Pharmaceutical Cartridges Market – By Component (Plungers, Vials [Glass, Plastic], Seals), Type (Dual Chamber, Large-volume), Capacity, Usage Device (Pen Injectors, Autoinjectors, Wearable Injectors), Application, End-user – Global Forecast 2024 ­ 2032

Pharmaceutical Cartridges Market Size

Pharmaceutical Cartridges Market size was valued at USD 2 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 3.8 billion by 2032 growing at a CAGR of 7.3% over the analysis period. The market is propelled by various factors including the increasing demand for pharmaceutical drug delivery devices, the rising prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and many other applications, and the introduction of new products.

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According to reports released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, approximately 422 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, with a higher concentration in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, with the global incidence of diabetes on the rise, there is a corresponding increase in the demand for pharmaceutical products for insulin and consequently, the demand for cartridges. Additionally, advancements in insulin delivery devices further contribute to the demand for compatible cartridges, as patients and healthcare providers seek more convenient and efficient methods of insulin administration. Therefore, the increasing need for insulin directly influences the demand for cartridges in the pharmaceutical market.
 

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A pharmaceutical cartridge refers to a specialized drug delivery device consisting of a cartridge, typically made of glass or plastic, designed to contain a specific medication. These systems often include components such as plungers, seals, and vials. They play a vital role in accurately measuring and dispensing drugs, ensuring patient safety, and enhancing treatment efficacy.

Pharmaceutical Cartridges Market Trends

• The market was primarily driven by several key factors, including increased R&D spending in the pharmaceutical industry, advancements in drug delivery device technology, and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. For instance, in 2022, SHL Medical introduced an innovative approach called Needle Isolation Technology (NIT) to address issues with cartridge-based injection devices. This technology featured a pre-installed needle concealed within the device, eliminating the need for manual needle attachment. With this technology, users can simply remove the cap to insert the needle before injection, facilitating automatic priming of the injector and opening of the fluid route. Thus, the introduction of novel drug delivery systems along with advancements are expected to fuel the growth of the market.

Pharmaceutical Cartridges Market Analysis

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Based on the components, the global market is classified into plungers, vials, and seals. The vials segment has asserted its dominance in the global market by securing a significant share and experiencing growth of 7.2% between 2024 - 2032.

• Glass vial cartridges exhibit lowest coefficient of expansion and demonstrate high levels of thermal shock and stress tolerance. They are resilient to damage from various substances and exhibit minimal leaching due to their high melting point.
   
• Therefore, they boast compatibility with a diverse array of pens and auto-injectors commonly employed for drug administration, spanning applications such as local dental anesthesia and insulin delivery for individuals with diabetes.

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Based on the type, the pharmaceutical cartridges market is classified into dual chamber cartridges and large-volume cartridges. The dual chamber cartridges segment held the largest market share of 64.3% in 2023.

• Dual chamber cartridges are commonly used for reconstituting pharmaceuticals, especially for delicate substances such as certain vaccines, biologics, and hormone therapies. The prevalence of these sensitive drug formulations has steadily risen and is expected to continue growing, posing challenges in terms of shelf-life stability.
• In addition, the dual chamber cartridges offered several benefits in pharmaceutical administration, including compatibility with various injection devices, accelerated time-to-market, efficient administration with fewer preparatory steps, increased patient safety, enhanced dose accuracy, and flexibility for single or multidose applications. Thus, aforementioned factors associated with dual chamber cartridges are expected to drive market growth in the coming years.

Based on the capacity, the pharmaceutical cartridges market is classified into 0.5 ml, 1.8 ml, 2 ml to 2.5 ml, 3 ml, 5 ml, and more than 10 ml. The 3 ml segment is expected to reach USD 1.2 billion by 2032.

• The 3 mL cartridges are frequently employed for treatments necessitating a small volume delivery, including specific hormone therapies, anticoagulants, and other biologics.
• The key advantage of 3 mL cartridges is their potential to minimize the frequency of injections required for administering a specified medication dose, particularly advantageous for patients needing frequent injections. For instance, small-volume cartridges are commonly used in insulin pen injectors, which are preferred by many patients due to their ease of use and portability.
• Similarly, Cartridge kits such as Pii's 3 ml variant accommodate therapies demanding variable doses and frequent injections. Thus, widespread usage of 3ml capacity of cartridges among healthcare setting or diabetic patient will spur the market growth.

Based on the usage device, the pharmaceutical cartridges market is classified into pen injectors, autoinjectors, wearable injectors, and other usage devices. The pen injectors segment leads the market accounting for the largest revenue of USD 905.7 million and is projecting its dominance throughout the forecast period.

• A pen injector cartridge is a medical device utilized for delivering medication via a pen-like apparatus. It comprises a cartridge containing the medication and a delivery mechanism enabling injection into the body.
• Companies are prioritizing the development and manufacturing of pen injector cartridges that are safe, efficient, and user-friendly to cater to patient and healthcare provider needs. For instance, in February 2023, Phillips-Medisize, a subsidiary of Molex specializing in MedTech devices, diagnostic tools, and drug delivery devices, expanded its product line with a disposable pen injector. This initiative is expected to enhance platform capabilities, broaden the product portfolio, thereby propelling the segment growth in the foreseeable future.

