Bacterial diseases are one of the largest therapeutic areas in the pharmaceutical sector. This is basically due to high prevalence of bacterial infections to a significant percentage of the global population. An antibacterial is referred to as an agent that interferes with the growth and reproduction of bacteria that causes numerous mild to severe infections in living organisms. These agents possess bactericidal activity which targets various parts of bacterial physiology such as nucleic acid synthesis, protein synthesis and permeability of cell membrane thus, help in treating infection. Lungs, skin, and urinary tract are the most common sites of infection that are exposed directly to bacteria. Apart from these sites of infection intra-abdominal infections, CNS infections, bone and cardiac infections are also likely to occur due to bacteria; however the number of patients is relatively low. The market for antibacterial is anticipated to witness sluggish growth due to patent expiry of leading branded drugs. However, growing demand for therapies against antibiotic resistant bacteria and growing elderly population are key factors that are expected to ensure the steady growth of this market.
The market for antibacterial drugs can be classified based on different types of classes such as phenicols, tetracycline, sulphonamides, macrolides, b-lactams, aminoglycosides and quinolones/fluroquinolones. The b-lactams classes is estimated to account for the largest share of the market due to mild side effects and broad spectrum of activity. However, this class is anticipated to witness decline in its revenue share during the forecast period. This has been seen due to patent expiry of leading branded drugs namely Invanz, Doribax , Telflaro and others. Likewise quinolones/fluroquinolones class is anticipated to witness decline in its revenue due to rising concerns regarding tendon ruptures and tendon injuries from fluroquinolones therapy. Similarly, sales erosion due to patent expiry and rising resistant bacterial strains would also hamper the growth in this market over the forecast period. However, the drug class macrolides is anticipated to witness high demand in the future due to anticipated launch of pipeline drugs and increasing usage of these drugs for treating patients.
The report on antibacterial drugs market can also segmented on the basis of geography namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. The Asia-Pacific region currently accounts for the largest share of the market and is also anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate in the future. Growing incidence of bacterial infections such as C.difficile and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and presence of large number of generic manufactures are some of the factors due to which this region is expected to record highest growth rate. Similarly, growing geriatric population which is more prone to infectious disease and presence of large population base are anticipated to support the growth in the global antibacterial drugs market over the next seven years. Moreover, at present North America and Europe held the second and third largest markets respectively in terms of the revenue. Short product lifecycle, strict regulatory requirements and market maturity are major restraining factors for the growth of the antibacterial drugs market globally. Moreover, generic infiltration is likely to hamper the growth of the market in the developed regions over the forecast period.
The market for antibacterial drugs is highly competitive comprising large and small players. Moreover, the market for antibacterial is primarily occupied by the generic manufactures however; Bayer AG, AstraZenca plc, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Forest Laboratories, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Pfizer, Inc., Novartis AG and Sanofi are few major players operating in this market
