Enteral Feeding Formulas Market

Enteral feeding formulas are a type of specialized nutrition used to provide nutrients and energy to individuals who are unable to consume food orally. These formulas are typically administered through a feeding tube that is inserted into the stomach or small intestine.

There are various types of enteral feeding formulas available, each with its own unique composition and nutritional profile. These formulas can be classified into three main categories: standard, specialized, and disease-specific.

Standard formulas are designed to meet the nutritional needs of individuals who have no specific dietary requirements or medical conditions. These formulas typically contain a balanced mix of macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats) as well as vitamins and minerals.

Specialized formulas are designed to meet the nutritional needs of individuals with specific dietary requirements or medical conditions. For example, there are specialized formulas for individuals with diabetes, renal failure, and hepatic failure, among other conditions.

Disease-specific formulas are designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of individuals with certain medical conditions. These formulas are often used in the treatment of conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Enteral feeding formulas can be administered through a variety of feeding tubes, including nasogastric tubes, gastrostomy tubes, and jejunostomy tubes. The choice of tube will depend on the individual's medical condition and the goals of the enteral feeding.

While enteral feeding formulas are generally safe and effective, there are some potential risks associated with their use. These include infections at the site of the feeding tube, aspiration (inhaling formula into the lungs), and dehydration.

In conclusion, enteral feeding formulas are a valuable tool in the management of individuals who are unable to consume food orally. With the wide variety of formulas available, healthcare professionals can tailor the nutritional therapy to the individual's specific needs and medical condition. However, careful monitoring and management is required to minimize the risks associated with enteral feeding.

Enteral Feeding Formula Market Dynamics

Drivers in Enteral Feeding Formulas Market

The enteral feeding formula market is influenced by various factors that affect the growth and demand for the product. One of the major drivers of this market is the benefits and cost-effectiveness of enteral over parenteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is a method of delivering artificial nutrients or medication to the body through the gastrointestinal tract. It is associated with fewer complications than parenteral nutrition, which uses central or peripheral veins to deliver nutrients or medication intravenously into the bloodstream.

According to the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) guidelines, enteral nutrition is the preferred feeding route over parenteral nutrition in critically ill patients who require nutrition support therapy. This preference is due to the cost benefits of enteral nutrition, which is 40% lower than parenteral nutrition per day per person. The affordability of enteral nutrition has driven a significant increase in the enteral feeding formula market.

Restraints in Enteral Feeding Formulas Market

However, the lack of patient awareness is a significant restraint for the enteral feeding formula market. A recent study on patients with dementia found that using feeding tubes (FTs) in patients with advanced dementia does not yield positive health outcomes and can have a negative effect. The study also revealed significant gaps in knowledge among doctors about the indications for FTs, with only 17.9% acknowledging that there is no indication for the use of FTs in patients with advanced dementia.

This lack of knowledge among doctors regarding enteral feeding is not limited to patients with dementia. Despite numerous verified clinical practice guidelines focusing on enteral feeding of critically ill patients, there remains a wide gap between guideline recommendations and actual nutrition practices. Underfeeding is a global problem, and there is a need for hospital departments to strengthen standardization and systematic EN training, provide ICU full-time nutritionists, and distribute medical resources and personnel rationally to remove restraints on market growth.

Emergence of New Products and Innovation as Opportunities

Over the past two and a half decades, the market for enteral formulas has seen a remarkable surge in the number and diversity of products available for use. Currently, there are more than 1,000 enteral formulas on the market, and companies are constantly introducing new products to cater to a wider range of clients. For example, in 2019, Abbott launched its PediaSure Harvest and Ensure Harvest products. These are new blends of real-food ingredients, including spinach, carrot, pumpkin, banana, and mango, designed to meet the nutritional needs of tube-fed patients.

Moreover, a recent study has highlighted the need for high-protein enteral nutrition formulas to meet the energy requirements of critically ill patients, indicating a potential opportunity in this market. As our understanding of the physiopathology of diseases, the composition and functionality of food ingredients expands, further innovation is also a possibility. These opportunities have the potential for significant growth for companies.

