Hepatitis B Treatment Market Analysis

The hepatitis B treatment market is thriving on account of the growing need for a drug that can completely cure the virus infection, backed by the growing incidences of chronic hepatitis B infection globally, along with the growing awareness amongst individuals for the treatment of the disease. According to the statistics by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 240 million people globally are infected with chronic hepatitis B virus. Moreover, the statistics also stated that a cumulative 20 million deaths are anticipated to occur between 2015 and 2030. Further, the growing concern for liver cancer globally is also anticipated to contribute to the market growth in the coming years. The hepatitis B treatment market is segmented by product type into hepatitis B vaccine, and anti-viral drugs. The anti-viral drugs segment is further bifurcated into tenofovir (VIREAD), lamivudine (EPIVIR), entecavir (BARACLUDE), telbivudine (TYZEKA), and adefovir (HEPSERA). Among these segments, the tenofovir (VIREAD) segment is projected to hold a significant market share by the end of 2021. Two combinations of tenofovir are used widely for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, namely tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (chemical formula: C₁₉H₃₀N₅O₁₀P; sold under the trade name VIREAD, developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc.), and tenofovir alafenamide (chemical formula: C₂₁H₂₉N₆O₅P; sold under the brand name VEMLIDY, developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc.). These anti-viral drugs are used in combination with other antiretrovirals for the treatment of hepatitis B and are listed on the list of essential medicines of the World Health Organization. 

Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Hepatitis B Treatment Market

The coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted businesses worldwide, also had its impact on the hepatitis B treatment market. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, drug manufacturing companies have shifted their focus on the development of a novel vaccine for the prevention and treatment of the SARS-CoV2 virus. Furthermore, as the number of patients visiting the hospitals for the treatment of hepatitis B was very less, those companies who were into the phase of the clinical trials of their vaccine subjects, couldn’t continue with their research process, which further impacted the progress of research in the development of the novel drug. However, the operators operating in the development of the novel drug for the cure of hepatitis B, are anticipating that over the next few months, as the pandemic situation comes under control, the process for the development of novel drug would significantly be paced up, which in turn would contribute to the growth of the global hepatitis B treatment market.

Our in-depth analysis of the global hepatitis B treatment market includes the following segments: