Market Challenges And Opportunities
Global Acinetobacter Pneumonia Therapeutics Market- Drivers
- Rising prevalence of Acinetobacter pneumonia infections: The rising prevalence of Acinetobacter pneumonia infections across healthcare settings is a key factor driving the growth of the Acinetobacter pneumonia therapeutics market. Acinetobacter pneumonia is considered as one of the most problematic nosocomial infections due to increasing antibiotic resistance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Acinetobacter causes approximately 8%–10% of all hospital-acquired pneumonias in the U.S. with mortality rates ranging from 26% to 65% (CDC, 2022). The increasing prevalence can be attributed to the rising elderly population that are more susceptible to pneumonia and growing antibiotic resistance. Most strains of Acinetobacter have become resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics used for treatment, including carbapenems, which were used as a last resort.
- Increasing research & development activities: Increasing research & development activities is one of the major factors driving the growth of the Acinetobacter pneumonia therapeutics market. Acinetobacter pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitals worldwide. However, there are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral drugs available for the treatment of this multidrug-resistant pathogen. Due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter infections, there is a pressing need to develop new treatment options. Currently, several pharmaceutical and biotech companies have intensified their efforts to address this urgent medical need through extensive research. For example, Entasis Therapeutics, an advanced late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company is developing a novel antibiotic called zoliflodacin specially designed to treat multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections. Phase 3 clinical trials of zoliflodacin started in 2021 and the drug showed promising results in treating patients with Acinetobacter pneumonia. Similarly, other companies such as Lefamulin by Pleiconcell, TP-271 and TP-6076 by Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals are in active clinical trial phases for treating multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections.
- Growing healthcare expenditure: Growing healthcare expenditure is one of the major factors driving the growth of the Acinetobacter pneumonia therapeutics market. Pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter bacteria has been rising steadily over the past decade posing severe threat. As per data from World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of healthcare associated pneumonia caused by multidrug resistant Acinetobacter bacteria increased by over 15% from 2015-2020. This rising caseload has placed significant economic burden on governments and healthcare systems worldwide. The high treatment cost of Acinetobacter pneumonia is further escalating the healthcare expenditure. Limited treatment options and growing antibiotic resistance has made the treatment lengthy and costly. For instance, a study published in American Journal of Infection Control in 2021 reported that the mean hospital cost per patient for healthcare associated drug resistant Acinetobacter Pneumonia in the U.S. was estimated to be over US$51,000. Considering millions of new cases being reported annually, the total expenditure on treatment runs into billions of dollars. This rising financial burden is forcing governments as well as private healthcare payers to focus on development of new and more effective therapeutics to curb the escalating costs.
Global Acinetobacter Pneumonia Therapeutics Market- Opportunities
- Emerging markets in developing countries: Emerging markets in developing countries present a great opportunity for growth in the Acinetobacter pneumonia therapeutics market. These developing nations are experiencing rapid economic development and population growth. With rising incomes, healthcare infrastructure and awareness, more patients now have access to diagnosis and treatment options for drug-resistant infections like Acinetobacter pneumonia. According to WHO data from 2021, lower respiratory infections remain one of the top ten causes of death in developing countries. Pneumonia alone was responsible for over 800,000 deaths in children under 5 years in 2020. Drug-resistant pathogens have further complicated treatment with limited affordable options. With a growing vulnerable patient population and a dearth of effective therapies, the need for innovative pneumonia treatments is huge in these emerging healthcare markets.
- Increased emphasis on preventive healthcare: Increased emphasis on preventive healthcare presents a major opportunity for the Acinetobacter pneumonia therapeutics market. As awareness grows about the importance of prevention over treatment, demand is rising for interventions that can help dodge this disease. Public health officials globally recognize the potential savings from shifting resources upstream. For example, the World Health Organization estimates US$1 invested in prevention could yield US$3 in reduced healthcare costs and lost productivity down the road. Pharmaceutical firms investing now in research and development of vaccines as well as rapid point-of-care diagnostics for early detection may gain first-mover advantage. By 2030, preventive solutions could account for over 30% of the therapeutics market according to some projections, up from under 20% currently. With coordinated global efforts, the future appears bright for curbing the widespread impact of this pneumonia through affordable prevention.
Global Acinetobacter Pneumonia Therapeutics Market - Restraints
- High R&D costs: High research and development costs are certainly one of the major restraints for the growth of the Acinetobacter pneumonia therapeutics market. Developing new and effective drugs to treat such deadly infections is an extremely long, complex and costly process. According to the WHO data, on an average it takes over 10 years for any drug to move from initial discovery to final approval and commercial launch. During this period, the R&D costs continue to mount due to multiple stages of pre-clinical and clinical testing involved to prove safety and efficacy of the candidate drug. Most drugs fail or get dropped during clinical trials itself due to lack of efficacy or safety issues. This means all the investments made into the failed candidates become fruitless expenditures for the companies.
- Stringent regulatory guidelines: Stringent regulatory guidelines imposed by healthcare authorities across the globe are posing significant challenges for the growth of the Acinetobacter pneumonia therapeutics market. Developing effective drugs to treat infections caused by Acinetobacter bacteria is immensely complex and time-consuming due to the inherent drug-resistant nature and constantly evolving genetics of the bacteria. Pharmaceutical companies need to overcome numerous regulatory hurdles and comply with lengthy clinical trial phases to demonstrate safety and efficacy of new drug candidates as per the standards set by regulatory bodies like U.S. FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMA). Even after successful trials, the approval process takes additional 1-2 years of scrutiny of manufacturing and quality systems. This prolonged development cycle significantly increases the costs and financial risks for companies, discouraging investments in antibacterial drug research.
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