Viscosupplementation is a minimally invasive procedure that helps reduce joint pain and improves the functional condition of the osteoarthritic joint. It is a treatment in which a thick fluid named hyaluronate or hyaluronic acid is injected into the knee joint Hyaluronic acid is distributed throughout the body in epithelial, connective tissues, and neural tissues to promote better joint development and lubrication. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs when the flexible tissue at the ends of bones begins to wear down. Moreover, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the world. It can be classified into 2 categories such as primary and secondary osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by loss of function and degeneration of cartilage and tissues that cover the ends of the bones in a joint. There is not a complete cure for osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid is thought to improve the lubricating properties of the synovial fluid, provide a more comfortable level of activity, improve mobility, and reduce the pain from osteoarthritis of the knee. The increasing prevalence of osteoarthritis is expected to increase the demand for viscosupplementation products, which is expected to drive the viscosupplementation market growth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 9.6% of men and 18.0% of women aged 60 years and above have symptomatic osteoarthritis worldwide. However, the number is expected to increase due to the growing geriatric population and the obesity epidemic.
Moreover, novel biomimetic polymer viscosupplements are rapidly replacing in-development osteoarthritis joint injections, and thus, key players are focused on increasing research and development in biocompatible polymers. These polymers are widely used in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved stents, surgical meshes, and contact lenses, and help prevent degradation associated with hyaluronate. Furthermore, the viscosupplementation market is expected to witness robust growth in 2021 with a somewhat recovery of emerging and developed economies from the global pandemic (COVID-19).
In terms of geography, the market is divided into six regions, such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in the United States. The increasing prevalence of lifestyle-induced disorders, increasing demand for non-surgical treatments for osteoarthritis, and technological advances in the development of hyaluronic acid-based therapies are some of the factors expected to foster the viscosupplementation market growth. For instance, in 2019, Anika Therapeutics showcased HYALOFAST, a biodegradable, hyaluronic acid-based scaffold for cartilage repair at the 2019 International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) Focus Meeting.
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