Market Challenges And Opportunities

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment market – Driver

Increasing sexually transmitted disease burden is fueling growth of the STDs treatment market. Among 20 STDs, the most common are Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, Herpes, Hepatitis (HBV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). For instance, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in year 2016, 1,598,354 cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection were reported in the U.S., corresponding to 497.3 cases per 100,000 in 2015. Furthermore, 468,514 gonorrhea cases were reported for a rate of 145.8 cases per 100,000 population, an increase of 18.5% from 2015. This increasing incidence of STDs is also due to the unprotected sexual practice, which in turn fueling demand for STDs treatment. For instance, according to World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe sex is second most common risk factor for increasing disease burden.

The number of products in pipeline for HIV treatment are high, which is expected to propel growth of the sexually transmitted disease treatment market. For instance, in 2017, GSK and ViiV Healthcare applied in European Medicines Agency (EMA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for regulatory affiliation for a single-tablet, two-drug regimen of dolutegravir (by ViiV Healthcare) and rilpivirine (by Janssen) used for treatment of HIV-1 infection. Moreover, other drug candidates in pipeline includes – PrEP, PRO140 with ibalizumab, BMS- 955176, which are expected to be launched in the forecast period. Moreover, governments are focusing on funding research and development programs, which is expected to aid in growth of the market. For instance, British Columbia Center for Disease Control sponsored doxycycline (drug) studies for indication of syphilis and other sexually transmitted infection, which is in early phase I clinical trial as of 2016.

Moreover, increasing governmental initiatives to spread awareness through organization of campaigns and free diagnostic camps is also expected to augment growth of the STDs treatment market. For instance, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched Improving Sexually Transmitted Disease Programs through Assessment, Assurance, Policy Development, and Prevention Strategies, or STD-AAPPS, in 2014. Moreover, in 2018, Thunder Bay Group—HIV / AIDS / hepatitis C education and support services provider— expanded the access of hepatitis C medicine for individuals with level 2 hepatitis C, after negotiating with the provinces and drug manufacturers.

However, growth of the sexually transmitted disease treatment market is expected to be restrained by low rate of screening for diseases and late diagnosis of the disease such as HIV.