Macugen market report points to AMD demand and eye care growth

The Business Research Company says the Macugen market is being lifted by rising age-related macular degeneration cases, more eye care use, and broader adoption of retinal treatments. North America held the largest regional share in 2025, while the report forecasts continued growth through 2035.

Why it matters: - The Macugen market is tied to rising demand for retinal disease treatment, especially age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to permanent vision loss. - The report points to a broader shift in eye care toward earlier diagnosis, more specialized treatment, and therapies that help preserve vision over time.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released a Macugen market report covering market size, trends, and global forecast for 2026-2035. - The report says the Macugen market is gaining attention because retinal disease burden is increasing and ophthalmic treatments are advancing. - North America held the largest share of the global Macugen market in 2025. - The report also covers Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. - A free sample of the report is available here. - The full report is available here.

The details: - Macugen, or pegaptanib sodium, is an anti-VEGF drug used to treat retinal diseases by preventing abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye. - The treatment is recommended at 0.3 mg every six weeks and is administered by an ophthalmologist in a sterile setting. - Historical growth was driven by more AMD cases, better diagnosis of diabetic eye disorders, growth in specialized ophthalmology clinics, early adoption of anti-VEGF therapies, and improved retinal imaging. - Future growth is expected to be supported by demand for extended-release ocular formulations, more investment in retinal disease research, wider use of personalized ophthalmic treatments, expanding eye care services for aging populations, and efforts to reduce injection frequency. - Key trends include broader use of targeted anti-VEGF therapies, more frequent intravitreal injections, a stronger focus on vision-preserving therapies, advancing retinal disease management protocols, and an emphasis on long-term treatment effectiveness. - The report identifies the growing prevalence of age-related macular degeneration as a major driver of the market. - AMD is a progressive eye disorder that affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. - The rise in AMD is linked to an aging global population, longer life expectancy, smoking, poor nutrition, and prolonged ultraviolet light exposure. - A 2023 National Institutes of Health study projects that about 288 million people worldwide will have AMD by 2040. - The report also says growing emphasis on eye health is supporting demand for Macugen. - A Nature report published in November 2023 said sight tests covered by the NHS in Wales reached a record 841,000 in 2023-24, up 6.6% from the prior year. - The report includes new 2026 features such as market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrix graphics and tables, Excel-based forecasting dashboards, market hotspots infographics, and updated graphics and tables.

Between the lines: - The report signals that Macugen’s market opportunity depends less on one drug-specific breakthrough and more on the larger expansion of retinal care infrastructure and chronic vision treatment. - The emphasis on aging populations and reduced injection frequency suggests the market is moving toward therapies that are easier to sustain long term. - The regional breakdown shows the market is still concentrated in North America, but the report is looking for growth pockets across multiple global regions.

What's next: - The report expects continued market expansion through 2035 as retinal disease prevalence rises and eye care systems expand. - Future competition will likely center on therapies that improve convenience, treatment durability, and long-term vision outcomes. - More detailed company, technology, and regional analysis is built into the report’s updated forecasting tools and graphics.