Post Operative Pain Management Market Summary

• The Postoperative Pain Management Market Size is anticipated to grow with a significant CAGR during the study period (2020-2034).
• The Postoperative Pain Management Companies such as Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc., OpalGenix Inc., Pfizer, Mallinckrodt, Ferndale Laboratories Inc., Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Egalet Ltd, American Regent Inc., Avenue Therapeutics Inc., Incline Therapeutics Inc., Jiangsu HengRui Medicine Co. Ltd, Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd, Alza Corporation, Heron Therapeutics, Arthritis Innovation Corporation, DyAnsys Inc., Teikoku Pharma USA Inc., and others.

Postoperative Pain Management Market and Epidemiology Analysis

• Acute pain treatment (both postoperative and non-postoperative) follows a multimodal approach, combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. Medications include opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, corticosteroids, anesthetics, and adjuncts like antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and cannabinoids. 
• In recent years, significant shifts have occurred in the postoperative pain management landscape, with increasing discussions around replacing opioids with more effective alternatives. While opioids were once the gold standard, they are now being gradually replaced by multimodal analgesia (MMA) approaches. Leading organizations, such as the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), are prioritizing multimodal pain management strategies.
• For postoperative ocular pain, the FDA has approved several corticosteroids: INVELTYS (twice-daily suspension), DEXTENZA (ophthalmic insert), and LOTEMAX SM (ophthalmic gel), all reducing inflammation with lower toxicity than generics. With ongoing advancements, ophthalmic drug delivery is expected to evolve further. Branded steroids have less toxicity and more available data and clinical evidence to support their use than their generic counterparts.
• Despite the availability of non-opioid analgesics, there is a lack of parenteral solutions for postoperative pain. Until 2020, only paracetamol, ibuprofen, and ketorolac were FDA-approved for monotherapy use in the US. In 2020, an IV formulation of meloxicam was approved, but its commercialization was discontinued in December 2022 due to unfavorable market conditions, despite its benefits as the first once-daily non-opioid IV analgesic.
• There is a critical need for a safe, effective, non-opioid solution for postoperative pain management. Ketorolac, a well-established non-opioid analgesic, has shown comparable efficacy to morphine in this context. A novel, late-stage, alcohol-free formulation of ketorolac—offered in a convenient pre-mixed bag for continuous infusion—provides 24-hour, opioid-level pain relief for moderately severe pain, without the risks of opioids or the limitations of short-acting alternatives.
• Several approved steroid products, including difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion, loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel and suspension, and prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension currently dominate the postoperative inflammation and pain market. 
• The emerging pipeline for postoperative acute pain treatments is quite robust, featuring numerous mid- and late-stage development products, which hold significant potential for improving pain management options.
• The key players for postoperative acute pain include Arthritis Innovation/Medincell (F14), Oculis (OCS-01), PainReform (PRF-110), Cali Biosciences (CPL-01), Neumentum (NTM-001), Tris Pharma (cebranopadol [TRN-228]), Viatris (meloxicam [MR 107A 02]), Xgene Pharmaceutical (XG005), Allay Therapeutics (ATX101), Latigo Biotherapeutics (LTG-001), Halia Therapeutics (HT-6184), and others
• Current market therapies for postoperative acute pain include JOURNAVX (suzetrigine) (Vertex Pharmaceuticals), COMBOGESIC IV/MAXIGESIC IV (acetaminophen and ibuprofen) (Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, and AFT Pharmaceuticals), ZYNRELEF (bupivacaine and meloxicam) (Heron Therapeutics), LOTEMAX SM (loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel) (Bausch & Lomb), and others.

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Key Factors Driving The Postoperative Pain Management Market:

• Rising Surgical Procedures Worldwide: Increasing number of elective and emergency surgeries is expanding the demand for effective postoperative pain management solutions.
• Growing Awareness of Pain Management Importance: Enhanced focus on patient comfort, faster recovery, and reduced hospital stays is driving adoption of advanced analgesics and protocols.
• Advancements in Analgesic Therapies and Delivery Systems: Development of novel opioids, non-opioid analgesics, local anesthetics, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) devices is boosting market growth.
• Integration of Multimodal Pain Management Approaches: Combining pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions improves efficacy, reduces opioid dependency, and drives market acceptance.
• Increasing Healthcare Infrastructure and Access: Expansion of hospitals, surgical centers, and perioperative care facilities globally is supporting wider adoption of postoperative pain management solutions.

