Global Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market Size By Product Type (Antioxidants, Biguanides), By Stage (Cirrhosis, Fibrosis), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacy, Drug Stores), By Disease Cause (Obesity, Heart Disease), By Geographic Scope And Forecast

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market Size And Forecast

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market size was valued at USD 19.97 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 28.08 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 4.80% from 2024 to 2031.

Obesity is becoming a really big problem worldwide. And because more people are struggling with obesity, we're seeing a jump in the need for medications to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Did you know that, according to the American Diabetes Association, about 9% of adults in the US have diabetes, which is sadly the 7th leading cause of death here? A key thing about NAFLD is that fat builds up in the liver cells. But there's good news too! More people are aware and care about their health, the government's taking action, and pharmaceutical companies are working hard on new drugs. Plus, we're seeing constant innovation and support from groups like the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), all of which are expected to really boost the market.

Global Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market Definition

So, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is super common these days, and it basically means there's too much fat hanging out in your liver cells. Like the name gives away, it mostly affects people who don't drink much – or any – alcohol. NAFLD doesn't just pop up overnight; it tends to happen in steps. First, you get a fatty liver, which is usually a harmless buildup of fat. But then, things can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is when you've got inflammation and cell damage along with the fat. And unfortunately, if it gets really bad, it can turn into cirrhosis, which means permanent liver damage and potentially even liver failure.

Figuring out NAFLD early is tough because the symptoms are so vague – things like unexplained weight loss, feeling weak or tired, and a dull ache on your right side. That's why it's often called a "silent" liver diseasepeople don't realize they have it, and things can get serious. There's no single, perfect test for NAFLD yet, but doctors use a mix of things like blood tests, abdominal ultrasounds, MRI scans, CT scans, and even liver biopsies to get a clearer picture. You're more likely to get it if you're overweight or obese, have diabetes or insulin resistance, or if your blood has high levels of triglycerides/cholesterol. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, a whopping 2/3 of obese adults and ½ of obese children might have fatty liver.

Global Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market Overview

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a very common disorder and mainly in Western nations and predominant in industrialized nations. Additionally, in the United States, it is perceived as the most common form of chronic liver disease, which affects about 30% of the population. As per the American College of Gastroenterology, NAFLD has the potential to affect as many as 1 in 3 to 1 in 5 adults and around 1 in 10 children in the United States.

The rise in obesity and diabetes boosts the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market. As per the analysis by World Health Organization, a tripling of count has been experienced in obesity all over the world between 1975 to 2016. More than 1.9 billion adults accounting for about 39% of the adult population were overweight, 650 million adults accounting for 13% of the adult population and 41 million children were found obese in 2016. From the data, it can be said that the major driving factor for the NAFLD Market is the rise of obesity globally.

The surge in diabetes and obesity, improved awareness of NASH, huge R&D investment, government initiatives, and initiatives taken by the World Health Organization are expected to be the major drivers of the market. To increase physical activities globally, WHO launched the “Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030more active people for a healthier world” in order to provide effective and feasible policy actions. Major pharmaceutical companies in this segment like Pfizer, Roche, Torrent, Merck, and Gilead amongst others are spending hugely on the R&D of drugs and many drugs are currently in pipeline to get approval.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are always busy with research and development, exploring new possibilities and funding research into all sorts of diseases. But it's not all smooth sailing. The market can be held back by how long it takes to get new, targeted drugs approved, and the difficulty in developing reliable diagnostic tests. What's more, things like poor diets and uncontrolled lifestyles are unfortunately fueling the market's growth. On the bright side, new drugs should create exciting opportunities. However, the high costs of R&D and those slow approval times? They'll probably mean companies have to charge more for their products, which could be a major hurdle.

Global Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market Segmentation Analysis

The Global Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market is segmented On The Basis of Product Type, Stage, Distribution Channel, Disease Cause, And Geography.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market, By Product Type

• Antioxidants• Biguanides• Lipid lowering agents• FXR receptor agonists• Thiazolidinedione• Others

Based on Product Type, the market is bifurcated into Antioxidants, Biguanides, Lipid lowering agents, FXR receptor agonists, Thiazolidinedione, and others. The biguanides segment holds the highest market share as of 2021 and is expected to keep its position intact over the forecast period due to its wide range of management of NAFLD. Ocaliva, a drug of FXR receptor agonists class remains the only FDA-approved second-line therapy for the treatment of cirrhosis and Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market, By Stage

• Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)• Cirrhosis• Fibrosis

Based on Stage, the market is segmented into Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), Fibrosis, And Cirrhosis. Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis accounts for the biggest contribution in this segment due to the increased prevalence of obesity.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market, By Distribution Channel

• Hospital Pharmacy• Drug Stores• Retail Pharmacy• E-Pharmacy• Others

Based on Distribution Channel, the market is bifurcated into Hospital pharmacy, Drug stores, Retail pharmacy, E-pharmacy, and others. As of 2019, hospital and retail pharmacy segments have shown good results in this segment and are expected to keep their dominance in the forecasted period due to the strong presence of hospital pharmacies, drug stores & retail pharmacies around the world. However, in the post-pandemic scenario, due to high awareness and increasing preference, the e-pharmacy segment is expected to experience the fastest growth.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market, By Disease Cause

• Obesity• Heart Disease• High Blood Lipid• Hypertension• Diabetes Type II• Others

On the basis of disease cause, the market is classified into obesity, heart disease, high blood lipid, hypertension, diabetes type II, and others. Due to the increase in leading poor lifestyles, consumption of junk food, and soft drinks stands out to be the contributor in the market. Ongoing stress levels and insulin are also turning out to be major factors for the market to grow.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market, By Geography

• North America• Europe• Asia Pacific• Rest of the world

When we look at the world, the Global Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market can be broken down by GeographyNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the world. Back in 2017, North America was the big player, grabbing a sizable chunk of the market. Did you know that, according to surveys like the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, around 30% of folks in the US might have NASH? That's close to 100 million people! But hold on, the Asia-Pacific region is really picking up speed and is projected to grow the fastest. Think about it – economies getting stronger, better healthcare popping up, and more people getting diagnosed. This all points to big things for the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market there. Plus, with places like India and China becoming more aware of healthcare issues, and governments putting money into research, we could see even more growth in that part of the world.

Key Players

The “Global Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Drug Market” study report will provide a valuable insight with an emphasis on the global market. The major players in the market are Pfizer Inc., Takeda, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Roche, AstraZeneca, Novartis AG, Merck & Co., Inc., AbbVie Inc., and Gilead Sciences, Inc. Intercept has recently got the nod from FDA for its Ocaliva, for the second-line treatment for cirrhosis and Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC).

Our market analysis also entails a section solely dedicated for such major players wherein our analysts provide an insight to the financial statements of all the major players, along with its product benchmarking and SWOT analysis. The competitive landscape section also includes key development strategies, market share and market ranking analysis of the above-mentioned players globally.

Key Developments

• In April 2022, Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. acquired the patent termed “Methods and Compositions for Treating NAFLD, Hepatic Steatosis, and Sequelae Thereof” from European Patent Office. They have developed oral protein delivery platform technology which protects therapeutic proteins in the digestive system.

• In May 2021, Intercept updated their prescribing information for Ocalvia due to the contraindications found in the Adverse Event monitoring system.

Report Scope

Research Methodology of Market Research

To know more about the Research Methodology and o