Antibiotics Market by Drugs Class (Cephalosporin, Penicillin, Fluoroquinolone, Macrolide, Carbapenem, Aminoglycoside, Sulfonamide, 7-ACA, and Others), Action Mechanisms (Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors, Protein Synthesis Inhibitors, DNA Synthesis Inhibitors, RNA Synthesis Inhibitors, Mycolic Acid Inhibitors, and Others), and Regions (Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast 2021 – 2028

The global antibiotics market size was valued at USD 40.67 billion in 2020 and is projected to (reach/surpass) USD 56.90 billion by 2028, expanding at a CAGR of 4.3 % during the forecast period, 2021–2028. The growth of the market is attributed to the wide prevalence of infectious diseases and favorable government policies encouraging the development for various antibiotics research.  

Antibiotics are antimicrobials that fight bacterial infections and rarely protozoan infections. They are also used to treat strep throat, sinus infections, urinary tract infections, ear infections, skin infections, and other infectious diseases. Other major infectious diseases include lower respiratory infections, pneumonia, malaria, and tuberculosis. Favorable governments’ regulations for the development of new drugs across the globe present a key trend for the market growth. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Shionogi's Fetroja (cefiderocol) in the US in November 2019, Lasvic (lascufloxacin) by the Japanese PMDA, and the new drug application submission by Wockhardt Ltd. in India are some of the key examples.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections were reported in the US alone. As per a study by the Pew Charitable Trust, around 41 viable molecules has been conducted for finding treatments of severe bacterial infections in December 2019. The study further stated that out of these 41 investigational drugs, 17 were in the third phase of clinical trials or have submitted NDAs for approval while four new antibiotic drugs were approved by the FDA in the second half of 2019. Collaborations for antibiotic development is a key trend for the further expansion in the development of a large number of antibiotic drugs in the near future. Pharmaceutical companies are working together to develop new therapies in order to reduce the cost burden of the drug development process.

Market Trends, Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

• Rising incidence of infectious diseases and supportive governments’ legislation such as GAIN Act and the REVAMP Act are projected to boost the market growth during the forecast period.
• Introduction of new antibiotic drugs and development of new novel therapies for the infectious diseases treatment are expected to drive the market during the forecast period.
• Requirement for a large capital investment for installation of laboratory facilities acts as a key restraint for the market growth.
• Growing R&D initiatives from key pharmaceutical players and emerging collaboration to produce novel antibiotics are key factors offering lucrative opportunities for the market expansion.

Scope of the Report

The report on the global antibiotics market includes an assessment of the market, trends, segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.

Market Segment Insights

Cephalosporin segment is expected to grow at a significant pace

Based on drugs class, the antibiotics market is divided cephalosporin, penicillin, fluoroquinolone, macrolide, carbapenem, aminoglycoside, sulfonamide, 7-ACA, and others. The penicillin segment is expected to account for a key share of the market during the forecast period owing to the maximum prescription of the drug and the presence of most generic manufacturers of the drug. However, the cephalosporin segment is anticipated to exhibit a high CAGR during the forecast period owing to the commercialization of new drugs and ongoing R&D activities. These medications are the first-line treatment for infections such as pharyngitis, skin infections, bronchitis, gonorrhoea, and ear infections. The others segment is expected to grow a fast rate in the coming years due to the presence of novel therapies in the pipeline. This segment includes tetracyclines, imidazoles, amphenicols, lincosamides oxazolidinone, and combination drugs, as well as antibiotics from existing classes. During the forecast period, the commercialization of iclaprim, gepotidacin, ridinilazole, and zoliflodacin is expected to boost market growth.

Cell wall synthesis segment is projected to account for a key market share

Based on action mechanisms, the antibiotics market is segmented into cell wall synthesis inhibitors, protein synthesis inhibitors, RNA synthesis inhibitors, DNA synthesis inhibitors, mycolic acid inhibitors, and others. The cell wall synthesis segment is expected to account for a key share of the market during the forecast period owing to the high consumption based on prescription pattern and significant government funding. For example, in February 2019, Bicycle Therapeutics announced the development of a novel cell wall synthesis inhibitor after receiving USD 640,000 grant from the UK government. Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. launched Aemcolo (rifamycin) as extended-release tablets for the diagnosis of Travelers' Diarrhea in the US in November 2018. Furthermore, the FDA granted the product Fast Track designations, Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation, and marketing exclusivity until 2028. Cell wall synthesis inhibitors are the most commonly and widely used antibiotics due to their broad spectrum of action against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. However, the RNA synthesis inhibitors segment is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace during the forecast period due to an increase in the number of product launches and R&D initiatives.

Asia Pacific is projected to exhibit a robust growth rate

In terms of regions, the market is classified as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia pacific constituted a large market share, accounting for over 44.5% in 2020 and is projected to exhibit a robust growth rate during the forecast period. The regional market growth is attributed to rising cases of infectious diseases and wide governments’ initiatives for the development of drugs that can offer effective treatment of the diseases. Meanwhile, the market of North America is expected to hold a key market share in the coming years owing to massive investment on R&D programs and drug discovery activities for the disease treatment.

Segments

Segments Covered in the Report
The global antibiotics market has been segmented on the basis of
Drugs class

• Cephalosporin
• Penicillin
• Fluoroquinolone
• Macrolide
• Carbapenem
• Aminoglycoside
• Sulfonamide
• 7-ACA
• Others

Action mechanisms

• Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors
• Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
• DNA Synthesis Inhibitors
• RNA Synthesis Inhibitors
• Mycolic Acid Inhibitors
• Others

Regions

• Asia Pacific
• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• Middle East & Africa

Key Players

• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Allergan plc; Pfizer Inc.
• Melinta Therapeutics
• Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd.
• Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals

Competitive Landscape

Key players competing in the antibiotics market are Merck & Co., Inc.; Allergan plc; Pfizer Inc.; Melinta Therapeutics; Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd.; and Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals. Small and medium-sized biotech businesses are mostly involved in the development of innovative medicines and they are actively involved in developing medicines that explicitly target bacterial resistance mechanisms. Some of the key players in the market have adopted several business strategies especially collaboration to develop novel therapy and drugs.  

For example, in July 2019, Nosopharm announced a collaboration with Evotec AG to develop NOSO-502, which was considered to be a first-in-class novel antibiotic used to treat Enterobacteriaceae infections. In addition, Forge Therapeutics, Inc. and Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. announced a research collaboration and license agreement to develop novel antibiotics in April 2019. Furthermore, the growing number of public-private alliances for various projects including financing into new R&D approaches for antibiotics development is a key aspect for the overall market growth. For example, the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Cooperation (GARDP) and Evotec AG established a public-private partnership in March 2019 to create first-in-class antibiotics for treating drug-resistant bacterial infections.