DelveInsight's “Postoperative Pain Management Market Insight, Epidemiology and Market Forecast – 2034” report delivers an in-depth analysis of post-operative pain management epidemiology, market, and clinical development in postoperative pain management. In addition to this, the report provides historical and forecasted epidemiology and market data as well as a detailed analysis of the post-operative pain management therapeutics market trends in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Post Operative Pain Management Treatment Market Report provides real-world prescription pattern analysis, emerging drugs assessment, market share, and uptake/adoption pattern of individual therapies, as well as historical and forecasted post-operative pain management market size from 2020 to 2034 in 7MM. The report also covers current post-operative pain management treatment practices/algorithms and unmet medical needs to curate the best opportunities and assess the market’s underlying potential.

Postoperative Pain Management Disease Understanding

Postoperative Pain Management Overview 

Effective postoperative pain control is critical to minimizing the adverse effects of acute postsurgical pain and promoting functional recovery. While opioids have traditionally been the mainstay of treatment, escalating rates of misuse and related mortality have driven a shift toward multimodal analgesia. These strategies aim to reduce opioid reliance but face challenges due to the subjective nature of pain and variability in patient response. Factors such as comorbidities, mental health, and social determinants can amplify pain perception, complicating standardized approaches.

Further details related to country-based variations in diagnosis are provided in the report…

Postoperative Pain Management Treatment   

The management of postoperative pain begins at the onset of discomfort following surgical intervention. As a common consequence of tissue injury and inflammation, postoperative pain varies in intensity depending on the type of procedure and individual patient factors. Clinical manifestations typically include localized or radiating pain, swelling, tenderness, and heightened sensitivity. Inadequate pain control can impede recovery, contribute to psychological distress, and may indicate complications, particularly if associated with signs such as erythema, fever, or wound discharge. Effective management begins with a comprehensive diagnostic workup. Clinicians collect a detailed medical history and may perform laboratory evaluations alongside imaging techniques—such as X-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electrodiagnostic studies—to elucidate the underlying etiology and characteristics of the pain. Following diagnosis, patients are typically evaluated by a specialist-such as an anesthesiologist, surgeon, or pain management physician—who conducts an initial screening. This involves the application of validated pain assessment tools, including both unidimensional and multidimensional scales, to quantify pain intensity and assess its impact on daily functioning. The resulting data inform the development of an individualized pain management plan tailored to the patient’s specific clinical and surgical context. 

Initiation of treatment is inherently multidisciplinary, with collaborative input from anesthesiologists, surgeons, and nurse specialists. The choice of analgesic strategy is guided by factors such as pain severity, surgical type, and the patient’s overall health status. Management options are generally classified into intraoperative and perioperative analgesia, pharmacologic therapies, multimodal analgesia, and non-pharmacologic interventions. Intraoperative analgesia commonly includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as paracetamol or ketoprofen, opioids like tramadol or morphine, and regional anesthesia techniques aimed at providing immediate intraoperative pain control. Perioperative pain management may extend to agents such as morphine, fentanyl, aspirin, ibuprofen, local anesthetics, and adjuncts like ketamine, to ensure sustained analgesia during the early postoperative period. Long-term pain control is typically achieved through a combination of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches. Pharmacological options range from acetaminophen and COX inhibitors (selective and non-selective) to opioids and advanced agents such as tapentadol or metamizole. Multimodal analgesia—combining medications such as paracetamol, ketamine, gabapentin, pregabalin, and regional anesthesia—optimizes analgesic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. Complementary non-pharmacologic modalities, including herbal medicine, homeopathy, mindfulness-based therapies, acupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), may also enhance treatment outcomes. 

Continuous monitoring is essential throughout the recovery process, with regular reassessment and adjustment of the pain management plan to reflect the patient's evolving needs. The overarching objective is to deliver personalized, effective pain control that enhances patient comfort, facilitates functional recovery, and supports optimal postoperative outcomes.

Postoperative Pain Management Epidemiology

The postoperative pain management epidemiology chapter in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented as total incident cases of postoperative pain, severity-specific incident cases of postoperative pain, total treated pool of postoperative pain in the 7MM covering the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), and the United Kingdom, and Japan from 2020 to 2034. 

Key Findings in the Postoperative Pain Management Epidemiology Analysis

• The total incident case of postoperative moderate-to-severe acute pain in the 7MM comprised 89,500,000 cases in 2024.
• In EU4 and the UK, the incident cases of postoperative moderate-to-severe acute pain was highest in Germany in 2024. While the least number of cases were in Spain.
• The total incidence of postoperative moderate-to-severe acute pain in Japan was found to be ~16% of cases in 2024.

