Samjong KPMG "Anti-aging Therapeutics Market to Grow at 17.5% CAGR"

As the view that aging can be treated expands in the era of an aging society, the anti-aging industry is gaining attention to address the social costs caused by aging.

On the 16th, Samjong KPMG published the report "If You Can't Avoid It, Confront It: The End of Aging," analyzing the markets for cosmetic procedures and related medical devices (skin beauty sector) handled by hospitals and clinics, as well as pharmaceuticals and therapeutics (systemic treatment sector).

In the cosmetic medical sector, the consumer age group is getting younger, and the number of male consumers is increasing, leading to the popularity of procedures that cause minimal disruption to daily life and are painless. In particular, along with the trend toward non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments, the energy-based aesthetic device (EBD) and cosmetic injection markets are growing.

In the past, Solta Medical’s Thermage and Merz’s Ulthera were representative EBDs, but market penetration was slow due to pain and high prices. Subsequently, domestic devices such as Classys’s Shurink and Wontech’s Oligio were launched, driving popularization, and the average annual growth rate of major domestic and international EBD companies has exceeded 45% over the past three years.

The minimally invasive field using injections or cannulas is represented by so-called cosmetic injections such as botulinum toxin, fillers, and skin boosters. Currently, toxin and fillers are the most popular due to their simple procedure, rapid effects, and fewer side effects, accounting for more than 40% of all cosmetic medical procedures.

Toxin companies are shifting their focus to the skin booster market. Hugel, the number one domestic toxin market share holder, is developing next-generation formulation toxins and releasing multiple facial beauty product lines such as skin boosters and lifting threads. Additionally, various companies including large corporations (LG Chem) and pharmaceutical companies (Dongkook Pharmaceutical) are actively entering the skin booster market.

In the systemic treatment sector, the global anti-aging therapeutics market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 17.5% from 2023, reaching $2.47 billion by 2031. Aging treatment is being attempted not only to address symptoms of aging but also proactively in directions such as rejuvenation, with anti-aging new drugs (removal of senescent cells, suppression of senescent cell secretions) and rejuvenation biotherapeutics (cell reprogramming) gaining attention.

The report provided directions for future strategy formulation to key companies in the anti-aging industry. For cosmetic medical device companies, overseas expansion with higher procedure prices and better profitability than domestic markets is essential, and companies with entry strategies in China, Latin America, and the United States are expected to have a competitive advantage.

Furthermore, beyond developing devices by referencing overseas original equipment, companies should develop original devices considering excessive costs due to patent lawsuits raised against domestic companies and royalty payments. Expanding indications and strengthening the lineup with body-related medical devices is also an effective strategy.

Park Sang-hoon, Partner and Leader of the Pharmaceutical and Bio Industry at Samjong KPMG, said, “As the perspective of treating aging as a target of therapy increases, domestic and international companies must quickly capture new business opportunities.” He added, “Anti-aging therapeutic companies would benefit from utilizing strategic partnerships to improve the lack of early pipelines. Although collaboration has so far focused on joint development, it should expand to various aspects such as licensing, marketing, and manufacturing (CMO) in the future.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.