The pharmaceutical and biotech industries, along with governments worldwide, are working to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts include supporting vaccine development and planning for potential challenges in the medicine supply chain. Currently, there are approximately 115 vaccine candidates and 155 molecules in the R&D pipeline. Additionally, medications such as Hydroxychloroquine have seen a sharp increase in demand for COVID-19 management. The high demand for these drugs has created a huge opportunity for manufacturers of COVID-19 management drugs, as many developed countries are experiencing shortages. Consequently, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry is expected to experience significant growth in the future due to the demand for vaccines and COVID-19 treatment drugs.

Challenges in Enteral Feeding Formulas Market

The adoption of enteral feeding in developing countries is being hindered by the insufficient reimbursements for enteral nutrition therapy. While developed countries such as the US, Canada, Germany, France, the UK, and Japan offer reimbursements for enteral feeding, developing countries in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East do not have adequate reimbursements. This is a significant challenge that limits the widespread adoption of enteral feeding in these countries. Additionally, decreasing federal funding and reimbursement cuts for home healthcare services over the next five years are expected to add to the challenges faced by players in the market.

Despite these challenges, several factors are expected to drive the enteral feeding formula market during the forecast period. These include rising healthcare expenditure, a surge in the number of preterm births worldwide, a growing aging population in need of enteral feeding, a rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, and neurological disorders, and increasing awareness of the benefits of enteral nutrition. Furthermore, rapid improvements in healthcare facilities in emerging countries, the shift from parenteral nutrition to enteral nutrition due to cost-effectiveness and nutritional benefits, and growing adoption of enteral feeding formulas in long-term care facilities are expected to further drive the market.

However, challenges such as patient safety risks, insufficient or lack of reimbursements in some developing and underdeveloped countries, and a shortage of trained physicians across the globe pose significant hurdles for the growth of this market. Despite these challenges, the enteral feeding formula market is expected to continue growing, driven by the increasing demand for enteral nutrition therapy and the development of new and innovative products.

The enteral feeding formulas market is divided into two stages, namely adult patients and pediatric & infant patients. The pediatrics stage has shown a higher CAGR due to the growing preterm birth rate and chronic conditions among pediatric patients. The market is further segmented into standard, peptide-based, disease-specific, and other formulas. The disease-specific segment has exhibited the fastest CAGR due to the increased incidence of diabetic patients, inducing market growth for diabetic disease-specific formulas.

The adoption of enteral feeding formulas is on the rise owing to the increase in the number of premature births and the prevalence of malnutrition associated with higher ICU mortality. Malnutrition is a common yet under-treated and under-recognized condition globally, leading to a high mortality rate, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Enteral nutrition is the preferred way of feeding infants who are vulnerable to disease and death due to undernutrition and deficiencies in vitamins and minerals. Moreover, an increase in awareness about the advantages of early enteral feeding is expected to boost market growth over the years, as it reduces septic and non-septic complications and improves clinical outcomes of critically ill and injured patients.

Rising Incidence of Gastrointestinal Diseases Driving the Adoption of Enteral Feeding Formulas

The enteral feeding formulas market is segmented based on applications, which include oncology, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, neurological disorders, and other applications such as psychiatric disorders, heart, kidney, lung, and liver diseases, and hypermetabolism. Among these, the gastrointestinal diseases segment registered the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR). This growth can be attributed to the increasing incidence of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders.

The adoption of enteral feeding formulas is expected to accelerate market growth over the forecast years due to the rise in the incidence of chronic diseases and the aging population who are at high risk of life-threatening disorders like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, liver failure, and renal failure. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 85% of older adults are living with at least one chronic disease, and 65% present with two.