Postoperative Pain Management Epidemiology Segmentation 

• Total Incident Cases of Postoperative Pain
• Severity-specific Incident Cases of Postoperative Pain
• Total Treated Pool of Postoperative Pain

Recent Developments In The Postoperative Pain Management Treatment Landscape

• In April 2025, Formosa Pharmaceuticals entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Chile-based Laboratorios Saval for the commercialization of APP13007 (clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05%) across Central and South America.
• In March 2025, Tris Pharma announced positive topline results from its ALLEVIATE-2 Phase III pivotal clinical trial evaluating cebranopadol for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain in patients following bunionectomy surgery. The company also plans to submit an NDA to the FDA in 2025.
• As per the Q4 and full year financial results of 2025, Oculis announced that the NDA submission of OCS-01 for post-ocular surgery is ready in the first quarter of 2025.

Postoperative Pain Management Drug Analysis

The drug chapter segment of the postoperative pain management report encloses a detailed analysis of postoperative pain management marketed drugs. It also deep dives into postoperative pain management pivotal clinical trial details, recent and expected market approvals, patent details, the latest news, and recent deals and collaborations. 

Postoperative Pain Management Marketed Drugs

• ZYNRELEF (bupivacaine and meloxicam): Heron Therapeutics 

ZYNRELEF (formerly known as HTX-011) (bupivacaine and meloxicam) contains bupivacaine, a local amide anesthetic, and meloxicam, a NSAID, and is indicated in adults for soft tissue or periarticular instillation to produce postsurgical analgesia for up to 72 h after a bunionectomy, open inguinal herniorrhaphy and total knee arthroplasty. It is the first and only extended-release Dual-acting Local Anesthetic (DALA) and delivers 72 h of postoperative pain relief via a single needle-free application.

• Expanded label indications for ZYNRELEF now cover an estimated 17 million annual targeted procedures with many more also indicated - a significant increase over prior indicated procedures, based upon data from studies for cesarean section, spinal surgery, augmentation mammoplasty, and total shoulder arthroplasty, making ZYNRELEF appropriate for a wide range of patients and appealing for broad formulary adoption.
• ZYNRELEF will continue to receive separate payment from April 1, 2025, until at least the end of 2027 as the result of inclusion in the "CMS OPPS and ASC Final Rule CY 2025 Non-Opioid Policy for Pain Relief" by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS").

• In September 2024, Heron Therapeutics announced that the US FDA has approved the Company’s Prior Approval Supplement Application for ZYNRELEF (bupivacaine and meloxicam) extended-release solution VAN.
• ZYNRELEF development of the ready to use Prefilled Syringe ("PFS") continues with a projected early 2027 launch.

• COMBOGESIC (acetaminophen and ibuprofen) IV: Hyloris Pharmaceuticals/AFT Pharmaceuticals/Hikma Pharmaceuticals

COMBOGESIC IV, a novel, patented, dual mode-of-action nonopioid pain treatment, is a unique combination of paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the US) 1,000 mg + Ibuprofen 300 mg solution for infusion for use postoperatively in hospitals for patients for whom the use of oral analgesics is limited.

• In June 2024, Hikma Pharmaceuticals announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had granted a permanent J-Code for COMBOGESIC IV (an injection combining acetaminophen and ibuprofen).
• In February 2024, AFT Pharmaceuticals announced the US launch of Maxigesic IV, its patented intravenous pain relief medication, by licensee Hikma Pharmaceuticals under the brand name Combogesic IV. This marks the first New Zealand-developed medicine with clinical studies to enter the US market. The launch is expected to trigger a USD 6 million milestone payment to AFT and its development partner, Hyloris Pharmaceuticals.

Postoperative Pain Management Emerging Drugs

• CPL-01: Cali Biosciences

CPL-01 is a sustained-release injectable formulation of ropivacaine hydrochloride. Ropivacaine is a member of the amide class of local anesthetics indicated for the production of local or regional anesthesia for surgery and acute pain management. Ropivacaine hydrochloride injection is approved for local or regional anesthesia for surgery and acute pain management. However, because of the short duration of effect of the traditional ropivacaine hydrochloride injection, infusion by catheter is required if protracted local analgesia is needed for postoperative pain management.

• In May 2024, Cali Biosciences announced publication of “CPL‑01, an investigational long‑acting ropivacaine, demonstrates safety and efficacy in open inguinal hernia repair” in the scientific journal Hernia.

• Meloxicam (MR-107A-02): Viatris

Meloxicam is a member of the NSAIDs group of medications that have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, and analgesic activity in clinical studies. However, currently approved oral formulations of meloxicam are not suitable for the treatment of acute pain due to slow absorption and delayed onset of effects. A new oral formulation of meloxicam (MR-107A-02) was developed that allowed more rapid dissolution and absorption, allowing for use in the treatment of acute pain, and has been studied in two Phase I trials in healthy subjects.

