Infectious Disease Therapeutics Market - By Infection Type, By Drug Type, By Mode of Administration, By Distribution Channel - Global Forecast (2025 - 2034)

Infectious Disease Therapeutics Market Size

The global infectious disease therapeutics market size was estimated at USD 136.2 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow from USD 139.6 billion in 2025 to USD 190.1 billion in 2034, at a CAGR of 3.5%. The rising incidence of infectious disease is one of the major factors stimulating the market growth.
 

According to NIH, more than 13 million people die due to infectious diseases per year. The U.S. has reported the highest incidence of influenza, with a notable 98,943 cases, followed by Canada and Australia with 19,352 and 19,123 cases, respectively. The total number of new cases reported from January to March 2024 is approximately 150,000 cases, with January contributing the largest percentage (65%).
 

Also, the rising prevalence of zoonotic diseases those transmitted from animals to humans is a significant factor driving the growth of the infectious disease therapeutics market. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 75% of infectious diseases are zoonotic in nature. Additionally, the increasing elderly population is contributing to market expansion, as older individuals are more susceptible to infections due to weakened immune systems. Statista projects that between 2021 and 2031, the elderly population will account for up to 40.5% of the total population, further increasing demand for effective therapeutic interventions.
 

Bacterial infections remain the leading cause of infectious diseases, surpassing fungal, viral, and parasitic infections. According to a 2022 report published in Chest Journal, approximately 77.9% of infections are attributed to bacteria, followed by fungal infections at 14.1%. This high prevalence drives significant demand for antibiotics, antiviral medications, and other therapeutic solutions, thereby stimulating market growth.
 

Furthermore, the growing prevalence of retroviral diseases, particularly those caused by HIV, increases the demand for human immunodeficiency virus therapeutics which is significantly contributing to the expansion of the infectious disease therapeutics market. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 1.3 million new HIV infections globally in 2022. In addition, data from HIV.gov indicates that in 2023, approximately 39.9 million people worldwide were living with HIV, underscoring the sustained demand for effective HIV therapeutics.
 

Infectious disease therapeutics are defined as medical treatments that are utilised for the prevention, management and curing of infections caused by various bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. These treatments include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic drugs along with vaccines for preventive measures that target specific pathogens and strengthen the immune system.
 

Infectious Disease Therapeutics Market Trends

• The growth of market is significantly driven by increasing awareness of public health and growing prevalence of infections globally. Also, the integration of technology and innovative drug development has changed the landscape for infectious disease treatment.
   
• The market growth is escalated by advanced diagnostic tools that includes point-of-care testing, which are used for early detection and more accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases.
   
• Molecular diagnostics and genomic sequencing are advancing the identification of infections that helps target personalized and targeted therapies. Additionally, the rising antimicrobial resistance has increased the demand for developing next generation, innovative and highly targeted drug delivery drugs.
   
• Increasing awareness for environmental concerns is stimulating the market for eco-friendly and sustainable therapeutic infectious effects. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on research aimed at developing non-toxic, environmentally safe treatments, including biodegradable drugs and sustainable manufacturing methods.
   
• The growing focus on understanding the microbiome, viral mutations, and immune system responses has spurred breakthroughs in vaccine technology, antimicrobial agents, and gene therapies, all of which play a crucial role in tackling emerging and chronic infectious diseases.
   
• Further, advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have improved infectious disease management. AI algorithm helps analyse large amounts of patient data, such as vital signs and laboratory results, to detect early signs of infectious disease and predict its progression.
   
• Therefore, these innovations are expected to play a crucial role in driving the growth and effectiveness of infectious disease treatments in the market.
   

Trump Administration Tariffs

• The tariffs imposed on imports from China during the Trump administration including medical equipment, pharmaceutical ingredients, and electronic components have contributed to increased costs for raw materials and critical diagnostic devices used in infectious disease management.
   
• These trade barriers have also introduced vulnerabilities in supply chains, as many companies in the infectious disease therapeutics sector depend on Chinese suppliers for affordable active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), diagnostic sensors, and laboratory equipment.
   
• These tariffs also have broader implications for research and development (R&D) activities. Many pharmaceutical companies rely on cost-effective sourcing of components and laboratory equipment from China to support clinical trials and large-scale drug manufacturing.
   
• Furthermore, geopolitical tensions and trade policies can affect regulatory collaboration and global health partnerships. Tariffs and strained diplomatic relations may hinder joint initiatives between countries on infectious disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and vaccine distribution.
   
• As a result, firms operating in this space may need to reassess and restructure their sourcing and manufacturing strategies to reduce reliance on China. This could prompt a shift toward alternative supply hubs such as India, Vietnam, and Eastern Europe, which offer competitive manufacturing capabilities and a growing role in global pharmaceutical supply chains.
   

Infectious Disease Therapeutics Market Analysis

Based on infection type, the global market is bifurcated into bacterial infection, viral infection, fungal infection and parasitic infection. The bacterial infection segment dominated the market in 2024 with USD 59 billion and was valued at USD 57.6 billion in 2023 growing from USD 56.4 billion in 2022.
 

