Market Trends of Herpes Simplex Virus Treatment Industry
Acyclovir Segment is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share in the Herpes Simplex Virus Treatment Market
Acyclovir, marketed as Zovirax/Sitavig, is one of the most preferred anti-viral agents used for the treatment of herpes, which is primarily used against oral herpes and herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). It is a purine nucleoside analog that enters viral DNA to restrict its replication process by converting it into acyclovir triphosphate.
According to the research study published in the Cureus journal in April 2022, acyclovir showed superior efficacy than vidarabine in reducing mortality in patients with HSV-1 encephalitis, and few patients among the studied population treated with acyclovir survived without any comorbidities. Thus, such benefits of acyclovir will lead to increased adoption of acyclovir medications to achieve desired results, leading to higher adoption.
The ongoing R&D in the area and the launch of new drugs in the segment by market players are further expected to augment the growth of the acyclovir segment over the forecast period. For instance, in October 2022, Camber Pharmaceuticals launched Acyclovir Oral Suspension and extended its current portfolio. Acyclovir Oral Suspension is a synthetic nucleoside analog active against herpes viruses. Acyclovir Oral Suspension from Camber is available in 200 mg/5 mL strength in 473 mL bottles. Such developments are expected to fuel the segment's growth over the forecast period. Thus, due to such factors, the acyclovir drug segment is expected to grow in the herpes simplex virus treatment market during the forecast period.
North America Holds a Significant Share in the Market and Expected to do Same Over the Forecast Period
North America is expected to hold a significant share of the HSV treatment market owing to the growing prevalence of infections of the herpes simplex virus across the region.
According to the study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases Journal in April 2021, the epidemic has evolved significantly over the course of a century, having the biggest impact on individuals aged 15-34 years in the United States. In addition, the high incidence of HSV is expected to continue for the following three decades, with more than 600,000 new infections occurring every year.
In addition, as per the data updated by the Government of Canada in December 2021, the prevalence of genital HSV-1 infections has significantly increased, especially in females in Canada, even though historically, HSV-2 has been the most common cause of genital herpes. Thus, with the rising incidence of HSV infections among the target population across North America, the demand for HSV treatment is increasing.
The R&D and clinical trials for product innovation are rising and driving the market's growth. For instance, in March 2021, Precision Vaccinations and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) launched a limited Phase 1 clinical trial for a herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) candidate known as the HSV vaccine (GSK4108771A). Thus, such advancements may boost the region's market growth during the forecast period. Hence, the rising burden of HSV infections and rising clinical trials by market players are expected to boost the HSV treatment market in North America over the forecast period.
