This is free Antibacterials marketing research on the industry and can include information on the background, market structure, definitions, competitors, trends and developments of antibacterials and is related to other topics such as health, medicine and pharmaceuticals.

Rise of the superbug set to drive antibacterials growth

The increasing incidence of multi-resistant superbugs is emerging as a major global health concern. Although there are several candidates for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus other pathogens such Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter Baumannii pose an even larger threat. This largely unmet urgent need for treatments should drive growth in the antibacterials market.

The antibacterials market, valued at approximately $25.5 billion in 2005, is highly mature, growing at a modest average rate of only 5.1% from 2002 to 2005. Most community-acquired infections can be treated well with available drugs, and the level of genericization is very high, leaving little profit opportunities for drug manufacturers.

However, more recently multi-drug resistant bacterial infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have emerged as a major global health concern, refueling Big Pharma's interest in the sector. Sales growth rates reflect this trend with classes mainly indicated for the treatment of resistant infections, and former niche antibiotics such as Pfizer's Zyvox (linezolid) on the verge of blockbuster status.

Key unmet need

Over the last decade, MRSA has rapidly developed into a public health concern. The incidence of the so-called 'superbug' has been found to nearly triple among US ICU patients, where it accounted for up to 63% of all S. aureus infections in 2004. Across the Atlantic, the situation is nearly as serious with the UK reporting an MRSA incidence of 45%, with approximately 15% of the cases proving fatal. Clearly, there is a crucial need for new MRSA treatments, and a look at the antibacterial pipeline reveals no less than four candidates in late-stage development, indicating that efficacious options will continue to be available.

Indeed, the situation is worse for other multi-drug resistant pathogens such as the gram-negatives Pseudomonas or Acinetobacter, with carbapenems the main and in many cases only efficacious option. With carbapenem-resistant strains starting to emerge and just two new candidates, Johnson & Johnson's Doripenem and Ceftobiprole in late-stage development, further treatment alternatives are urgently needed.

Hospital antibacterial market opportunities

The rising incidence of resistant infections will fuel strong growth particularly in the nosocomial antibacterial market. Although there has been a worrying increase in MRSA cases in the community setting, most infections with resistant strains occur in the hospital setting. Furthermore, in-hospital treatment of bacterial infections will become more and more common as the number of elderly and immunocompromised patients grows.

Importantly, generic competition is less intense than in the community market. This, in combination with the high clinical need of critically ill patients, eases cost pressure on hospital antibacterials, making the hospital market an attractive target for drugs manufacturers. With only few branded products left in the relatively well-served and highly genericised community market, the main commercial opportunity in antibacterials lies in the treatment of nosocomial infections.

Efficacious drugs against MRSA and, in particular, multi-resistant gram-negatives are urgently needed and their significant commercial potential will hopefully drive continued R&D in this area.

Related research:

• Commercial Insight: Antibacterials - Growth in resistance rates drives niche indications

• Stakeholder Insight: Respiratory Tract Infections in the USA - The demise of narrow-spectrum antibiotics

• Commercial Insight: Antibacterials - Pharma Strikes Antibac