As competition grows strong in the global antibacterial drugs market, leading players are tending towards the trend of collaborating with rivals to expand product offerings and regional footprints worldwide. In a new study, Transparency Market Research (TMR) has identified Bayer AG, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (GSK), Merck & Co., Inc., AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Novartis Ag, and Allergen Plc as some of the most prominent enterprises operating in the global antibacterial drugs market.

As an example of the above, Pfizer signed an agreement with AstraZeneca in August 2016. This collaboration was intended to acquire the commercialisation and development rights of the late-stage small molecule anti-infective business. Besides this, the market witnessed several other partnerships, collaborations, and acquisitions aimed at catapulting businesses to the forefront of the global antibacterial drugs market.

Despite new strategies employed businesses to gain traction, the subpar pace of growth is unlikely to change for the global antibacterial drugs market. The TMR report states that the global market is likely to exhibit a CAGR of 1.5% between 2017 and 2025. Given the growth pace, the market is expected to reach US$51bn by the end of 2025, from US$45bn in 2016. While North America held dominance in the global antibacterial drugs market in 2016, sluggish growth is predicted for the region through the forecast period. In terms of drug-class, the B-lactam segment led the market in 2016.

Antibacterial drugs market witnesses threat from looming patent expiries

The rising population of elderly, escalating number of bacterial strains which are multidrug resistant, and the rising demand for effective yet affordable antibacterial drugs will give the market a considerable boost over the forecast period. In addition, the global antibacterial drugs market is predicted to gain significantly from the increasing incidence of infectious diseases, as well as from the rising demand for innovative molecules. Despite the aforementioned growth prospects, the advent of genetic drugs for antibacterial activities threatens the overall market. The looming patent expiries are also identified as key factors restraining the market. Furthermore, current research and development activities conducted in the field are insufficient, as per many experts. This could pose significant threat to the overall antibacterial drugs market in the coming years.

Opportunities prevalent in emerging nations

In the coming years, the market is likely to gain from factors such as the improved efficacy, fewer side effects, and reduced time of action of drugs. In addition, opportunities prevalent across emerging nations will enable the global antibacterial drugs market to stay afloat during the forecast period. The TMR report forecasts that the market will gain considerable traction in emerging nations such as India and China.

In the last few years, several synthesis inhibitors have gone off-patent, so several of the drugs under clinical trial could be approved in the coming years. The likelihood of benefitting from the commercialisation of drug-resistant infections is also rising. Despite the influx of novel protein synthesis inhibitors, vaccines will remain the class of drugs contributing the most revenue toward the global antibacterial drugs market. These factors will enable growth in the global antibacterial drugs market in the coming years.