Growth is Infectious: Global Market in Infectious Disease Products set to Grow

Until relatively recently in our history, infectious diseases were the number 1 killer of humans. In the 20^thcentury alone, an estimated 1,600,000,000 people were killed by infectious diseases. They have since been pushed into second by non-communicable disease like cardiovascular diseases, but remain a significant threat, causing 16% of all deaths worldwide.

Since many of the infectious diseases which are a threat have treatments, demand for these treatments remains strong. Expansion of governmental health programs, especially in Asia, is actually prompting rapid growth in this area. A 7.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is predicted worldwide in this market according to results released from BCC Research.

The combined number of cases for measles, mumps and rubella was 1,194,000 in 2013, a number which is astonishingly high for diseases which have vaccinations readily available against them. The market in vaccinations worldwide is valued at $19billion and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 6.9%. Much of this growth is believed to be in rotavirus vaccines which are predicted to grow at an astonishing 21.5% CAGR. With over 200m people killed by diarrhoea in the last century and in children under five 10% of all deaths due to it, wider implementation of the rotavirus vaccine could lead to enormous measurable benefits.

With antibiotic resistance a growing concern, it might be reasonable to assume there will be no growth in this sector; however this report predicts a 6% CAGR. New uses for antibiotics such as in chronic back pain and wider adoption in developing countries such as the BRIC nations will help drive this growth.

Pharmaceuticals for infectious disease are the largest segment and are projected the quickest growth (8.3%). Much of this growth is expected to be due to increased demand for Hepatitis B and C treatments.

Sources:

BCC Research

WHO Statistics 2013

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