UK Clinical Nutrition Market Analysis

UK Clinical Nutrition Market Executive Summary

The UK Clinical Nutrition Market is at around $797.4 Mn in 2023 and is projected to reach $1003.6 Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.34% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

Clinical nutrition is the application of nutrition principles to promote health and prevent disease in individuals, particularly in a healthcare setting. It involves assessing patients' nutritional needs, creating personalized nutrition plans, and implementing evidence-based interventions to improve health outcomes. Clinical nutrition centres on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of nutritional changes in patients linked to chronic diseases and conditions primarily in health care. Clinical in this sense refers to the management of patients, including not only outpatients at clinics and in private practice, but also inpatients in hospitals. It incorporates primarily the scientific fields of nutrition and dietetics. Furthermore, clinical nutrition aims to maintain a healthy energy balance, while also providing sufficient amounts of nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals to patients.

Clinical malnutrition refers to a condition that can be treated with clinical intervention by using specialized nutrients that are considered proper medications rather than as supplements. Clinical nutrition products are useful in maintaining the patient's health and enable the improvement of the body's metabolic system by providing adequate supplements, such as minerals, vitamins, and other supplements. The clinical nutrition sector is undergoing a transformation fuelled by progress in medical research and technology. Key trends such as innovative formulations, personalized nutrition solutions, and the use of bioactive ingredients are emerging. Manufacturers are dedicating resources to R&D to produce products that not only fulfil fundamental nutritional requirements but also provide added health advantages. This emphasis on innovation is fostering competition among industry participants, resulting in a constant flow of new products and therapies tailored to various patient demographics.

Clinical nutritionists or registered dietitians work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities to, assess patients' nutritional status, develop personalized nutrition plans, provide nutrition education, manage nutrition-related diseases like diabetes, malnutrition etc, support optimal health and well-being. Some areas of focus in clinical nutrition include, critical care nutrition, paediatric nutrition, oncology nutrition, gastrointestinal nutrition, sports nutrition etc.

UK has seen a rise in preterm births, which require specialized clinical nutrition support. As per data from the World Health Organization, UK accounted for 1,172,300 preterm births in 2018. The major drivers of Clinical Nutrition industry in UK are, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and metabolic disorders, aging population, increasing awareness of the importance of nutrition for health, product innovations and technological advancements, government initiatives and rising healthcare expenditure, rising incidence of malnutrition especially in paediatric patients.

Some of the major players operating in the UK Clinical Nutrition market are, Abbott Nutrition, Pfizer Inc, Bayer AG, Nestle, Baxter International Inc., Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd, Mead Johnson & Company, LLC among others.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Increasing in Malnutrition Cases: Increase in malnutrition cases in the UK, especially among the elderly population. According to the Malnutrition Task Force, 1.3 Mn people over 65 suffer from malnutrition in the UK, with the vast majority living in the community. This represents a significant proportion of the 10 Mn people aged 65 and over in the UK as of 2021.

Increase in awareness: Rise in awareness for clinical nutrition and increase in strategic initiatives by key players and the government to improve clinical nutrition uptake. For example, the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) joined forces with the Malnutrition Task Force to run UK Malnutrition Awareness Week in 2023. These efforts aim to reach the 93% of malnourished older adults who are living in the community.

Rising prevalence rate: Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases like gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders in the UK. For instance, the prevalence of diabetes in the UK has increased from 3.9% in 2009 to 4.8% in 2019, according to Diabetes UK.

Market Restraints

High cost incurred in R&D: High R&D costs and lengthy regulatory approval processes for new clinical nutrition products, which can slow down innovation and new product launches. The average cost of bringing a new drug to market is estimated to be $2.6 Bn, according to a study by the Tufts Centre for the Study of Drug Development.

Regulatory Challenges: Pressure on healthcare providers and systems to reduce costs, leading to price negotiations and decreased reimbursement rates for clinical nutrition products. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has faced budget constraints, with a real-terms increase of just 1.4% in funding between 2019/20 and 2024/25, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Competitive market place: Intense competition in the UK clinical nutrition market, which can result in price wars and affect profit margins, limiting companies' ability to invest in R&D. The UK clinical nutrition market is dominated by a few major players, such as Abbott, Nestle, and Danone, which accounted for over 70% of the market in 2021.

Regulatory Landscape and Reimbursement Scenario

Clinical nutrition regulation and reimbursement in the United Kingdom are integrated into the country's National Health Service (NHS) and overseen by various regulatory bodies. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the primary regulator for medicines and medical devices, including those used in clinical nutrition. It ensures the safety, quality, and efficacy of nutritional products classified as medicines or medical devices. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulates food safety and hygiene, which includes aspects of food supplements and special nutritional products. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) plays a crucial role in assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of nutritional interventions and providing guidelines for their use within the NHS. These guidelines significantly influence reimbursement decisions and clinical practice. The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) advises on the prescribing of nutritional products, including enteral nutrition formulas, which can be prescribed on the NHS.

Reimbursement for clinical nutrition in the UK is primarily through the NHS, which provides healthcare free at the point of use. The NHS Drug Tariff, published monthly, lists products that can be prescribed, including nutritional supplements and enteral feeding products. General practitioners can prescribe these products when clinically indicated, and they are dispensed through community pharmacies or homecare companies.

In hospital settings, nutritional support is integrated into overall patient care and funded through the NHS budget. Specialized nutrition support teams in hospitals manage complex cases requiring parenteral nutrition. For outpatient and community care, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England (and similar bodies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) make local decisions on funding for nutritional interventions based on NICE guidelines and local priorities. The reimbursement system aims to ensure access to necessary nutritional therapies while managing costs.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

Here are some of the major key players in the UK Clinical Nutrition Market:

• Abbott Nutrition
• Pfizer Inc.
• Bayer AG
• Nestle
• Baxter International Inc.
• Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Mead Johnson & Company, LLC
• Danone
• Abbvie
• Baxter