Anti-infective market in sub-Saharan Africa set to reach $377 million in 2018

The high incidence of infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to sustain the demand for anti-infectives. However, dependence on donor funding for the procurement of essential drugs has caused unstable expenditure patterns. Innovative financing mechanisms, such as the AIDS levy, are expected to reduce this dependency, resulting in more stable expenditure patterns.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, titled Analysis of the Anti-infectives Market in Malawi, Mauritius and Zimbabwe, finds that the anti-infectives market earned revenues of $186.2 million in 2011 and estimates this to reach $377.2 million in 2018. The research covers four key therapeutic segments: antibiotics, anti-tuberculosis drugs, antimalarials and antiretrovirals (ARVs).

"The prioritization of the care and treatment of HIV positive patients by governments is expected to continue to drive growth of the anti-infectives market," noted Frost & Sullivan's health care research associate Kudzai Moyo, adding: "In 2011, ARVs remained the largest therapeutic segment in terms of revenue, accounting for nearly half of the anti-infectives market. This segment provides the greatest growth opportunity over the next five years."