• The increasing prevalence of immune disorders and underlying health conditions largely attributed to unhealthy lifestyle habits is contributing to a surge in bacterial infections. Globally, bacterial infections are responsible for approximately 7.7 million deaths each year, underscoring the immediate need for effective treatment solutions. This growing health burden is significantly driving demand for infectious disease therapeutics.
   
• The rising cases of inadequate hygiene and food contamination results in bacterial infections that require infectious disease therapeutics, thereby further escalates the market growth. According to WHO, 600 million falls ill due to contaminated food every year leading to almost 1 in 10 deaths per year.
   
• Similarly, the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has made infection treatment more complex, leading to prolonged cases of severe infectious disease. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, AMR could result in 10 million deaths per year globally, surpassing cancer as a leading cause of death. This further advances the demand for the bacterial disease therapeutics.

Based on drug type, the global infectious disease therapeutics market is categorized into antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antiparasitic, vaccines and immunotherapies. The antibiotics segment dominated the market in 2024 and was valued at USD 48.3 billion.
 

• The increasing prevalence of bacterial infections has stimulated the demand for antibiotics as they are the primary treatment for these infections that vary from common infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections to more severe conditions such as sepsis and tuberculosis.
   
• For instance, the 2022 Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) reported concerning resistance rates in common bacterial pathogens such as E. coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
   
• The rising incidences of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has expanded the demand for innovative antibiotics. As bacteria become resistant to older antibiotics, the need for new classes of antibiotics intensifies the growth in this segment.
   

Based on mode of administration, the global infectious disease therapeutics market is categorized into oral, parenteral and intranasal. The oral segment is growing with a significant CAGR and is expected to reach USD 115.7 billion by 2034.
 

• Oral medications are easy to administer compared to parenteral and intranasal dosage form, causing higher patient compliance. Adherence to oral therapies is significantly higher than for injectable treatments as patients prefer taking a pill at home rather than visiting healthcare facilities for injections.
   
• Oral medications are more cost-effective than parenteral treatments, as they require less infrastructure for administration and fewer healthcare resources. Oral health therapeutics can help reduce healthcare costs by minimizing the need for hospital visits and specialized medical staff required for administering injections, making them a more cost-effective option.
   

Based on distribution channel, the global infectious disease therapeutics market is bifurcated into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies and online pharmacies. The hospital pharmacies segment dominated the market with USD 62.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 84.3 billion by 2034.
 

• Hospital pharmacies play a vital role in the treatment of various infectious diseases that require specialized medications such as intravenous antibiotics or antivirals for conditions such as sepsis, chickenpox, sexually transmitted infections and others.
   
• The hospital has severe cases of infection and are necessary for medical expertise for monitoring the diseases.
   
• Moreover, the increasing cases of hospital-acquired infections also contribute to the market for hospital pharmacies. Majority of the drugs used for treatment of infectious diseases especially the resistant infections are only available in hospital pharmacies.
   
• The medicines used for severe infections may not be accessible in retail or online pharmacies due to high potency drugs medications that require medical supervision during administration. This stimulates the market growth for hospital pharmacies in infectious disease therapeutic market.

In 2024, the U.S held a significant position in the North America infectious disease therapeutics market, valued at USD 52.1 billion.
 

• The rising incidence of infectious diseases is driven by an aging population and increasing antimicrobial resistance that has significantly contributed to the growing demand for infectious disease therapies.
   
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 10.2 million physician visits annually for infectious and parasitic diseases, along with an estimated 3.8 million emergency department visits related to these conditions. These figures highlight the substantial healthcare burden and the need for effective therapeutic interventions.
   
• Also, the key players in the market are involved in research and development activities to develop next-generation antimicrobials, biologics and infectious disease-focused immunotherapies, that further contribute to the market growth.
   
• Moreover, advancements in vaccine technology by companies such as Pfizer are leading the mRNA-based vaccines that significantly impacted the market. The U.S. government provide initiatives such as the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) continuously supports research and development in market.
   

Germany dominates the European infectious disease therapeutics market, showcasing strong growth potential.
 

• The increasing incidence of infectious disease in Germany, combined with strong government initiatives towards infection control programs and well-developed healthcare infrastructure, is stimulating growth in the market.
   
• For example, the German Infectious Disease Society (GSS) are actively working to increase awareness and enhancing treatment practices, thereby rising market uptake.
   
• Institutes such as Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) are focusing on emerging infections and developing new therapies. 
   
• Germany's robust pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry is majorly investing in research and development activities to introduce new infectious disease therapies such as precision targeted antimicrobials and immune modulating therapy. For instance, Curevac has a pipeline mainly focused on mRNA technology for treating infectious diseases.
   
• Moreover, the implementation of personalized infectious disease treatment strategies, such as genetic profiling and bio markers-based therapy selection, is greatly improving patient outcomes.
   

China infectious disease therapeutics market is estimated to grow with a significant CAGR, making it to be the fastest growing country in the Asia Pacific market.
 

