VIENNA, Austria – April 2021: The current issue of the Global SMART Update Vol. 25 “Regional diversity and the impact of scheduling on NPS trends” (April 2021) highlights the increase in diversity of substances which has far exceeded the increase in geographic spread. The number of NPS reported each year increased from 131 in 62 countries and territories in 2009 to 542 individual NPS in 71 countries and territories in 2019, an increase of 314 per cent in terms of the number of individual substances reported.

Regional NPS innovation trends (measured in the annual number of NPS reported for the first time) diverge strongly. The annual number of substances reported for the first time declined in Asia as of 2015 while remaining high in Europe and North America. In North America, the proportion of new substances among all NPS reported in a year is considerably higher and points to a highly innovative and dynamic NPS market situation with little indication of consolidation.

Figure 1: Number of NPS reported for the first time each year by effect group in North America, 2009-2019

Figure 2: Number of NPS reported each year by effect group in North America, 2009-2019

For more information please see:

Global SMART Update 25: Regional diversity and the impact of scheduling on NPS trends