Increasing Prevalence/Incidence of Obesity to Augment the Orlistat Market Growth

 

Orlistat, also known as Xenical, is a dietary supplement that has recently gained the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. This herb, which also goes by the names Phentermine and Orlistat, was originally developed to help people who suffer from acid reflux and heartburn, but it's recently been used to help people lose weight. Orlistat helps suppress the appetite and stimulates the release of serotonin. This reduces the desire for food and helps increase the number of calories burned during exercise. It can be purchased over-the-counter and comes in various flavors, such as butterscotch, raspberry, orange, and chocolate.

Orlistat is a type of drug designed to treat obesity. The primary function of orlistat is to inhibit the absorption of fat from the diet consumed by humans. Moreover, orlistat helps prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and reduce blood pressure in obese people. Orlistat does not allow one to regain lost weight and does not block the absorption of fats from non-fat foods and sugar.

Market Dynamics

Increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide is expected to fuel the growth of the orlistat market. For instance, around 38 million children aged 5 years or less were overweight or obese in 2019, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Obesity is defined as having a body-mass index equal to or greater than 30.

Moreover, increasing demand for orlistat, as well as speedy approvals by regulatory authorities for biosimilars, especially in North America, are expected to propel the growth of the orlistat market. For instance, in December 2020, Novo Nordisk received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Saxenda (liraglutide) injection for the treatment of obesity in adolescents (aged 12 to 17 years) with a body weight above 60 kg.

Launch of new generic version of orlistat and increasing number of awareness campaigns for weight management are also expected to drive the orlistat market growth.

Competitive Analysis

Major players operating in the orlistat market are Kabir Life Sciences and Research Pvt. Ltd., China Zhongshan Pharma, D.M. Pharma, Taj Pharmaceuticals Ltd., HISUN Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., ZEIN Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Lunan Pharmaceutical group Corporation Ltd., National Company for Pharmaceutical Industry, Hexal AG., STADA–VN J.V. Co., Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, GlaxoSmithKline, and Roche Holding AG.

Major players in the market are adopting various strategies such as collaborations, partnerships, product launch, etc. to enhance their market position. For instance, in 2018, H2-Pharma and CHEPLAPHARM re-launched XENICAL (orlistat) 120 mg Capsules in the U.S. market.