• The increasing awareness of infectious disease management, government efforts toward early detection of infectious disease and increasing healthcare facilities have favoured the market expansion.
   
• The increasing collaborations with international biotech companies are facilitating the introduction of cutting-edge IV antibiotics, cytokines therapy and host-directed infectious disease treatment, thereby contributing the market growth.
   
• For instance, in May 2024, Zai Lab and Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics got National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approval of Xacduro, the ongoing advancements in infectious disease therapeutics, specifically targeting drug-resistant pathogens. This approval brings focus on the increasing need for novel antibiotics in infectious disease treatment.
   
• China's increasing use of AI-based diagnostic tools and machine learning algorithms to predict infectious disease and improve treatment is also stimulating market growth.
   

Brazil leads the Latin American infectious disease therapeutics market, with remarkable growth during the analysis period.
 

• Brazil's high rate of infectious disease burden such as retrovirus and tuberculosis along with growing antimicrobial resistance rates have resulted in the incidence of infectious disease. The government of Brazil has implemented strict hospital infection control measures and species management guidelines for enhancing early diagnosis and treatment access.
   
• In addition, partnership with international pharma companies have increased access to new infectious disease therapies such as next-generation antibiotics and immunomodulators.
   
• The increased need for cost saving, infectious disease management solutions and increased public-private healthcare collaborations further escalate the market growth. For example, CDC Brazil is working closely with the MOH, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and other partners for the detection, prevention and control infectious disease outbreaks to build and strengthen the country’s public health potentials.
   

Infectious Disease Therapeutics Market Share

Top 6 players such as Pfizer, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories and Sanofi accounts for approximately 60-70% of the market share. These players focus on various strategies such as business expansion, research and development activities, collaboration and novel product launches to consolidate their market presence.
 

For instance, in March 2025 the U.S. FDA approved GSK's antibiotic Blujepa for treating urinary tract infections caused by bacteria in women and girls aged 12 and older. This new drug targets UTI-causing bacteria such as E. coli and shows a lower risk of bacterial resistance. This helped the company expand its product offerings. Key players are engaging in strategic initiatives such as collaboration, product launch, investment, and partnerships to strengthen their product portfolio.
 

Infectious Disease Therapeutics Market Companies

The company profile section includes companies that have commercial drug available in the market. Prominent players operating in the infectious disease therapeutics treatment market are as mentioned below:

• Abbott Laboratories
• AstraZeneca
• Bayer
• Boehringer Ingelheim International
• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• F. Hoffmann-La Roche
• Gilead Sciences
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Pharmaceuticals)
• Merck
• Novartis
• Pfizer
• Sandoz International
• Sanofi
   

To stay competitive, key players are investing in research and development for the development of advanced or novel infectious disease treatment solutions. These advancements are fostering increased competition, create awareness and simulating growth across the market. The key players in the industry are rising awareness, collaborating for infectious disease. For instance, in March 2022, Pfizer acquired Arena Pharmaceuticals for a USD 6.7 billion deal, focusing its immunology and therapeutic pipeline for infectious diseases.
 

Moreover, in December 2024, Gilead Sciences invested USD 20.1 million in Assembly Biosciences. The investment aimed to support Assembly's antiviral therapeutic projects, including treatments for herpesviruses and hepatitis B and D. This strategy is expected to enhance the company’s outreach to untapped economies.
 

Infectious Disease Therapeutics Industry News

• In February 2025, CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator), announced a new funding round for advancing global efforts to combat infectious diseases, specifically targeting the development of therapeutics for infections caused by gram-negative pathogens and diagnostics for typhoid fever.
   
• In Jan 2025, Telix Pharmaceuticals announced the acquisition of ImaginAb which is an antibody engineering company. The acquisition includes a pipeline of next-generation therapeutic drug candidates, a proprietary biologics technology platform, and a state-of-the-art research facility in Los Angeles. This move will significantly enhance Telix's existing innovation capabilities.
   
• In June 2023, Shionogi acquired Qpex Biopharma, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that specializes in antimicrobial research. This acquisition aimed to build up Shionogi's pipeline of antimicrobials also adding Qpex's investigational β-lactamase inhibitor, xeruborbactam, to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This strategy is expected to enhance the company’s outreach to untapped economies.
   

The infectious disease therapeutics market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates and forecast in terms of revenue in USD Million from 2021 - 2034 for the following segments:

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Market, By Infection Type

• Bacterial infection    
• Viral infection
  • Retroviral infection (HIV/AIDS)
  • Influenza
  • Hepatitis
  • Other viral infections 
• Fungal infection       
• Parasitic infection    

Market, By Drug Type

• Antibiotics
• Antivirals
• Antifungals
• Antiparasitic
• Vaccines
• Immunotherapies

Market, By Mode of Administration

• Oral
• Parenteral
• Intranasal

Market, By Distribution Channel

• Hospital pharmacies
• Retail pharmacies
• Online pharmacies

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Netherlands
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
• Middle East and Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudia Arabia
  • UAE