• In May 2025, Viatris announced positive results from its Phase III program of the novel fast-acting formulation of meloxicam (MR-107A-02) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain. The company is targeting to submit an NDA to the US FDA by the end of 2025 based on the positive data from these two Phase III studies and the supportive positive Phase II dose range finding data in dental pain.
• In May 2025, Viatris announced that full results from both Phase III studies (NCT06215859) and (NCT06215820) will be submitted for presentation at future congresses, including the upcoming PAINWeek 2025 Conference in September.

Postoperative Pain Management Drug Class Insights

COX inhibitors

COX inhibitors block the cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 and COX-2, which drive the synthesis of prostaglandins, key mediators of inflammation, pain, and fever. Meloxicam, a preferential COX-2 inhibitor, selectively targets the inducible isoform to reduce pro-inflammatory prostaglandins while minimizing gastrointestinal side effects. NTM-001, a continuous-infusion formulation of non-selective ketorolac, inhibits both COX isoforms to provide sustained analgesia for acute pain. Both agents operate through the COX pathway, ultimately lowering prostaglandin production to control pain and inflammation.

Postoperative Pain Management Market Outlook

Postoperative pain is a common and expected outcome of surgery, typically acute in nature. Effective pain relief is vital for recovery and is increasingly recognized as a key quality measure. Despite the availability of numerous management strategies, fewer than half of patients report adequate pain control after surgery. Management includes both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, often combined in a multimodal analgesia (MMA) approach to enhance efficacy and minimize side effects. Pharmacologic treatments include opioids, NSAIDs, acetaminophen, corticosteroids, local anesthetics, antidepressants, alpha-2 agonists, GABA agonists, and cannabinoids. 

Non-pharmacologic methods involve acupuncture, CBT, physical therapy, massage, and other complementary therapies. Historically, opioids were the gold standard for moderate-to-severe pain. However, concerns over side effects and the opioid epidemic have shifted focus toward MMA. This approach combines drugs with different mechanisms to reduce opioid reliance, improve safety, and support faster recovery, especially in ambulatory care. National guidelines by the American Pain Society and other bodies advocate evidence-based, individualized pain plans using a stepped analgesic ladder in reverse for acute pain. Opioids remain widely used due to their effectiveness, availability, and familiarity, but are associated with significant side effects and risk of addiction. Emerging techniques, such as local anesthetic infusions and elastomeric pumps, offer improved safety and efficacy but may increase costs. While newer opioids (e.g., JOURNAVX, DEXTENZA, INVELTYS) continue to be approved, best practices now emphasize balanced regimens that limit opioid use while providing comprehensive pain relief.

Postoperative Pain Management Drug Uptake

This section focuses on the uptake rate of potential drugs expected to be launched in the market during 2025–2034, which depends on the competitive landscape, safety, and efficacy data along with order of entry. It is important to understand that the key players evaluating their novel therapies in the pivotal and confirmatory trials should remain vigilant when selecting appropriate comparators to stand the greatest chance of a positive opinion from regulatory bodies, leading to approval, smooth launch, and rapid uptake. 

Postoperative Pain Management Pipeline Activities

The Postoperative Pain Management Therapeutics Market Report provides insights into different Postoperative Pain Management clinical trials within different phases. It also analyzes key Post-Operative Pain Management Companies involved in developing targeted therapeutics. The Postoperative Pain Management clinical trials analysis report covers information on collaborations, acquisitions and mergers, licensing, and patent details for postoperative pain management therapies. 

KOL Views on the Postoperative Pain Management Report

To keep up with the real-world scenario in current and emerging market trends, we take opinions from Key Industry leaders working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research. Industry Experts contacted for insights on the evolving treatment landscape, patient reliance on conventional therapies, patient therapy switching acceptability, and drug uptake along with challenges related to accessibility, including Medical/scientific writers, Professors, and Others.

DelveInsight’s analysts connected with 10+ KOLs to gather insights; however, interviews were conducted with 05+ KOLs in the 7MM. Centers such as University of Iowa, Stanford University School of Medicine, McGovern Medical School, King’s College, Queen Mary University of London, University Hospital Heidelberg, Ruhr-University Bochum, Marche Polytechnic University, and others were contacted. Their opinion helps understand and validate current and emerging therapy treatment patterns or postoperative pain management market trends. 

Postoperative Pain Management Report Qualitative Analysis

We perform Qualitative and market Intelligence analysis using various approaches, such as SWOT analysis and conjoint analysis. In the SWOT analysis, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in terms of gaps in disease diagnosis, patient awareness, physician acceptability, competitive landscape, cost-effectiveness, and geographical accessibility of therapies are provided.

