Market Trends of Global Onychomycosis Treatment Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Onychomycosis Treatment Market according to our research experts:
The Drugs Segment is Expected to Hold a Major Share in the Onychomycosis Treatment Market
Some of the drugs available for the treatment of onychomycosis are terbinafine, ciclopirox, Jublia, Fluconazole, Penlac, ciclodan, ketoconazole, Sporanox, Itraconazole, Kerydin, efinaconazole, griseofulvin, and so on. For onychomycosis treatment, drugs remain the first-line treatment choice and hold a major market share owing to a consistently high success rate.
Elewski and Charif's onychomycosis report states that approximately 40% of the elderly population have onychomycosis and a reduction in nail growth rate ranges from about 40% to 60% in persons aged above 65 years. Furthermore, onychomycosis affects approximately 2% to 26% of different populations globally. However, less than 30% of individuals infected with onychomycosis seek medical advice or treatment in developed countries.
The drugs segment holds a significant share in the onychomycosis treatment market. It is anticipated to show a similar trend over the forecast period due to the products' highly effective nature and easy availability. In July 2021, Lupin received approval to launch Tavaborole Topical Solution 5% in the US from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the distribution of drugs was disrupted worldwide due to the supply chain disruptions and was expected to have an impact in 2020. However, in late 2020, 2021, and further years, the onychomycosis market was expected to recover and even show positive growth over the forecast period.
North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Over the Forecast Period
North America is expected to hold a major share in the global onychomycosis treatment market due to high drug costs, rising geriatric population, and increasing prevalence of onychomycosis and diabetic patient populations in this region. According to the Census Bureau's 2020 population estimates, more than 55 million Americans are aged 65 years or older, of which one-fourth live in one of three states, namely, California, Florida, and Texas. Seven other states, including Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, account for roughly another quarter of the 65+ population.
The reasons for the age-related increase in onychomycosis include a variety of factors, like repeated nail trauma, poor peripheral circulation, diabetes, suboptimal immune function, longer exposure to pathogenic fungi, inactivity, or the inability to cut toenails or maintain good foot care. Various strategies, such as research and development, mergers and acquisitions, and product launches, are being adopted by domestic companies to strengthen their market position.
In October 2020, US-headquartered Pfizer Inc. announced that it had begun clinical studies concerning onychomycosis. The first one involved a study determining whether the AN2690 topical solution is an effective treatment for onychomycosis of the toenail. The second one was an open-label study to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of the tavaborole 5% topical solution to treat distal subungual onychomycosis of the toenail in both children and adolescents.
On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in decreased diagnosis and impacted the sales revenue of drugs and other treatment methods for onychomycosis as hospitals and primary care centers shifted their focus to COVID-19 patients.
