Global Chronic Lower Back Pain Drugs Market - 2025-2033

Chronic Lower Back Pain Drugs Market – Industry Trends & Outlook

Chronic Lower Back Pain Drugs Market reached US$ 2,768.82 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 4,608.47 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period of 2025-2033.

Lower back pain that is long-term (for more than 3 months) is called chronic lower back pain. This condition might originate from an injury, disease, or stress on different body structures. The pain may vary significantly and be felt as bone pain, nerve pain, or muscle pain, and its intensity ranges from mild to severe. Chronic lower back pain is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, being a major welfare and economic problem.

The prevalence of chronic lower back pain in adults has increased significantly in the last decade and is increasing rapidly in the aging population. This condition affects men and women in all ethnic groups equally. This disease also leads to stress, depression, and anxiety. Chronic lower back pain has adverse physical and psychological repercussions. It creates a significant economic burden due to loss of function, loss of work productivity, treatment costs, and disability payments.

Chronic Lower Back Pain Drugs Market Dynamics: Drivers

Increasing prevalence of lower back pain

The prevalence of lower back pain (LBP) is a significant driver for the growth of the chronic lower back pain (CLBP) drugs market. The higher the prevalence of the condition, the greater the demand for pharmaceutical interventions to manage and alleviate chronic symptoms. Low back pain (LBP) describes pain between the lower edge of the ribs and the buttocks. It can last for a short time (acute), a little longer (sub-acute), or a long time (chronic).

LBP can be specific or non-specific. Specific LBP is pain that is caused by a certain disease or structural problem in the spine, or when the pain radiates from another part of the body. Non-specific LBP is when it isn’t possible to identify a specific disease or structural reason to explain the pain. LBP is non-specific in about 90% of cases. In all types and at all stages of LBP, rehabilitation is essential to reassure people and help them make sense of their pain, help them return to activities they enjoy, and identify strategies to support recovery and improve function.

Specialized care pathways may be needed for specific LBP. Thus rise of lower back pain helps to accelerate the market growth. For instance, according to the WHO 2023 report estimated that in 2020, low back pain (LBP) affected 619 million people globally, and it is estimated that the number of cases will increase to 843 million cases by 2050, driven largely by population expansion and ageing.

Global Prevelence Cases of Chronic Lower Back Pain

Chronic Lower Back Pain Drugs Market Dynamics: Restraints

Side effects associated with the drugs

Side effects can lead to patient non-adherence, where individuals may discontinue or reduce the use of prescribed CLBP medications due to intolerable side effects. This non-adherence can result in suboptimal pain management and reduced effectiveness of the drugs. For instance, NSAIDs have known adverse effects on various systems, including the gastric mucosa, renal system, cardiovascular system, hepatic system, and hematologic system.

Cardiovascular adverse effects can increase with NSAID use, with Diclofenac being the most reported to increase adverse cardiovascular events. Hepatic adverse effects are less common, with Diclofenac having a higher rate of hepatotoxic effects. Hematologic adverse effects are possible with nonselective NSAIDs due to their antiplatelet activity.

Anti-inflammatory analgesics are generally safe but can cause side effects and complications if used too often, long, or in large doses, including damage to internal organs, diarrhea, heart problems, hypersensitivity reactions, nausea, and blood clot formation issues.

Complications of opioid use include addiction and overdose-related mortality, which have risen in parallel with prescription rates. Common short-term side effects are constipation, nausea, sedation, and increased risk of falls and fractures. Antidepressants can cause side effects like nausea, weight gain, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, blurred vision, dizziness, anxiety, headache, diarrhea, constipation, sexual problems, fatigue, tremors, and increased sweating. These effects may vary and may subside a few weeks after starting the medication.

Chronic Lower Back Pain Drugs Market Segment Analysis

The global chronic lower back pain drugs market is segmented based on drug class, route of administration, distribution channel, and region.

Drug Class:

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) drug class segment is expected to hold 35.6% of the global chronic lower back pain drugs market in 2024

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are a type of medication that is commonly used to manage pain and inflammation. They are often the first choice for treating chronic lower back pain.

NSAIDs are commonly used to treat chronic lower back pain from various causes, including activity-related pain, muscle or ligament injury, spinal tissue wear and tear, and post-surgical pain. All NSAIDs are considered equally effective in treating musculoskeletal pain, and topical forms provide similar levels of pain relief as oral medications. Research shows that all NSAIDs are equally effective in treating musculoskeletal pain.

