Hydrogel Based Drug Delivery System Market Report 2025

The hydrogel-based drug delivery system market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $6.82 billion in 2024 to $7.56 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to the increasing emphasis on targeted therapy, the rise in research and development activities, the growing adoption of regenerative medicine, the expanded use in wound care management, and the heightened awareness of biocompatible materials.

The hydrogel-based drug delivery system market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $11.22 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the rising demand for personalized medicine, increased investments in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, greater adoption of stimuli-responsive hydrogels, growing emphasis on minimizing systemic side effects, and expanding government funding for regenerative medicine. Key trends expected during this period include advancements in stimuli-responsive hydrogels, innovations in smart and wearable drug delivery devices, the integration of nanotechnology with hydrogels, progress in biodegradable and biocompatible materials, and the development of targeted and localized delivery systems.

The increasing number of burn cases is anticipated to drive the growth of the hydrogel-based drug delivery system market in the coming years. Burn cases occur when patients sustain damage to the skin or deeper tissues due to heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. The rise in such cases is often linked to household accidents, such as mishandling hot liquids or cooking equipment, highlighting the importance of improved safety practices in everyday life. Hydrogel-based drug delivery systems aid in burn treatment by creating a moist, protective environment that accelerates healing, reduces pain, and enables controlled and sustained medication delivery to support tissue repair and prevent infections. For example, in October 2023, the International Burn Injury Database (iBID), a US-based organization, reported that in the first half of 2023, burn and scald cases among children rose by 45% compared to the same period in 2022, while cases among adults and the elderly from hot water bottles increased by 19%. Consequently, the growing prevalence of burn injuries is fueling demand for hydrogel-based drug delivery systems.

Leading companies in the hydrogel-based drug delivery market are also focusing on developing advanced solutions such as injectable hydrogels to enable precise targeting and sustained drug release. Injectable hydrogels are soft, water-based materials that can be minimally invasively administered into the body to deliver drugs directly at the affected site with controlled release, thereby improving effectiveness while reducing side effects. For instance, in October 2024, UPM Biomedicals Oy, a Finland-based biotechnology company, introduced Fibgel, the world’s first injectable nanocellulose hydrogel designed for permanent implantable medical devices. Made from renewable Finnish birch wood cellulose and water, Fibgel provides a safe, sustainable, and animal-free alternative to conventional synthetic and animal-derived hydrogels. It offers tunable mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and the ability to release drugs in a sustained manner. Its shear-thinning nature allows easy injection through minimally invasive techniques, enhancing patient comfort and recovery.

In May 2025, AmacaThera Inc., a Canada-based biotechnology firm specializing in sustained-release hydrogel technologies, entered into a partnership with Merck Animal Health USA LLC to advance hydrogel-based drug delivery in veterinary medicine. This collaboration enables Merck Animal Health USA LLC to strengthen its veterinary portfolio by leveraging AmacaThera’s hydrogel platform to develop long-acting, sustained-release formulations that improve animal health and welfare. The partnership aims to provide veterinarians and pet owners with more effective and convenient treatment options. Merck Animal Health USA LLC is a US-based animal healthcare company.

Major players in the hydrogel-based drug delivery system market are Cardinal Health Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Merck KGaA, UPM Biomedicals Oy, The Lubrizol Corporation, Smith & Nephew plc, Paul Hartmann AG, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., ConvaTec Group PLC, Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Ocular Therapeutix Inc., Primex ehf, Heppe Medical Chitosan GmbH, BioCat GmbH, Micropore Technologies Limited, Cardiocare Private Limited, Akorn Inc., Akina Inc., KitoZyme SA.

North America was the largest region in the hydrogel-based drug delivery system market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in hydrogel-based drug delivery system market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the hydrogel-based drug delivery system market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sudden escalation of U.S. tariffs and the consequent trade frictions in spring 2025 are severely impacting the pharmaceutical companies contend with tariffs on APIs, glass vials, and lab equipment inputs with few alternative sources. Generic drug makers, operating on razor-thin margins, are especially vulnerable, with some reducing production of low-profit medicines. Biotech firms face delays in clinical trials due to tariff-related shortages of specialized reagents. In response, the industry is expanding API production in India and Europe, increasing inventory stockpiles, and pushing for trade exemptions for essential medicines.

A hydrogel-based drug delivery system is composed of hydrophilic polymer networks capable of absorbing and retaining significant amounts of water while preserving a gel-like consistency. This system enables controlled and sustained drug release at targeted sites within the body, enhancing drug stability, bioavailability, and patient compliance through precise dosing and reduced side effects.

The primary categories of hydrogels used in such systems include natural hydrogels, synthetic hydrogels, and hybrid hydrogels. Natural hydrogels, derived from natural polymers, are water-absorbing materials that mimic living tissue, offering biocompatibility and supporting controlled drug delivery as well as tissue healing. These hydrogels are capable of carrying various drug types, such as small molecules, large molecules, peptides, and proteins, and can be administered through multiple routes, including topical, injectable, oral, transdermal, and ocular. Their applications span across cardiology, oncology, immunology, pain management, and other therapeutic areas, and they are utilized by diverse end users such as hospitals, clinics, research institutes, and others.

The hydrogel-based drug delivery system market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides hydrogel-based drug delivery system market statistics, including hydrogel-based drug delivery system industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the hydrogel-based drug delivery system market share, hydrogel-based drug delivery system market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the hydrogel-based drug delivery system industry. This hydroge-based drug delivery system market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The hydrogel-based drug delivery system market consists of sales of periodontal hydrogels, hydrogel-based microneedle patches, hydrogel-coated drug-eluting stents, hydrogel-based tissue adhesive systems, and hydrogel-encapsulated cell or gene delivery systems. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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