A new report predicts that the global market for anesthesia drugs will grow at an annual rate of 4.8 percent through 2014.
"The World Anesthesia Drug Market," by New York-based market research publisher Kalorama Information, indicates that new therapeutic applications may drive anesthesia drug sales in the long term. Kalorama values the worldwide market for anesthesia drugs at $4.1 billion, calling it "dynamic."
The report cites a recent discovery by the National Institute of Mental Health that administering a single low dose of an anesthesia drug produced almost immediate relief from depression in a small study group of patients that did not respond to any other type of depression therapy.
The study looked at the effect of Ketamine on depression in humans; Kalorama says this is a potentially exciting area of research for anesthesia products because available antidepressants can take weeks to work.
"With millions of people suffering from chronic and debilitating depression and not responding to existing treatment options, the possibility of finding a different, more effective avenue towards relief is very appealing," said Melissa Elder, an analyst for Kalorama Information and author of the report. "If low doses of Ketamine, or another form of anesthesia, can be achieved with minimal side effects, it would open up a vast new market opportunity for anesthesia producers."
Ongoing research is focusing on reducing the side effects of Ketamine as well as on the use of other anesthesia products, Elder said.