Share This Page
Drugs in ATC Class D01B
✉ Email this page to a colleague
Up to Top Level ATC Classes
Up to D - Dermatologicals
Subclasses in ATC: D01B - ANTIFUNGALS FOR SYSTEMIC USE
D01B Market Analysis and Financial Projection
The market for systemic antifungal drugs (ATC Class D01B) is experiencing steady growth fueled by rising fungal infections, advances in drug development, and strategic industry activities. Here's a detailed analysis of the market dynamics and patent landscape:
Market Dynamics
The global systemic antifungal drugs market was valued at $15.8–$16.5 billion in 2023, with projections reaching $19.16–$25 billion by 2030, reflecting a 3.8–4.2% CAGR [2][3][7][13]. Key drivers include:
- Increasing fungal infections: Immunocompromised populations (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer, transplant patients) face higher risks of invasive candidiasis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis. Over 1 million annual cryptococcosis cases and 46,000 U.S. candidiasis cases highlight demand [2][11].
- Hospital-acquired infections: Systemic antifungals are critical for treating nosocomial infections, especially in ICUs, which account for 20–30% of invasive fungal cases [3][13].
- Innovation in drug development: New therapies like ibrexafungerp (first-in-class triterpenoid) and fosmanogepix (Gwt1 enzyme inhibitor) address resistance and toxicity challenges of older drugs [5].
Key Therapeutic Segments
- Candidiasis: Dominates indications due to rising Candida infections, driven by widespread antibiotic use and diabetes prevalence [2][8].
- Aspergillosis: Fastest-growing segment, linked to mortality rates exceeding 50% in immunocompromised patients [7].
Regional Insights
- North America: Holds ~40% market share (2023) due to advanced healthcare infrastructure and high fungal infection rates [2][7].
- Asia-Pacific: Anticipated 5.2% CAGR (2023–2030), driven by increasing mucormycosis cases and healthcare investments [2][7].
Competitive Landscape
Leading players (e.g., Pfizer, Novartis, GSK) focus on R&D pipelines and strategic acquisitions:
- In 2023, Sandoz acquired Mycamine rights to strengthen its antifungal portfolio [7].
- 77 R&D projects were active in 2024, with GSK leading with 27 candidates targeting resistant strains [8].
Patent Landscape
Recent patents highlight innovations in drug formulations and mechanisms to combat resistance:
- Polymorphic Forms (US10414751B2): Covers stable crystalline forms of antifungal compounds, improving solubility and storage stability. Such formulations reduce dosing frequency and enhance pharmacokinetics [1].
- Liposomal Delivery (US5874104A): Encapsulates polyene antifungals (e.g., amphotericin B) in phospholipids to minimize nephrotoxicity, a major limitation of systemic use [15].
- Novel Compounds (US8188085B2): Protects triterpenoid derivatives effective against drug-resistant Candida and Aspergillus strains [16].
Emerging Trends
- Targeted therapies: Patents increasingly focus on fungal-specific pathways (e.g., β-glucan synthase inhibition in echinocandins) to reduce off-target effects [14].
- Combination therapies: Over 20% of recent patents involve drug combinations (e.g., azoles with immunomodulators) to overcome resistance [5][13].
Challenges and Opportunities
- Drug resistance: Resistance to azoles and echinocandins is rising, with 3–10% of Candida isolates showing multidrug resistance [5].
- Regulatory hurdles: Stringent FDA approvals delay launches, though orphan drug designations (e.g., for olorofim) accelerate development for rare infections [7][13].
- Pipeline potential: Over 15 late-stage candidates, including rezafungin (long-acting echinocandin) and opelconazole (inhaled triazole), aim to address unmet needs in invasive infections [5][13].
Future Outlook
Systemic antifungals under D01B are poised for growth, driven by:
- Advancements in diagnostics: Faster identification of fungal pathogens enables early intervention [11].
- Expanding prophylaxis use: High-risk patients (e.g., chemotherapy recipients) increasingly receive preventive treatments, boosting demand [13].
- Geographic expansion: Partnerships in emerging markets (e.g., India, Brazil) aim to improve access to advanced therapies [7].
"The development of new antifungals has been slow, but innovations in drug delivery and molecular targeting are reshaping treatment paradigms." – PMC Articles on Antifungal Pipelines [5]
The intersection of rising fungal threats and scientific innovation positions systemic antifungals as a critical growth sector in infectious disease therapeutics.
References
- https://patents.google.com/patent/US10414751B2/en
- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/antifungal-drugs-market
- https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/11/01/2973422/28124/en/Antifungal-Drugs-Market-Projected-to-Reach-USD-19-16-Billion-by-2030-Amid-Rising-Incidence-of-Fungal-Infections-Global-Research-2024.html
- https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/432
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8501344/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATC_code_D01
- https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/antifungal-drugs-market
- https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/antifungal-drugs-market-101188
- https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=D01&showdescription=yes
- https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=D01B&showdescription=yes
- https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/10/2994531/0/en/Anti-Fungal-Treatment-Market-Sees-Steady-Growth-Driven-by-Rising-Infections-and-Advancements-in-Therapies-Report-by-S-S-Insider.html
- https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/152010/1/000000154348.pdf
- https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/09/17/2947331/28124/en/Antifungal-Drugs-Strategic-Business-Report-2024-2030-Trends-in-Prophylactic-Use-of-Antifungal-Drugs-in-High-Risk-Populations-Propel-Market-Growth-A-US-22-Billion-Market-by-2030.html
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2019.00375/full
- https://patents.google.com/patent/US5874104A/en
- https://patents.google.com/patent/US8188085B2/en
More… ↓
