Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis, By Drug Class (Corticosteroids, TNF-? Inhibitors, and Others), By Type (Acute and Chronic), By Route of Administration (Oral and Parenteral), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, and Online Pharmacies), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032

The global alcoholic hepatitis treatment market is expanding due to the increasing global demand for the drugs required for the treatment, as the number of patients suffering from alcoholic hepatitis rises. Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a severe syndrome of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) due to excessive alcohol consumption, binge drinking (BD), and sedentary lifestyle among the population. Prednisolone, possibly in combination with N-acetyl cysteine and pentoxifylline are some of the off-label treatments for patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis.

• As per data provided by Elsevier in June 2024, there is a predicted increase of 77% in the age-standardized incidence of decompensated alcohol-associated cirrhosis, from 9.9 cases per 100,000 patient-year in 2019 to 17.5 cases per 100,000 patient-years in 2040, if current trends are left unchecked and no new policies are applied worldwide.

Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment Market Driver

Rising Alcohol-Consuming Population Drives the Global Market

There has been an increase in sedentary lifestyle with high-fat diet leading to the increased prevalence of obesity among the population and a rise in alcohol consumption. These factors are leading to a surge in the number of patients being impacted by alcohol-associated liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis.

• According to  data published by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2024, around 400 million individuals or 7.0% of the world's population aged 15 and above are impacted by alcohol use disorders. Among them, 209 million people (about 3.7% of the adult world population) face issues related to intoxication.

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People of younger age (18–25 years) are disproportionately affected by alcohol consumption in the U.S., making them prone to alcoholic hepatitis.

Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment Market Restraint

Stringent Regulatory Policies and Lack of Approved Drugs May Hamper Market Growth

FDA-approved drugs are not yet available and off-label treatments are common, stringent regulations are in place to ensure safety. Although approval may take time, there are clinical trials for alternative options and finding solutions within the current framework.

• According to Durect Corporation, in 2024, there are no FDA approved therapies for AH and existing treatments are off-label.

Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment Market Opportunity

Soaring Demand for Novel Therapies to Provide Lucrative Growth Opportunities

The rising demand for novel and effective therapies for alcohol associated liver diseases including the alcoholic hepatitis and others is resulting in the robust focus of key players to develop and introduce novel therapies for their treatment.

The increasing focus of regulatory bodies to receive approvals for the commercialization of products presents a huge opportunity for the alcoholic hepatitis treatment market.

• Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is evaluating next-generation farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, INT-787. Its characteristics provide an opportunity to explore its potential in severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (sAH). The candidate is currently in the Phase 2a proof-of-concept study.

Key Insights

• Prevalence of Alcoholic Hepatitis, By Key Countries, 2023
• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships)
• New Product Launches, By Key Players
• Pipeline Analysis, By Key Players
• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market

Segmentation

Analysis by Drug Class

On the basis of drug class, the market is segmented into corticosteroids, TNF-α inhibitors, and others.

The corticosteroids segment accounted for a significant share of the market. Corticosteroids are considered to be the first-line treatment for severe alcoholic hepatitis and they result in an improved response to treatment. Some studies suggest that corticosteroids can improve 30-day survival in patients with severe AH. Furthermore, the rising number of clinical studies by research institutes and companies to develop and introduce corticosteroids for the management of alcoholic hepatitis is expected to contribute to the segmental growth.

• According to clinicaltrials.gov, the Erasme University Hospital is conducting a randomized controlled trial to study the efficacy of corticosteroids in severe alcoholic hepatitis patients with early spontaneous improvement.

Analysis by Type

In terms of type, the market for alcoholic hepatitis treatment is divided into acute and chronic.

The chronic segment accounted for a major market share. According to WebMD, up to 35% of people who drink heavily over a long period of time can develop alcoholic hepatitis. However, the true prevalence of the disease is difficult to determine as it can be asymptomatic and often goes undiagnosed.

• According to a report by the American Addiction Centers, in 2024, more severe alcoholic hepatitis cases are associated with a high rate of short-term mortality.

Analysis by Route of Administration

Based on route of administration, the market is segmented into oral and parenteral.

In general, the oral drug administration is considered to be more convenient and practical. Patients can self-administer their medication, eliminating the need for costly and frequent hospital visits. Such parameters are anticipated to drive the growth of the oral segment.

• According to a 2021 article published by Elsevier, corticosteroids are an effective therapy for severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH), defined by a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD).

Analysis by Distribution Channel

In terms of distribution channel, the market for alcoholic hepatitis treatment is divided into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and online pharmacies.

The hospital pharmacies segment accounted for a substantial share of the market. Patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH), which is a severe form of liver disease, continue to increase over time. The increase in number of hospital visits by the alcoholic hepatitis patients is driving the hospital pharmacies segment growth.

• According to a 2022 article published by NCBI, the total number of alcoholic-hepatitis (AH) patients hospitalized increased to 136,620 in 2019 from 110,135 in 2015 in the U.S. Further, the hospitalization rate of patients with AH in 2020 increased by 16% in the country.

Regional Analysis

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Based on region, the market for alcoholic hepatitis treatment has been analyzed across Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The increasing alcohol consumption among the population in the U.S. and Canada is resulting in a growing number of patient pool suffering from the alcohol associated liver diseases including the alcoholic hepatitis in North America. 

• According to statistics published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in 2022, nearly 10.6% of the population in the U.S. suffered from alcohol use disorder (AUD).

The rising diagnosis of alcohol associated liver diseases in countries such as the U.K., Germany, France, and other countries is anticipated to fuel the market growth in Europe. This is further supplemented by the growing number of clinical studies for the development of drugs and novel therapies for the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis.

• According to clinicaltrials.gov, the Bioraba Health Research Institute in Spain is conducting a randomized controlled study to test the utility of the use of n-acetylcysteine associated with conventional treatment in patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis.

Severe alcohol consumption is not uncommon in the Asia Pacific, which makes the region more prone to the alcohol related diseases. Due to the usage of incorrect and off-label drugs, it gets more difficult to control the alcohol related mortality.

• According to data published by Liver International, in May 2022, on a recent population-based study conducted in South Korea, the alcohol use and high-risk drinking rates remained high and the prevalence of alcohol-related liver illness doubled in the Asia Pacific region in the last two decades.

Key Players Covered

The global alcoholic hepatitis treatment market is fragmented with the presence of a large number of pharmaceutical companies with a range of product portfolio for the management of the condition.

The report includes the profiles of the following key market players:

• Cipla (India)
• Sanofi (Europe)
• Pfizer Inc. (U.S.)
• Gilead Sciences, Inc (U.S.)
• Viatris Inc. (U.S.)
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel)
• Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (India)

Key Industry Developments

• In May 2024, DURECT Corporation received the FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for Larsucosterol in alcohol-associated hepatitis.
• In September 2021, Evive Biotech announced IND approval by the NMPA for a Phase II Clinical Study of F-652 in patients with ACLF, showing a significant development in drug discovery for alcoholic hepatitis.