New Forecast Sees Bipolar Disorder Drug Market Grow on Better Treatments

Long-Acting Injectables Target Relapse and Adherence Gaps

A new forecast published in June says demand for bipolar disorder treatments will expand through 2035 as diagnosis rises and newer medicines improve how patients manage mood swings, though high prices and tough side effects still limit access.

The market is expected to be worth $8 billion this year.

The report, Global Bipolar Disorder Market, Analysis and Forecast: 2025–2035, says steady growth is driven by awareness campaigns, more screening, and drugs that better target depressive and manic episodes.

Bipolar disorder, which typically begins in late adolescence, can upend work, sleep, and relationships and requires long-term care.

The World Health Organization data estimates about 40 million people worldwide live with bipolar disorder.

In the U.S., the National Institute of Mental Health estimates 4.4% of adults will be diagnosed at some point. That figure is expected to rise as stigma falls and services expand.

Traditional mood stabilizers such as lithium and valproate remain the standard of care. But newer antipsychotics and anticonvulsants have broadened options.

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics are a new focus because they keep medicine levels steady and cut the risk of missed doses. Those shots can help prevent relapse, a common and costly setback.

Still, adherence is a problem. A 2021 BMC Psychiatry study found 40% to 60% of patients stop medication within a year, often due to side effects. Weight gain, sedation, and metabolic problems are common, particularly with drugs like olanzapine, which can raise diabetes risk.

Cost is another drag on adoption. Long-acting injectables can run to several thousand dollars per year, pricing out patients who lack sufficient insurance coverage.

Drugmakers including Sumitomo Pharma America (Sunovion), Otsuka, Lundbeck, and Alkermes are investing in precision medicine, that uses genomic data to design treatments that address the disorder’s neurobiology.

Their goal is better efficacy with fewer side effects, which could improve adherence and long-term outcomes.

The bottom line: demand is rising for bipolar drugs, medical research is advancing, and new delivery methods could keep patients more stable. But without safer profiles and lower prices, many will remain on the sidelines.

Source: “Global Bipolar Disorder Market, Analysis and Forecast: 2025–2035,” published 2025.

Editor’s Note: It is wonderful to see new treatment options becoming available for treating bipolar disorder. Especially as we have seem mental health diagnosis in the US population grow by 40-percent in recent years. https://www.psychiatrist.com/news/mental-health-diagnoses-take-unprecedented-leap/

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