Conjoint Analysis analyzes multiple approved and emerging therapies based on relevant attributes such as safety, efficacy, frequency of administration, route of administration, and order of entry. Scoring is given based on these parameters to analyze the effectiveness of therapy.

In efficacy, the trial’s primary and secondary outcome measures are evaluated. 

Further, the therapies’ safety is evaluated wherein the acceptability, tolerability, and adverse events are majorly observed, and it sets a clear understanding of the side effects posed by the drug in the trials. In addition, the scoring is also based on the probability of success, and the addressable patient pool for each therapy. According to these parameters, the final weightage score and the ranking of the emerging therapies are decided. 

Postoperative Pain Management Market Access and Reimbursement

• United States Reimbursement 

To be continued in the final report…

Postoperative Pain Management Market Report Scope

• The Post-Operative Pain Management Therapeutics Market Report covers a segment of key events, an executive summary, descriptive overview of postoperative pain management, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, pathogenesis, and currently available therapies.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of diagnosis rate, and disease progression along treatment guidelines.
• Additionally, an all-inclusive account of both the current and emerging therapies, along with the elaborative profiles of late-stage and prominent therapies, will have an impact on the current treatment landscape.
• A detailed review of the postoperative pain management market, historical and forecasted market size, market share by therapies, detailed assumptions, and rationale behind our approach is included in the report, covering the 7MM drug outreach.
• The Post-Operative Pain Management Therapeutics Market Report provides an edge while developing business strategies, by understanding trends, through SWOT analysis and expert insights/KOL views, patient journey, and treatment preferences that help in shaping and driving the 7MM postoperative pain management drugs market.

Postoperative Pain Management Market Report Insights

• Patient-based Post-Operative Pain Management Market Forecasting
• Postoperative Pain Management Therapeutic approaches
• Postoperative pain management pipeline analysis
• Postoperative pain management market size and trends
• Existing and future market opportunity 

Postoperative Pain Management Market Report Key Strengths

• 10years Post-Operative Pain Management Market Forecast
• 7MM coverage 
• Postoperative pain management epidemiology segmentation
• Key cross competition 
• Conjoint analysis
• Postoperative Pain Management Drugs uptake
• Key Postoperative Pain Management market forecast assumptions

Postoperative Pain Management Market Report Assessment

• Current Postoperative Pain Management treatment practices
• Postoperative Pain Management Unmet needs
• Postoperative Pain Management Pipeline product profiles
• Postoperative Pain Management Market attractiveness
• Qualitative analysis (SWOT and conjoint analysis)
• Postoperative Pain Management Market Drivers
• Postoperative Pain Management Market Barriers

Key Questions Answered in the Post-Operative Pain Management Market Report

• What is the historical and forecasted postoperative pain management patient pool/patient burden in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan?
• Which combination treatment approaches will have a significant impact on the postoperative pain management drug treatment market size?
• How would the market drivers, barriers, and future opportunities affect the market dynamics and subsequent analysis of the associated trends?

• What are the current and emerging treatment options for postoperative pain management? 
• What are the recent novel therapies, targets, mechanisms of action, and technologies developed to overcome the limitations of existing therapies? 
• Patient acceptability in terms of preferred treatment options as per real-world scenarios?
• What are the country-specific accessibility issues of expensive, recently approved therapies? 
• How many key players are developing therapies for postoperative pain management?
• Which drug is the major contributor postoperative pain management market by 2034?

Reasons to Buy the Postoperative Pain Management Market Forecast Report

• The Post-Operative Pain Management Therreport will help in developing business strategies by understanding the latest trends and changing treatment dynamics driving the postoperative pain management market.
• Insights on patient burden/disease Post-Operative Pain Management Incidence, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• Understand the existing market opportunities in varying geographies and the growth potential over the coming years.
• Distribution of historical and current patient share based on real-world prescription data along with reported sales of approved products in the US, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan.
• Identifying strong upcoming players in the Post-Operative Pain Management Drugs Market will help devise strategies to help get ahead of competitors.
• Detailed analysis and ranking of class-wise potential current and emerging therapies under the conjoint analysis section to provide visibility around leading classes.
• Highlights of access and reimbursement policies of approved therapies, barriers to accessibility of expensive off-label therapies, and patient assistance programs.
• To understand Key Opinion Leaders’ perspectives around the accessibility, acceptability, and compliance-related challenges of existing treatment to overcome barriers in the future.
• Detailed insights on the unmet needs of the existing Post-Operative Pain Management Drugs Market so that the upcoming players can strengthen their development and launch strategy.

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