Peptide therapeutics have become one of the fastest-growing segments of modern medicine, transforming treatment approaches for obesity, diabetes, and a growing range of chronic diseases. While much of the spotlight has focused on blockbuster drugs themselves, a new market analysis suggests the industry’s success is also creating significant opportunities for the companies that manufacture the devices and technologies used to deliver them.
According to a new report from Research and Markets, the global pharmaceutical drug delivery market is projected to grow from $2.15 trillion in 2026 to $2.92 trillion by 2031, representing a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%. The expansion is being driven by increasing demand for biologics, biosimilars, advanced therapies, and patient-friendly drug administration technologies.
For the peptide industry, the findings reinforce a trend that has been building for years: many of today’s most promising therapies depend on specialized delivery systems to reach patients effectively.
Why Peptides Matter
Unlike traditional small-molecule drugs, many peptide medicines face challenges related to oral bioavailability and degradation in the digestive tract. As a result, they often require injectable administration, creating demand for sophisticated drug delivery technologies ranging from prefilled syringes and autoinjectors to wearable injectors and controlled-release platforms.
The report specifically identifies peptides among the key therapy classes driving growth in the injectable drug delivery segment, alongside biologics, oligonucleotides, and cell and gene therapies.
Injectable Delivery Takes Center Stage
According to the analysis, injectable drug delivery accounted for the largest share of the pharmaceutical drug delivery market in 2025. Growth has been supported by the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and increasing adoption of large-molecule therapies that require parenteral administration.
Innovation is occurring across the delivery ecosystem, with manufacturers investing in:
- Prefilled syringes
- Autoinjectors
- Wearable injectors
- Needle-free injection systems
- Subcutaneous infusion technologies
- Micro- and nanocarrier delivery platforms
These technologies are designed to improve patient convenience, enhance treatment adherence, and support administration outside traditional healthcare settings.
The GLP-1 Effect
The explosive growth of GLP-1 receptor agonists and next-generation metabolic therapies has helped accelerate demand for delivery devices. As obesity and diabetes treatments move increasingly toward peptide-based approaches, healthcare systems are seeking more convenient and scalable administration options.
The report notes that patient-centric, self-administered therapies are becoming a major driver of adoption for injectable and connected drug-delivery platforms worldwide.
Beyond the Drug Itself
For investors and industry observers, the growth forecast highlights a broader reality: every successful peptide therapy creates additional demand across the healthcare supply chain.
Companies producing delivery devices, formulation technologies, wearable injectors, and biologic stabilization platforms stand to benefit as more peptide-based medicines enter the market. While therapies themselves continue to attract headlines, the infrastructure required to deliver them safely and effectively is rapidly becoming a major industry in its own right.
If current forecasts prove accurate, the peptide revolution may not only reshape drug development, but also help propel the global drug delivery market toward nearly $3 trillion by 2031.