IBS-M: Why the Mixed Subtype Dominates the Treatment Market

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Treatment Market is segmented by subtype into IBS with Constipation (IBS-C), IBS with Diarrhea (IBS-D), and IBS with Mixed Bowel Habits (IBS-M). Among these, the IBS-M segment held the majority market share in 2022, contributing approximately 46% to 48% of the total market revenue. This dominance is due to the complex nature of the mixed subtype, which presents both clinical challenges and unique therapeutic demands.

Patients diagnosed with IBS-M experience alternating periods of constipation and diarrhea, often within the same week or even day. This fluctuation makes treatment particularly challenging, as drugs designed for one symptom (e.g., a laxative for IBS-C) can severely exacerbate the other (causing severe diarrhea). Consequently, this segment requires a more nuanced, flexible, and often combination-based therapeutic approach, driving higher prescription rates and increasing the cost of managing the condition per patient.