NSAIDs are effective in reducing pain by targeting the body's inflammatory response. Inflammation frequently accompanies chronic lower back pain, and it can contribute to the discomfort and severity of the pain. NSAIDs work by inhibiting enzymes called cyclooxygenases (COX), specifically COX-1 and COX-2.

These enzymes play a crucial role in the production of prostaglandins, which are chemical messengers that promote pain, fever, and inflammation. By blocking COX enzymes, NSAIDs reduce the production of prostaglandins, leading to pain relief.

NSAIDs are not only helpful in relieving pain but can also decrease inflammation in the affected area. Chronic lower back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, such as muscle strain, injury, or degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, all of which can lead to inflammation.

Companies such as Eli Lilly are expanding their pain management pipeline with a new asset from Belgium-based Confo Therapeutics in 2023.

The NSAIDs segment is expected to grow during the forecast period, owing to the proven effectiveness in managing pain and inflammation, easy accessibility, affordability, patient preference, and its role as a standard treatment option in addressing the chronic nature of the condition are the factors expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

Chronic Lower Back Pain Drugs Market Geographical Analysis

North America holds a 41.1% share in the global chronic lower back pain drugs market in 2024

Within the healthcare sector, the chronic lower back pain drug (CLBP) market in North America is a dynamic field. A substantial proportion of the general population experiences persistent pain in their lower backs, resulting in the need for drugs intended to treat the signs and symptoms and improve the lives of those who experience it.

Many people in North America suffer from persistent lower back discomfort. The growing prevalence of CLBP in various age groups emphasizes the need for efficient medication therapies.

The demographic makeup of North America plays a major role in determining the market for CLBP medications. Age is a major risk factor for chronic health conditions, including lower back pain, so the region's aging population, with a large number of people approaching senior status, contributes to a steady and increasing demand for medications that meet the special needs of older people with CLBP.

According to Health Policy Institute data by Georgetown University, Back problems are among patients' most frequent complaints to their doctors. Nearly 65 million Americans report a recent episode of back pain. Some 16 million adults, 8 percent of all adults, experience persistent or chronic back pain, and as a result are limited in certain everyday activities.

Asia Pacific is expected to hold 20.1% of the global chronic lower back pain drugs market in 2024

The multifaceted nature of medical services across the different countries in this huge and affluent region can be seen in the rise in demand for chronic lower back pain (CLBP) drugs in the Asia-Pacific region. Millions of individuals are dealing with chronic lower back pain, which has motivated drug manufacturers to concentrate on creating and altering treatments that cater to the distinctive requirements of the Asian-Pacific region.

According to the Asia Development Bank, in Asia and the Pacific, one in four individuals will be over 60 by 2050. Between 2010 and 2050, the number of senior people (those over 60) in the region will treble, approaching 1.3 billion. This shift will occur rather quickly in certain nations, including the People's Republic of China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam; it won't happen as quickly in others, like Indonesia, but those nations will still have sizable populations of elderly people. In Asia and the Pacific, one in four individuals will be over 60 by 2050.

The demand for CLBP drugs is mostly driven by the population demographics and aging trends of the Asia-Pacific region. An increase in the prevalence of chronic disorders like lower back pain is being caused by the aging population in the region. The increasing number of senior persons seeking effective pain management is a challenge for pharmaceutical companies treating CLBP.

In the Asia-Pacific area, patient education and awareness efforts are crucial in determining the market for CLBP medications. Variations in the health-seeking behaviour of individuals are partly due to varying degrees of health literacy and awareness of persistent lower back pain.

Chronic Lower Back Pain Drugs Market Major Players

The major global players in the chronic lower back pain drugs market include Johnson & Johnson, GSK plc, Bayer AG, Aurobindo Pharma USA, Viatris Inc., Mankind Pharma, Sanofi S.A., Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., among others.

Key Developments

In March 2025, Persica Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from its Phase 1b clinical trial of PP353, a novel, non-opioid intradiscal injection designed to treat chronic low back pain (cLBP) in patients with Modic Type 1 changes.

The global chronic lower back pain drugs market report delivers a detailed analysis with 70 key tables, more than 67 visually impactful figures, and 173 pages of expert insights, providing a complete view of the market landscape.