Singapore’s Age-related Macular Degeneration drugs Market, valued at US$ XX billion in 2024 and 2025, is expected to grow steadily at a CAGR of XX% from 2025–2030, reaching US$ XX billion by 2030.
Global age-related macular degeneration (AMD) drugs market valued at $9.55B in 2023, reached $10.46B in 2024, and is projected to grow at a robust 10.7% CAGR, hitting $17.37B by 2029.
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Drivers
The Singapore Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) drugs market is primarily driven by the nation’s rapidly aging demographic structure and the consequent surge in the prevalence of AMD, which is the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly (Source [1], [3]). Singapore has one of the fastest aging populations globally, especially in the 60+ age bracket, leading to a substantial increase in the patient pool for both wet (neovascular) AMD and dry AMD. The local healthcare system, characterized by high-quality specialized ophthalmic care and advanced diagnostic capabilities, facilitates early detection and aggressive management of the disease. Furthermore, government initiatives and public awareness campaigns focused on promoting eye health contribute to increased patient compliance and treatment uptake. The market is significantly propelled by the continuous introduction and adoption of highly effective, longer-acting anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (anti-VEGF) therapies, which have revolutionized the treatment of wet AMD (Source [2]). These innovative drugs offer improved clinical outcomes and reduced injection frequency, increasing patient preference and driving market value. Robust infrastructure supporting clinical trials and a supportive regulatory environment for novel biologics also accelerate the entry of new, advanced therapeutic options into the Singaporean market, ensuring high-standard care for the growing number of AMD patients.
Restraints
Despite strong underlying demand, Singapore’s AMD drugs market faces significant restraints, chiefly related to the high cost of existing and emerging treatments, which creates an economic burden on patients and the healthcare system. Anti-VEGF drugs, the cornerstone of treatment for wet AMD, are expensive, and repeated, long-term injections are often required, leading to high cumulative treatment costs (Source [1], [4]). While subsidies exist, the overall expense can still limit access, especially for continuous monitoring and treatment among certain segments of the population. Another critical restraint is the reliance on global research and development, as local R&D focused specifically on AMD therapeutics is currently in its initial phases (Source [4]). This dependence means the market must wait for international drug approvals and launches, potentially delaying access to the newest therapies tailored to Asian populations. Furthermore, the complexity and time-consuming nature of the regulatory process for novel ophthalmic drugs can slow market entry (Source [5]). While Singapore has a robust system, the need for extensive clinical data and stringent safety assessments for intravitreal injections poses a consistent hurdle for manufacturers. Lastly, the requirement for highly skilled ophthalmologists and retina specialists to administer these complex intravitreal injections can create capacity constraints, particularly as the patient load grows, potentially limiting widespread therapeutic delivery.
Opportunities
Significant opportunities exist in the Singapore AMD drugs market, driven primarily by the need for treatments addressing geographic atrophy (GA) and the potential for combination therapies. The biggest current opportunity lies in the development and launch of therapies specifically for dry AMD with GA, an area of high unmet clinical need with several highly anticipated drugs currently in the global pipeline (Source [2]). Singapore’s position as a regional biomedical research hub makes it an attractive site for early adoption and clinical trials of these novel GA treatments. Another major opportunity is the development and commercialization of next-generation, longer-acting anti-VEGF therapies, such as Vabysmo (faricimab), which reduce the treatment burden by requiring less frequent injections (Source [1]). This trend improves patient quality of life and adherence. Furthermore, there is a burgeoning opportunity for strategic partnerships between international pharmaceutical giants and local Singaporean research institutions, such as the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), to conduct Asia-specific clinical research (Source [3]). This collaboration can lead to the development of tailored diagnostics and therapeutics for Asian populations, which are genetically distinct. Finally, the move towards digital health and remote monitoring presents opportunities for developing integrated platforms that can track disease progression and treatment response more efficiently, enhancing patient management outside of traditional clinic settings.
Challenges
The Singapore AMD drugs market faces several challenges, with one of the most critical being the economic burden of the disease. The projected growth of wet AMD cases by over 42% by 2030 is expected to translate into a substantial economic strain, with costs estimated to be between $162.9 million and $20.31 billion by that year (Source [6]). Managing this massive financial increase while ensuring equitable access to high-cost biologics is a major policy challenge. A key technical challenge is optimizing drug delivery mechanisms, particularly developing non-invasive or longer-duration drug delivery systems to minimize the frequency of painful intravitreal injections and reduce the risk of associated complications. Moreover, adherence to continuous treatment and follow-up regimens is difficult for many elderly patients, especially when coupled with the high cost, leading to potential gaps in care and suboptimal outcomes. Competing in the highly concentrated therapeutic market, where established products like Lucentis (Roche) hold a significant share, can be challenging for new market entrants (Source [1], [4]). Finally, attracting and retaining a sufficient number of highly specialized ophthalmic surgeons and technicians capable of managing complex retinal conditions and administering advanced drug therapies is a constant workforce challenge in this specialized field.
Role of AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to significantly transform the Singapore AMD drugs market, primarily by revolutionizing diagnostic speed, treatment planning, and personalized patient management. AI algorithms, particularly deep learning models, can be integrated with retinal imaging technologies such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to provide automated, rapid, and highly accurate detection of early AMD signs and disease progression, potentially catching the disease before irreversible vision loss occurs. This automated screening is crucial for managing the growing patient volume. Furthermore, AI can enhance treatment efficacy by analyzing patient-specific data, including genetic markers and response patterns to different anti-VEGF drugs, allowing clinicians to personalize drug choice and injection frequency with greater precision. This shift toward precision medicine optimizes therapeutic outcomes and minimizes unnecessary drug exposure and cost. AI can also play a vital role in drug discovery by accelerating the identification of new drug targets and modeling disease pathways, especially for currently untreatable dry AMD. Singapore’s government support for AI and digital health provides a fertile ground for the rapid deployment of these AI-enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic support systems within major eye institutions and clinics.
Latest Trends
The Singapore AMD drugs market is witnessing several notable trends that reflect global shifts toward enhanced efficacy and reduced treatment burden. A major trend is the accelerating adoption of biosimilars for established anti-VEGF treatments, which is expected to drive down costs and increase accessibility, aligning with national efforts to manage healthcare expenditure. The development and regulatory approval of novel, longer-acting anti-VEGF agents that require less frequent dosing, such as the approval of Vabysmo (faricimab) in Singapore in July 2022 for neovascular AMD, represent a significant clinical trend (Source [1]). This focus on extended duration aims to improve patient adherence and compliance. Another key trend is the increasing investment in gene and cell therapies aimed at providing one-time, curative, or long-term therapeutic effects, particularly for dry AMD, though these are still largely in the research and early clinical stages. Furthermore, there is a growing emphasis on combination therapies that target multiple pathways beyond just VEGF, such as combining anti-VEGF agents with anti-angiopoietin or complement inhibitors, to address non-responders and achieve superior visual outcomes. Finally, enhanced research, supported by major grants, focuses specifically on understanding the pathophysiology of AMD in Asian populations to develop more targeted preventative and therapeutic strategies (Source [3]).