Corporation’s November 2024 financial results, which reported a 12% year-over-year revenue increase for its flagship product, Afrezza, reaching $15 million and signaling a persistent demand for needle-free therapeutic options among the diabetes community.

Simultaneously, the transition toward ultra-rapid acting insulin analogs represents a critical evolution in glycemic management, aiming to close the time lag between administration and the onset of action found in standard rapid-acting products. By reformulating existing molecules with novel excipients to accelerate absorption, pharmaceutical developers allow patients to administer dosage closer to mealtime for improved postprandial glucose control. This product class continues to maintain a strong footprint in global portfolios, as evidenced by Novo Nordisk’s report of 394 million Danish kroner in sales for its ultra-rapid formulation Fiasp during the third quarter of 2024, underscoring the sustained relevance of pharmacokinetically optimized insulins in modern treatment algorithms.

Key Players Profiled in the Short-Acting Insulin Market

• Novo Nordisk AS
• Sanofi SA
• Eli Lilly & Co
• Biocon Ltd.
• Wockhardt Ltd.
• Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
• Julphar Pharma Inc.
• United Laboratories International Holdings Limited
• Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Report Scope

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

Short-Acting Insulin Market, by Drugs:

• Apidra
• Novolog
• Humalog
• Novolin
• Others

Short-Acting Insulin Market, by Application:

• Type 1 Diabetes
• Type 2 Diabetes

Short-Acting 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 Short-Acting 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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