Antibiotic Resistance Market anticipated to Witness High Growth owing to Increasing Prevalence of Infectious Diseases

 

Global Antibiotic Resistance Market

The global antibiotic resistance market is estimated to be valued at US$ 8.83 billion in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.4% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2031. Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. However, with time, bacteria develop the ability to defend and defeat the antibiotics. This ability to defeat antibiotics is known as antibiotic resistance. The excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics has given rise to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Resistance arises due to changes or mutations that occur in the DNA of bacteria. As a result, antibiotics that were once capable of killing bacteria become ineffective.

There is a growing need to tackle antibiotic resistance as the number of antibiotic-resistant infections keeps increasing every year. Some of the most common antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), drug-resistant tuberculosis, and gonorrhea. The rising cases of infectious diseases and growing awareness about antibiotic resistance are driving the growth of this market. The increasing number of surgical procedures are also raising the need for newer antibiotics to treat and prevent postoperative infections.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the Global Antibiotic Resistance Market Demand are Melinta Therapeutics, Merck & Co., Inc., Allergan, Pfizer Inc., Tetraphase Pharmaceutical, Inc., Theravance Biopharma, WOCKHARDT, Entasis Threapeutics, Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Seres Therapeutics, Achaogen Inc., Basilea Pharmaceutical Ltd., Nabriva Threapeutics plc, and NEMESIS BIOSCIENCE LTD. Majority of these players are focusing on R&D activities to develop newer drugs to combat antibiotic resistance. For instance, in 2021, Melinta Therapeutics received FDA approval for its carbapenem antibiotic launch Vabomere.

The global market presents significant growth opportunities, especially in developing countries where prevalence of infectious diseases is high. Key opportunities include demand for antibiotics from hospital acquired infections, rising research on phage therapy, approval of combination therapy, and government support towards antibiotic development. Geographically, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to be the fastest growing market owing to large patient pool and improving healthcare infrastructure.

Market Drivers and Restrain

Market Drivers

Growing prevalence of infectious diseases globally is a key driver. From 2000 to 2015, infectious diseases claimed roughly 41 million lives annually. Diseases like COVID-19, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and lower respiratory infections are majorly contributing to antibiotic resistance. With rising cases of such infections, the demand for novel antibiotics is increasing.

Increasing funding for R&D of novel drugs is boosting the market growth. Both government and private organizations are funding research activities for development of new antibiotic classes to overcome resistance. For instance, US government launched CARB-X program in 2016 with initial funding of US$ 456 million for supporting global non-profit partners in antibacterial research.

Market Restrain

High costs associated with developing new antibiotics is a major challenge. It takes around US$ 1-2 billion and 10-15 years to develop a novel antibiotic. Moreover, strict drug approval regulations make the whole process lengthy and costly. This deters pharmaceutical companies from investing in this area.

Segment Analysis

The global antibiotic resistance market is dominated by the cephalosporin sub-segment and held a market share of around 30% in 2024. Cephalosporins are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of antibiotics due to their broad spectrum of activity and favorable safety profile. They are effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, making them useful for treating a wide range of bacterial infections like pneumonia, skin infections, ear infections, and urinary tract infections. The increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance to cephalosporins like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is boosting the demand for new and more effective antibiotic treatments.

Global Analysis

North America dominated the global antibiotic resistance market in 2024 and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. This is attributed to high healthcare spending, growing research on novel drug development, and the presence of key pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials for antibiotic resistance in the region. Europe held the second largest market share and is anticipated to witness significant growth owing to supportive government funding for antibiotic resistance related research projects. The Asia Pacific region is projected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period due to the rising burden of infectious diseases, growing awareness about antibiotic resistance, and improving healthcare infrastructure across developing nations.

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