| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| 乐鱼体育官网 Size (2025) | USD 5.06 Billion |
| 乐鱼体育官网 Size (2030) | USD 6.42 Billion |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 4.86 % |
| 乐鱼体育官网 Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 Analysis
The United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 size is estimated at USD 5.06 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 6.42 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.86% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the United Kingdom's OTC drugs 乐鱼体育官网. In the context of COVID-19, government organizations, research institutes, and many biotech and pharmaceutical firms were focused on effective and rapid technologies for the fast diagnosis of COVID-19 and the development of vaccines/new therapeutics for COVID-19. However, there was a rising demand for over-the-counter drugs during the pandemic, which drove the 乐鱼体育官网 growth. For instance, as per the report published by the Pharmaceutical Journal in April 2021, Lloyds Pharmacy stated that there was unprecedented demand for over-the-counter analgesics as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was expected to have significant growth in the 乐鱼体育官网 during the pandemic period. As COVID-19 cases decreased and supply chain problems were resolved, the demand for OTC medicines became stable or unpredictable over the coming years.
The presence of the key 乐鱼体育官网 players offering a wide range of over-the-counter products and companies' interest in developing and launching OTC drugs to gain a major 乐鱼体育官网 share are expected to drive 乐鱼体育官网 growth in the country. Furthermore, the government has encouraged self-medication by consumers, including the switch of classification of some medicines from 鈥減rescription-only鈥� to 鈥減harmacy,鈥� where a product can be recommended and sold by a pharmacist without a prescription.
For instance, in April 2022, the government of the United Kingdom updated the list of new United Kingdom medicines reclassified from prescription-only medicine (POM) to pharmacy (P) medicine and P medicine to general sales list (GSL) medicine from 1991 to 31 March 2022. This increases the availability of OTC drugs in the country, which is expected to have significant growth in the 乐鱼体育官网.
Moreover, new product launches are likely to drive 乐鱼体育官网 growth. For instance, in April 2022, Aquiette was made available to purchase from a pharmacy for treating overactive bladder (OAB) without a prescription in the United Kingdom. Hence, owing to the factors above, the over-the-counter (OTC) drugs 乐鱼体育官网 is expected to have a notable growth rate in the United Kingdom during the forecast period.
However, the high probability of OTC drug abuse and the lack of awareness in the public is expected to hinder the 乐鱼体育官网 growth over the forecast period.
United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 Trends
Analgesics are Expected to Hold a Significant 乐鱼体育官网 Share Over the Forecast Period
OTC analgesics are commonly used to treat and manage headaches, fever, toothache, musculoskeletal injuries, disorders, and menstrual cramps. The issues related to pain are the major reasons for the self-medication of analgesics.鈥� Therefore, the rising trend of self-medication with OTC analgesics among children and adolescents is posing an important public health concern.
The high burden of chronic pain and the growing geriatric population in the country increases the demand for easily available OTC analgesics, which is expected to boost the 乐鱼体育官网. For instance, according to the report Versus Arthritis in June 2023, around a third of the United Kingdom population, over 20.29 million people, live with a musculoskeletal condition in 2022. In addition, as per the same source, 10 million people in the United Kingdom have osteoarthritis, an estimated 5.4 million people have knee OA, and an estimated 3.2 million people have hip OA in 2022. The high prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases increases the risk of chronic pain, which likely raises the demand for OTC analgesics, thereby propelling the growth of the segment over the study period.
Furthermore, the new OTC analgesic product approvals and launches increase the portfolio of the 乐鱼体育官网 players and are expected to drive the 乐鱼体育官网. For instance, in December 2022, Manx Healthcare launched Reliviate Aches and Joint Pain Relief 0.5% w/w Gel in the United Kingdom. This offers patients an over-the-counter solution to their pain, which is expected to have significant growth in the 乐鱼体育官网 over the forecast period.
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Oral Route of Administration is Expected to Register a High CAGR in the 乐鱼体育官网 Over the Forecast Period
Oral administration of medication is a convenient, cost-effective, and most commonly used medication administration route. Because of its benefits, including non-invasiveness, patient compliance, and ease of medication delivery, it is the most favored method. The major factors that are expected to drive the growth of the 乐鱼体育官网 in the segment include 乐鱼体育官网 player strategies like new product approvals and launches and demergers and increasing self-medication in the country.
For instance, in July 2022, GSK plc in London stated that it had completed the demerger of the Consumer Healthcare business from the GSK Group to form the Haleon Group. Haleon has a few major brands, which include Panadol. Thus, the demerger of consumer healthcare, which includes OTC drugs, increases the focus of the companies on these products and is expected to boost the segment growth over the forecast period.
Furthermore, the awareness of OTC products and self-medication through various programs increase the usage of the products in the country, which is expected to drive the 乐鱼体育官网. For instance, in May 2023, the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB) provided expert comments and opinions to the media about self-care and over-the-counter medicines. This helps in the proper usage of OTC medicines, which majorly include oral drugs, which are expected to have significant growth in the 乐鱼体育官网 through this segment.
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United Kingdom OTC Drugs Industry Overview
The United Kingdom's OTC drugs 乐鱼体育官网 is fragmented and consists of several major players. The key players have been involved in various strategic alliances, such as mergers and acquisitions, to secure their positions in the global 乐鱼体育官网. Some of the companies that are currently dominating the 乐鱼体育官网 are Pfizer Inc, Bayer AG, Perrigo Company plc, Haleon Group of Companies, and Johnson & Johnson, among others.
United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 Leaders
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Pfizer Inc
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Perrigo Company plc
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Johnson & Johnson
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Haleon Group of Companies
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Bayer AG
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 News
- July 2023: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) started consulting on the reclassification of codeine linctus from over-the-counter in pharmacies to a prescription-only medicine.
- March 2023: The Commission on Human Medicines, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reclassified Cialis Together (tadalafil) so that it can be made available for purchase over the counter without a prescription.
United Kingdom OTC Drugs Industry Segmentation
As per the scope, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are referred to as nonprescription drugs. Individuals can buy these medicines without a doctor's prescription, and they are safe for consumption without a doctor's consent.
The United Kingdom OTC drugs 乐鱼体育官网 is segmented by product type (cough, cold, and flu products, analgesics, dermatology products, gastrointestinal products, and other product types), route of administration (oral, topical, and parenteral), and distribution channel (retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, and e-pharmacy).聽
The report offers the value (in USD) for the above segments.
| By Product Type | Cough, Cold, and Flu Products |
| Analgesics | |
| Dermatology Products | |
| Gastrointestinal Products | |
| Other Product Types | |
| By Route of Administration | Oral |
| Topical | |
| Parenteral | |
| By Distribution Channel | Retail Pharmacy |
| Hospital Pharmacy | |
| E-Pharmacy |
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United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 Research FAQs
How big is the United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网?
The United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 size is expected to reach USD 5.06 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 4.86% to reach USD 6.42 billion by 2030.
What is the current United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 size?
In 2025, the United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 size is expected to reach USD 5.06 billion.
Who are the key players in United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网?
Pfizer Inc, Perrigo Company plc, Johnson & Johnson, Haleon Group of Companies and Bayer AG are the major companies operating in the United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网.
What years does this United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 cover, and what was the 乐鱼体育官网 size in 2024?
In 2024, the United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 size was estimated at USD 4.81 billion. The report covers the United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 historical 乐鱼体育官网 size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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United Kingdom OTC Drugs Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 United Kingdom OTC Drugs 乐鱼体育官网 share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence鈩� Industry Reports. United Kingdom OTC Drugs analysis includes a 乐鱼体育官网 forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
