The United Kingdom ulcerative colitis market size was valued at US$ 421.3 Mn in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 548.1 Mn by 2031, grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2024 to 2031.

The ulcerative colitis market in the United Kingdom has been growing significantly over the past decade. Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum. Some of the key factors driving the growth of the UC market in the UK include the rising incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases, growing geriatric population susceptible to such diseases, new drug approvals and launches, and increasing awareness about the disease and its treatment. However, factors such as high treatment costs and lack of disease-modifying therapies continue to restrain the market growth. Overall, the U.K. ulcerative colitis market is expected to offer lucrative opportunities with ongoing R&D and pipeline drugs.

United Kingdom Ulcerative Colitis Market Drivers:

• Increasing prevalence of ulcerative colitis: The increasing prevalence of ulcerative colitis in the United Kingdom is a major factor driving the growth of the country's ulcerative colitis market. Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum. For instance, according to a research conducted by Crohn’s & Colitis, a leading charity in the U.K. in 2022, one in every 123 people in the U.K. have either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. This amounts to a total of nearly half a million people in the U.K. living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, although IBD is not that common, it still impacts a significant amount of people in the U.K.
• Growing research and development activities: The increased research and development activities surrounding ulcerative colitis in the United Kingdom is a major factor driving growth in the market. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon and rectum. Over the past decade, there has been a significant rise in investments and focus on developing new and more effective treatment options for patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. Biopharmaceutical companies and research institutions in the U.K. are conducting extensive clinical trials and research to better understand the pathogenesis of the disease. Various new pathways and drug targets are being explored with the goal of finding curative or disease-modifying therapies.

United Kingdom Ulcerative Colitis Market Opportunities:

• Emergence of new treatment options: The emergence of new treatment options in recent years provides great opportunities for growth in the United Kingdom ulcerative colitis market. Novel drugs that are more effective and have improved safety profiles compared to existing therapies have the potential to significantly help patients and expand the eligible patient population. Some of these new treatments include biologics and targeted synthetic disease-modifying drugs that allow for deep remission of disease and prolonged relapse-free periods. These cutting-edge treatment mechanisms provide more customization and precision to patient care compared to conventional therapies.
• Growth in demand for biologics over traditional therapies: The growth in demand for biologic therapies over traditional therapies presents a significant opportunity for the United Kingdom ulcerative colitis market. Biologics, which are medicines derived from living organisms, offer targeted treatments that can help manage ulcerative colitis when other options have failed. Compared to traditional therapies like aminosalicylates and corticosteroids which may have limited effectiveness or come with significant side effects when used long-term, biologics provide an important alternative for patients.

United Kingdom Ulcerative Colitis Market Restraints:

• Risk of side effects associated with long term medication use: The risk of side effects associated with long term medication use is posing a major challenge for the growth of the United Kingdom ulcerative colitis market. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that requires lifelong treatment. While there are several medication options available for managing ulcerative colitis symptoms, all drugs are associated with potential side effects on long term use. The commonly prescribed drugs for ulcerative colitis include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologics. While these medication categories are effective in inducing and maintaining remission, they come with risks of developing serious side effects over extended periods of use. For instance, aminosalicylates are generally well tolerated but may cause nausea, diarrhea or abdominal pain in some patients on long term intake. Corticosteroids are highly effective anti-inflammatory drugs but prolonged use raises concerns about adverse effects like osteoporosis, weight gain, mood changes, high blood pressure, and increased risk of infections.

• Shift towards biologics from generics: The United Kingdom ulcerative colitis market has witnessed a noticeable shift from traditional generics drugs to novel biologics therapies in recent years. Several biologics drugs that target specific proteins or molecules involved in the inflammation process of ulcerative colitis have become very popular treatment options among patients and physicians. These biologics drugs, such as Humira, Stelara, and Entyvio, have demonstrated high rates of induction and maintenance of remission compared to generic medications in clinical trials. As a result, the prescriptions and sales volumes of these biologics drugs have grown significantly over the forecast period.

Figure 1.  United Kingdom Ulcerative Colitis Market Value (US$ Mn), By Region, 2023

The major players operating in the United Kingdom ulcerative colitis market include AbbVie Inc. (Allergan, Inc.), Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Bausch Health Companies Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, COSMO PHARMACEUTICALS, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, & Pfizer Inc., etc.