CNS drug market to hit $235.9b by 2033 as neurological diseases surge

With global market valuation approaching the $2.5 trillion mark, mergers and licensing deals are accelerating.

The global central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics market is expected to expand steadily over the next decade, driven by the increasing burden of neurological diseases and increasing drug development activities, according to a recent report by Astute Analytica.

The market is valued at approximately US$129.4b in 2024 and is expected to reach US$235.9b by 2033, with an annual growth rate of nearly 7%.

Central nervous system therapies are used to treat conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, epilepsy, and stroke.

Drug development remains active, with hundreds of CNS therapies currently in clinical trials around the world, many targeting neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Mental health treatments, including ketamine-based therapies, are also expanding, especially in the United States.

Gene and cell therapies are treating rare neurological diseases, offering potential long-term treatment options. At the same time, stroke and other neurovascular diseases continue to account for a large share of CNS treatment demand due to their high global incidence.

Industry activity remains strong, with pharmaceutical companies increasing investment through mergers, acquisitions and licensing agreements.

Regulatory approvals are also supporting growth, with dozens of new drugs due to be approved in 2024, including several that use new treatment mechanisms.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow faster than other markets, supported by rising healthcare spending, aging populations and regulatory reforms in countries such as China and Japan aimed at speeding up drug approvals.

Major pharmaceutical companies in the central nervous system market include AstraZeneca, Biogen, Roche, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Merck, and GlaxoSmithKline.