Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) Market is projected to expand from USD 6.08 billion in 2025 to USD 8.31 billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 5.32%. This sector encompasses a spectrum of chronic inflammatory rheumatic conditions, including ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic variants, which primarily impact the spine and sacroiliac joints. The growth of this market is largely fueled by the rising prevalence of autoimmune disorders and the increasing clinical adoption of advanced biologic therapies, particularly interleukin inhibitors. Additionally, the regulatory approval of affordable biosimilars and the implementation of enhanced screening initiatives are improving patient access to essential treatments, thereby fundamentally supporting the industry's upward trajectory.

Despite these advancements, the market faces a significant hurdle due to substantial delays in clinical identification, which hinder timely therapeutic intervention. This diagnostic inefficiency limits the accessible patient population and complicates long-term disease management efforts. In 2024, the Axial Spondyloarthritis International Federation reported that patients worldwide experienced an average delay of 7.4 years between the onset of symptoms and receiving a formal diagnosis. Such prolonged latency periods remain a critical barrier to achieving optimal patient outcomes and restrict the market from realizing its full penetration potential.

Market Drivers

The commercialization of novel IL-17 and JAK inhibitor therapies is fundamentally reshaping the treatment landscape for axial spondyloarthritis by providing targeted efficacy for patients who are resistant to traditional TNF inhibitors. These advanced pharmacotherapies are rapidly gaining market share due to their ability to treat both radiographic and non-radiographic variants of the disease, effectively widening the eligible patient pool. Their adoption is further driven by a proven capability to reduce inflammation and prevent structural spinal damage; for instance, Novartis reported in its "Q3 2024 Financial Results" in October 2024 that global sales for the IL-17 inhibitor Cosentyx reached USD 1.7 billion for the quarter. Furthermore, the sector is seeing a shift toward oral JAK inhibitors, which offer administration convenience over injectables, with AbbVie’s "Third-Quarter 2024 Financial Results" noting that global net revenues for Rinvoq hit USD 1.61 billion, underscoring the high value placed on these innovative mechanisms.

Market expansion is also being propelled by a robust clinical pipeline of next-generation biologics, including dual-cytokine inhibitors and nanobodies aimed at achieving deeper remission rates. This continuous influx of new candidates creates a competitive environment that improves treatment accessibility and stimulates growth through differentiated mechanisms of action. Notably, the emergence of dual IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitors has shown promise in clinical trials for delivering superior skin and joint clearance compared to earlier standards. Highlighting this rapid uptake, UCB’s "Half-Year Report 2024" in July 2024 revealed that net sales for the recently launched biologic Bimzelx reached EUR 215 million in the first six months, demonstrating the vitality of a pipeline that ensures long-term market resilience.

Market Challenges

The significant latency in clinical diagnosis acts as a primary bottleneck that restricts the commercial expansion of the global axSpA market. This diagnostic inefficiency effectively isolates a large portion of the eligible patient population within primary care or non-rheumatological settings, where advanced biologic therapies are typically neither prescribed nor reimbursed. Consequently, pharmaceutical manufacturers encounter a considerably reduced addressable market, as patients remain untreated or are managed with non-specific interventions for extended periods. The revenue potential of high-value therapeutics is directly curtailed because these individuals enter the specialized rheumatology channel much later than optimal, often missing the window for effective early intervention strategies.

This fragmented referral pathway significantly hampers market penetration rates by creating a disconnect between the high prevalence of the disease and actual therapeutic adoption. According to the Spondylitis Association of America, in 2024, one in four patients consulted five or more healthcare professionals in search of a diagnosis. Such convoluted clinical journeys dilute the efficiency of screening initiatives and delay the initiation of biologic treatments. Until this referral gap is successfully bridged, the market will struggle to capitalize on the true prevalence of the disease, leaving a significant amount of commercial value unrealized.

Market Trends

The integration of AI-enhanced MRI for early disease detection is developing into a critical trend within the Global Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) Market. Algorithms are now being utilized to analyze scans and automate the identification of inflammatory markers that are frequently missed during standard reviews, thereby countering diagnostic latency. A study by UCB Pharma in October 2024, titled "Performance analysis of a deep-learning algorithm," reported that a novel AI model for detecting sacroiliac joint inflammation achieved a 74% absolute agreement rate with expert readers. These innovations are pivotal for providing standardized tools to distinguish axSpA from mechanical back pain and for accelerating the timeline for therapeutic intervention.

Concurrently, the rising market penetration of biosimilar TNF inhibitors is restructuring competitive dynamics across the sector. Healthcare systems are increasingly incentivizing these cost-efficient alternatives to legacy biologics, which is effectively expanding treatment accessibility. This shift is highlighted by the erosion of market exclusivity for adalimumab, where formulary changes are driving volume transitions away from reference products. As noted by Samsung Bioepis in their "Fourth Quarter 2024 US Biosimilar Market Report" from October 2024, the market share for adalimumab biosimilars in the United States grew from 2% in early 2024 to 22% by August 2024. This trend forces originator manufacturers to compete on price while simultaneously opening fiscal space for newer therapeutic mechanisms.

Key Players Profiled in the Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) Market

• UCB S.A.
• Pfizer Inc.
• Abbott Laboratories Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• AbbVie Inc.
• Novartis AG
• Eli Lilly and Company
• Amgen Inc.
• GlaxoSmithKline PLC
• NorthStar Rx LLC

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) Market, by Type:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
• Non- radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)

Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) Market, by Drug Class:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
• Glucocorticoids
• Anti-rheumatic drugs
• Others

Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) 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 Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) 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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