Furthermore, an increase in product launches and product development by manufacturers is also driving the market growth. In 2020, Victus, Inc. launched a specialized nutrition product, "Abintra Care," which combines key nutrients such as vitamin C, antioxidants, zinc, and selenium for daily immune support. This product launch is an example of the industry's commitment to innovation and the development of new products to meet the growing demand for enteral feeding formulas.

The enteral feeding formula market is expected to experience growth due to various factors such as the rise in demand for formulas for elderly people who require enteral nutrition at home. Nursing care and home health agencies also prefer enteral feeding formulas for post-surgery patients, which is driving the market expansion. Additionally, the increase in the number of neonatal intensive care units is expected to propel growth.

Moreover, technological advancements and product innovations are anticipated to drive the market during the forecast period. Key players are focusing on expanding their product portfolio by designing advanced medical devices to deliver enteral nutrition and meet the demands of patients under treatment in homecare settings and intensive care units.

Witleaf recently launched the Brio-Enteral Nutrition Pump (EFP), which is an easy-to-use rotary peristaltic pump that helps in easy delivery of enteral nutrition. The device is equipped with sound and light alarm functionality to alert the user in case of pipeline blockage or insufficient battery voltage, thus making this device safe and accurate.

In terms of product types, standard formulas currently dominate the market with a share of 53.7% in 2021. This can be attributed to the wide adoption of standard formulas among all types of patients and their associated cost-effectiveness. The easy availability of polymeric nutritional complete formulas, which are suitable for use in both hospitals and home care settings, is also expected to accelerate segment growth over the years. Moreover, physicians prefer to consume standard formulas for gastrostomy tube (G-tube) patients to enhance children's nutrition, which is further supporting the growth.

Furthermore, the disease-specific formulas segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate due to an increase in the prevalence of several chronic disorders, such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. The rise in the development and launch of disease-specific nutritional products by manufacturers as per the patient's needs has further accelerated segment growth. An increase in the adoption of disease-specific and immune-modulating formulas to manage several chronic diseases is also projected to boost the segment growth rate over the forecast period.

In 2021, the intermittent feeding flow type dominated the enteral feeding formulas market with a high revenue share of 94.3%. This can be attributed to the increased recommendations of intermittent enteral nutrition administration by physicians due to better gastrointestinal tolerance by patients. Intermittent feeding has been found to improve whole-body protein synthesis, increase mesenteric arterial blood flow, and reduce blood glucose concentration, thus driving the segment.

Furthermore, intermittent feeding is recommended several times throughout the day, which may enhance muscle protein synthesis, making it more appealing for patients. This feeding flow type also provides freedom during rehabilitation and other procedures and reduces the chances of diarrhea, which is expected to further boost segment growth.

However, the continuous feeding flow type segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast years. Continuous feeding flow type is preferred as it is less labor-intensive for nursing staff and provides better Gastric Residual Volume (GRV) management, supporting its growth. Additionally, the adoption of continuous feeding flow types for critically ill patients suffering from severe burns, cancer, respiratory failure, and heart conditions is also expected to boost segment growth over the forecast period.

Tube Feeding for Cancer Care and Other Disease Conditions Driving Market Growth

In 2021, the "others" segment followed by cancer care dominated the enteral feeding market, accounting for the highest revenue share of 43.0% based on indications. Tube feeding is preferred in several disease conditions, including stroke, nausea, severe fatigue, neurological or movement disorders, and gastrointestinal dysfunction or disease, which drives the growth of this segment.

The increase in cancer prevalence globally is expected to fuel the adoption of tube feeding, as cancer patients often experience health conditions such as fatigue, vomiting, and nausea that make it difficult to eat. According to data published by GLOBOCON in 2021, there were about 19.3 million new cases of cancer worldwide in 2020, with Asia accounting for the highest share of cancer deaths (58.3%) and Europe accounting for about 22.8% of total cancer cases.

Additionally, the orphan diseases segment is expected to grow at the fastest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the forecast years. This growth rate can be attributed to an increase in preference for clinical and nutrition management of rare or orphan diseases to improve the quality of life and raise awareness about tube feeding for rare disease conditions.

