A new report reveals steadily growing interest in the clinical applications of collagen over the last 10 years.
Data analytics company Phesi analysed 2,358 clinical trials involving collagen. In the first 10 months of 2022, there were more than 225 new trials, compared with 125 in 2012.
Dr Gen Li, CEO and Founder, Phesi, said: “Despite low levels of industry funding, interest in the therapeutic applications of collagen is high, with a surprisingly low number of trials – just five per cent – into anti-ageing solutions. If clinical research into collagen maintains this momentum, we can expect to see innovations in wound healing and bone care making their way to patients in the coming years.”
In 2021, the global collagen market was valued at $9.75 billion USD, and is expected to grow to $16.7 billion by 2028. Phesi’s analysis shows that just 27% of trials received industry funding. The collagen trials fell into five main categories: skin disease, wound care, bone disease, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
“As life expectancy increases, a growing number of patients require intervention for age-related conditions, with more joint replacement surgeries taking place every year. The clinical development industry is showing an increased interest in preventative measures and potential therapies for these conditions to improve quality of life for patients,” said Dr Li.
“However, the industry has been slow to invest in collagen-related clinical research. For these trials to be successful, a data-driven approach to trial design is needed to minimise costs and reduce protocol amendments. This will be key in ensuring that life-changing therapies make their way to patients faster.”