Based on the application, the pharmaceutical cartridges market is classified into dental care, diabetes care, neurology, cardiology, oncology, and other applications. The diabetes care segment is poised to dominate the global market, with an anticipated growth of 7.4% during the analysis period.

• Pharmaceutical cartridges play a vital role in administering insulin through specialized devices. Thus, advancements in these delivery mechanisms significantly influence the market, especially as insulin pens and pumps rely on prefilled cartridges for controlled insulin dispensation in diabetes care.
• Also, key companies are focusing on strategic alliances such as acquisitions and mergers to enrich their diabetes management product range. For instance, in January 2023, Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. acquired AMF Medical SA, aiming to enhance its diabetes management offerings with innovative solutions including its Sigi Patch Pump. Utilizing prefilled insulin cartridges, the Sigi Patch Pump simplified diabetes management, in the developmental stage. Such initiatives by companies in the pharmaceutical field is expected to augment the market growth.

Based on the end-user, the pharmaceutical cartridges market is categorized into hospitals, specialty clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and other end-users. The hospitals segment accounted for 33.1% market share in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 1.3 billion by the end of 2032

• The hospital segment emerged as the dominant force in the market due to its extensive usage of injectable medications for various medical procedures and treatments.
• Hospitals rely heavily on cartridges for the precise administration of drugs to patients, ensuring accurate dosing and patient safety.
• Additionally, hospitals often handle a large volume of patients requiring injectable therapies, further driving the demand for pharmaceutical cartridges. This widespread utilization within hospital settings solidified the segment's dominance in the market.

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North America is projected to maintain its lead in the global pharmaceutical cartridges market, anticipated to reach USD 1.3 billion by 2032.

• Increasing demand for drugs and precise delivery systems is a significant growth driver. This is influenced by the prevalence of chronic diseases, a growing aging population, and technological advancements. For instance, cancer ranks as the second leading cause of mortality in the U.S., with an estimated 1.95 million new cases projected for 2023. Thus, usage of cartridges in cancer management along with substantial R&D investments by key players especially in pharmaceutical innovation for novel drug delivery devices is expected to supplement the region’s dominance in the market.

Pharmaceutical Cartridges Market Share

In the competitive pharmaceutical cartridge industry, numerous key players are engaged in fierce competition to secure market share. The companies are focusing on product innovation, strategic collaborations, and mergers to maintain their competitive edge. Also, emerging players are gaining traction by offering advanced solutions and expanding their geographic presence to sustain in the competitive market.

Pharmaceutical Cartridges Market Companies

Prominent players operating in the pharmaceutical cartridges industry are as mentioned below

• AptarGroup, Inc.
• Baxter International Inc.
• Dätwyler Holding Inc.
• Gerresheimer AG
• Merck KGaA
• Nipro Corporation
• Schott Group
• Shandong Medicinal Glass Co., Ltd.
• Stevanato Group
• Transcoject GmbH
• West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
• Ypsomed AG

Pharmaceutical Cartridges Industry News

• In March 2023, Stevanato Group entered into a partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. to introduce a comprehensive on-body delivery system platform for subcutaneous administration. This collaboration is anticipated to offer pharmaceutical companies to access to a cartridge-based on-body delivery system, comprising preloaded and prefilled drug containers compatible with standard fill-finish techniques.
• In September 2022, Gerresheimer AG and Stevanato Group collaborated to pioneer an innovative Ready-To-Use vial platform tailored for the pharmaceutical sector. The partnership aimed to co-create and introduce cutting-edge drug delivery solutions, involving prefilled syringes and cartridges, catering specifically to the European pharmaceutical market. This strategy is expected to help company to outreach to untapped economies.

The pharmaceutical cartridges market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in USD Million from 2021 - 2032 for the following segments

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Market, By Component

• Plungers
  • Chlorinated butyl rubber
  • Bromobutyl rubber
• Vials
  • Glass
    • Type 1
    • Type 2
    • Type 3
  • Plastic
    • Polypropylene (PP)
    • Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC)
    • Cyclic olefin polymer (COP)
    • Polyethylene
    • Other plastic vials
• Seals

Market, By Type

• Dual chamber cartridges
• Large-volume cartridges

Market, By Capacity

• 0.5 ml
• 1.8 ml
• 2ml to 2.5 ml
• 3 ml
• 5 ml
• More than 10 ml

Market, By Usage Device

• Pen injectors
• Autoinjectors
• Wearable injectors
• Other usage devices

Market, By Application

• Dental care
• Diabetes care
• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Other applications

Market, By End-user

• Hospitals
• Specialty clinics
• Ambulatory surgical centers
• Homecare settings
• Other end-users

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • Japan
  • China
  • India
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East and Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Rest of Middle East and Africa