The homecare segment has emerged as the largest revenue generator, accounting for 56.3% of the total market share in 2021. This segment is projected to grow at a faster pace than the others during the forecast period. One of the key drivers of the segment’s growth is the increasing demand for enteral nutrition among patients who require long-term care outside the hospital. Tube feeding is the only viable option for many patients with chronic diseases, and this has contributed to the growth of the homecare segment.

For example, a survey conducted in the U.K. revealed that out of 257 patients, 187 were on home enteral tube feeding, indicating that approximately 72% of patients were receiving enteral tube feeding at home. The growing awareness among patients with chronic diseases about the benefits of adopting enteral feeding formulas in home-based healthcare settings is also expected to propel the growth of this segment. Additionally, government initiatives to promote the use of enteral feeding systems or pumps to improve health outcomes have played a significant role in driving the growth of the homecare segment.

Furthermore, the rise in demand for enteral feeding formulas due to an increase in the number of patients requiring life-sustaining care outside the hospital is anticipated to continue driving growth in the homecare segment. The convenience of administering enteral nutrition in the comfort of one’s home and the cost-effectiveness of homecare are other factors that are expected to drive the growth of this segment in the coming years.

Key Companies in Enteral Feeding Formulas Market

• ABBOTT
• NESTLÉ
• DANONE S.A.
• FRESENIUS KABI
• B. BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG
• OTSUKA HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
• NUTRITIONAL MEDICINALS, LLC
• KATE FARMS
• MEDTRITION INC.
• VICTUS, INC.
• GLOBAL HEALTH PRODUCTS, INC.
• MEIJI HOLDINGS
• RECKITT BENCKISER GROUP
• HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION
• DERMARITE INDUSTRIES
• MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
• REAL FOOD BLENDS
• AJINOMOTO CAMBROOKE, INC
• Primus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Rickett Benckiser Group Plc

Recent Developments in Enteral Feeding Formulas Market

The enteral feeding formulas market has seen recent developments, including Nestlé's agreement to acquire a majority stake in Orgain, a leader in plant-based nutrition, in February 2022. This acquisition is expected to complement Nestlé Health Science's existing portfolio of nutrition products.

In September 2021, Abbott launched plant-based proteins and organic food ingredient enteral formulas for tube feeding. This development is in line with the increasing trend towards plant-based and organic foods, providing more options for patients who prefer these types of products. These new formulas may also provide better nutrition for patients with specific dietary needs, such as those with allergies or intolerances.

Overall, these recent developments in the enteral feeding formulas market suggest a focus on innovation and diversification to cater to the evolving needs and preferences of patients.

In recent years, the Enteral Feeding Formulas Market has seen significant developments in terms of product innovation, partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions.

One key trend in the market is the growing demand for high-protein enteral nutrition formulas to meet the energy demands of critically ill patients. As a result, manufacturers are developing formulas with higher protein content and incorporating new ingredients, such as real-food blends, to cater to a wider range of patients.

Another notable development in the market is the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the aging population, which is driving the adoption of enteral feeding formulas. Manufacturers are launching new products and formulations to cater to different disease conditions, such as cancer care, neurological disorders, and gastrointestinal diseases, among others.

Partnerships and collaborations are also driving innovation in the market, with companies joining forces to develop new products and expand their market reach. For example, in 2021, Nestlé Health Science entered into a partnership with the University of California, Davis, to develop a new generation of medical nutrition products for patients with chronic diseases.

Mergers and acquisitions are also reshaping the market landscape, with companies acquiring other firms to expand their product portfolios and market share. In 2021, Nestlé Health Science acquired a majority stake in Vital Proteins, a leading collagen-based wellness brand, to expand its offerings in the personalized nutrition and wellness market.

Overall, the Enteral Feeding Formulas Market is seeing rapid developments, driven by a combination of factors such as increasing demand for specialized formulas, partnerships and collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions.