Macular Degeneration (AMD) & Other Retinal Diseases Drugs
17 August 2026.
Visiongain’s latest report, Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Other Retinal Diseases Drugs Market Report 2026-2036, provides detailed forecasts and strategic analysis across disease indication, route of administration, drug type, treatment type, and end-user segments, including technology trends, trade and supply chain dynamics, and competitive positioning.
The global AMD and other retinal diseases drugs market is valued at US$12.46 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach US$29.47 billion by 2036, at a CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period. Growth is driven by the rising prevalence of AMD and diabetic retinal disease in ageing populations, accelerating adoption of longer-acting anti-VEGF therapies, and expanding investment in next-generation treatment modalities including complement inhibitors, gene therapies, and sustained-release biologic platforms.
Key Market Insights
The global AMD and retinal diseases drugs market will reach US$29.47 billion by 2036, growing at a CAGR of 9.0%
Growth is driven by ageing population demographics, longer-acting anti-VEGF approvals, and expanding clinical pipelines in complement inhibition and gene therapy
Key regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific
Leading companies: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Bayer AG, Biogen
Key trend: Transition toward extended-dosing and disease-modifying retinal therapies reducing injection burden and supporting more personalised treatment approaches
Market Drivers
Rising Prevalence of AMD in Ageing Populations
The increasing size of the elderly population is directly expanding the addressable patient base for AMD therapies. AMD is strongly associated with ageing, with prevalence rising sharply after 60 and advanced forms occurring more frequently in individuals aged over 75. According to the WHO, the global population aged 60 and above is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2050, creating sustained pressure on ophthalmology services and retinal disease management capacity. AMD-related vision impairment cases are projected to reach 21.34 million globally by 2050.
The commercial implications are substantial because AMD management is not episodic. Patients typically require continuous monitoring, imaging assessments, and repeated treatment administration, supporting recurring revenue generation across anti-VEGF drugs, complement pathway inhibitors, and emerging retinal therapies. Healthcare systems are responding by expanding investment in screening programmes, specialist eye-care services, and integrated ophthalmic treatment pathways designed to reduce avoidable blindness.
Rapid Expansion of Longer-Acting Anti-VEGF Therapies
Longer-acting anti-VEGF therapies are becoming a central growth driver as retinal disease management shifts toward durability, improved adherence, and reduced clinic burden. On 2 April 2026, the FDA approved EYLEA HD (aflibercept) as the first injectable anti-VEGF therapy for wet AMD and diabetic macular oedema with dosing intervals of up to five months, underscoring the industry’s growing emphasis on durable retinal therapies.
Next-generation candidates are pushing durability further. EyePoint’s EYP-1901, now in global Phase III trials for wet AMD, is designed to deliver controlled drug levels for at least six months after a single administration, with Phase II data showing 63% of patients required no supplemental aflibercept over six months. In May 2026, Valitor reported preclinical results for VLTR-559, a long-acting biologic designed for twice-yearly dosing in wet AMD, supported by extended ocular half-life and sustained VEGF suppression.
Technology & Innovation
Longer-Acting Biologics and Novel Delivery Technologies
Innovation in retinal drug delivery is creating opportunities for more precise and less invasive treatment approaches. Development activity is focused on suprachoroidal delivery systems, subretinal administration, hydrogel implants, microneedle-enabled ocular delivery, and non-viral gene-delivery platforms designed to improve drug penetration and sustained retinal exposure.
Bispecific antibodies, RNA-based therapeutics, encapsulated cell therapies, and sustained-release biologic platforms are advancing clinical development, enabling treatment approaches that move beyond VEGF suppression alone toward inflammation control, neuroprotection, and retinal cell preservation. These technologies are expanding commercial potential by supporting more personalised treatment strategies and reducing procedural dependence across AMD and other retinal disease indications.
Trade & Supply Chain Dynamics
U.S. trade tariffs could increase the cost of manufacturing and supplying anti-VEGF agents, complement inhibitors, intravitreal injections, and emerging gene and cell therapies. Higher costs for imported biologic inputs, prefilled syringes, sterile packaging, and specialised cold-chain components may pressure margins, delay product launches, and raise the overall cost of retinal treatment for manufacturers operating across international supply chains.
Demand for AMD, diabetic macular oedema, and diabetic retinopathy therapies is expected to remain resilient despite tariff pressures, as treatment delays can lead to irreversible vision loss. Established manufacturers are expected to mitigate disruption through inventory reserves, diversified sourcing strategies, and increased domestic production. Smaller biotechnology firms and biosimilar developers could face more pronounced cost pressures and slower market entry.
Commercial Impact
Cost pressure:Â Tariffs on biologic inputs, sterile manufacturing components, and cold-chain infrastructure are increasing production costs and affecting procurement economics for manufacturers and healthcare providers
Supply chain shifts:Â Companies are diversifying sourcing and expanding domestic manufacturing capacity to reduce dependency on imported biologic materials and ocular drug-delivery components
Biosimilar dynamics:Â Tariff-related cost pressure is particularly pronounced for biosimilar developers where pricing competitiveness and development expenditure are critical to market entry and long-term positioning
Competitive positioning:Â Manufacturers with diversified supply networks and established domestic production are better positioned to maintain supply continuity and protect margins across retinal programmes
Market Opportunities
Unmet Need in Dry AMD and Geographic Atrophy
Dry AMD and geographic atrophy represent one of the clearest opportunity areas in the retinal diseases market, as a large patient population remains underserved by current treatment options. Dry AMD accounts for around 85 to 90% of AMD cases, yet effective disease-modifying treatment remains limited, particularly before progression to geographic atrophy. Geographic atrophy affects approximately 5 million people globally and is expected to affect more than 18 million by 2040, with vision loss often becoming irreversible once functional decline begins.
This unmet need is attracting broader therapeutic innovation. Pipeline activity includes oral candidates for intermediate dry AMD and non-viral gene therapy approaches targeting iron-homeostasis dysregulation. On 8 January 2026, the FDA granted Fast Track designation to CTx001, an investigational AAV-based gene therapy from Complement Therapeutics designed to modulate multiple complement pathways for geographic atrophy, highlighting increasing regulatory focus on addressing unmet needs in late-stage dry AMD.
Expansion of Next-Generation Drug Modalities in Retinal Diseases
The retinal disease landscape is evolving beyond conventional anti-VEGF monotherapy toward advanced modalities capable of addressing durability limitations, broader disease mechanisms, and long-term retinal degeneration. Bispecific antibodies, complement inhibitors, RNA-based therapeutics, gene therapies, encapsulated cell therapies, and sustained-release platforms are advancing clinical development, each targeting mechanisms beyond VEGF suppression alone.
On 6 May 2026, City Therapeutics presented preclinical data at ARVO 2026 for CITY-RBP4, an investigational RNAi therapy for Stargardt disease, demonstrating approximately 90% reduction in circulating retinol levels in preclinical studies. On 6 February 2026, MeiraGTx entered an exclusive licensing agreement with ZipBio to develop first-in-class AAV gene therapies targeting the complement pathway for geographic atrophy, combining retinal gene therapy development with AI-designed multifunctional biologics technology.
Competitive Landscape
The major players operating in the AMD and retinal diseases drugs market include Astellas Pharma, Bayer AG, Biocon, Biogen, Chengdu Kanghong Biotech, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Formycon AG, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Kodiak Sciences, Novartis AG, Ocular Therapeutix, Outlook Therapeutics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz Group AG, STADA Arzneimittel AG, Mighty Therapeutics, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.
These companies are strengthening their market positions through M&A, R&D investment, strategic collaborations, and new product launches, with increasing focus on extended-dosing anti-VEGF programmes, complement inhibitor development, biosimilar launches, and next-generation gene therapy pipelines.
Recent Developments
June 2026 – Ocular Therapeutix reached alignment with the FDA on plans to submit an NDA for Axpaxli (OTX-TKI) for wet AMD in Q4 2026, based on efficacy and safety findings from the Phase 3 SOL-1 trial together with interim safety data from the ongoing SOL-R study
June 2026 – Outlook Therapeutics announced FDA acknowledgement of the resubmission of its BLA for ONS-5010/LYTENAVA for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration
April 2026 – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced FDA approval of extended dosing intervals for EYLEA HD (aflibercept) of up to every 20 weeks for patients with wet AMD and diabetic macular oedema following one year of successful response
February 2026 – Sandoz confirmed European Commission marketing authorisation for Ranluspec, indicated for neovascular wet AMD, diabetic macular oedema, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and choroidal neovascularisation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is driving growth in the AMD and retinal diseases drugs market?
Growth is driven by the rising prevalence of AMD and diabetic retinal disease in ageing populations, accelerating adoption of longer-acting anti-VEGF therapies, and expanding investment in next-generation modalities including complement inhibitors, gene therapies, and sustained-release biologic platforms.
How are trade and supply chain dynamics affecting the market?
U.S. tariffs on biologic inputs, sterile manufacturing components, and cold-chain infrastructure are increasing production costs and affecting pricing economics across retinal programmes. The impact is expected to be most pronounced for biosimilar developers and smaller biotechnology firms with limited ability to absorb higher input costs.
Who are the leading companies in the market?
Key players include Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis AG, Bayer AG, Biogen, Sandoz Group AG, and Ocular Therapeutix.
Established in 1998, Visiongain is an independent publisher of analyst-led market intelligence, delivering data-driven research, forecasts, and strategic insight across global industries and emerging markets. Visiongain supports evidence-based decision-making for investment, procurement, and long-term strategic planning.
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