Anthelmintic Drugs Market Size & Share, By Drug Class (Benzimidazoles, Macrocyclic Lactones, Nicotinic Agonists); Route of Administration; Distribution Channel - Global Supply - Demand Analysis, Growth Forecasts, and Statistical Report 2025-2037

Anthelmintic Drugs Market Growth Drivers and Challenges

Growth Drivers

• Government-led mass drug administration programs: In emerging nations, the government-funded deworming initiatives are a primary driver of anthelmintic drugs. Nearly 1.7 billion people need periodic treatment, which was estimated by the WHO, with programs such as India’s National Deworming Day distributing 251 million albendazole tablets annually. Besides, the USAID allocated USD 220.5 million in 2023 to soil-transmitted helminth control across Africa and Asia to reduce hospitalization by 18.1% in target areas. These programs create consistent demand for benzimidazoles, with procurement contracts favoring high-volume generic manufacturers.  

• Rising livestock parasite resistance and prophylactic use: The anthelmintic market is dominated by veterinary applications, yet with the increase in parasite resistance is reshaping demand. According to the USDA, treatment-resistant parasites, especially Haemonchus contortus in sheep, affect 40.2% of livestock farms in the United States. Hence, this surges the investment in novel formulations, with Zoetis spending USD 80.3 million on next-generation macrocyclic lactones. Nearly USD 10.4 billion annually is lost by the global livestock industry to untreated helminthiasis, spurring prophylactic use in intensive farming.                 

Manufacturer Strategies Reshaping the Anthelmintic Drugs Market

Leading manufacturers are driving the market with product differentiation, geographic penetration, and strategic partnerships. For instance, Pfizer has made its position strong by supplying over 200.2 million albendazole doses to WHO programs, making a revenue growth of 18.3% in endemic markets. Zoetis invested USD 80.2 million in novel macrocyclic lactones addressing the livestock resistance and gained a 12.2% market share in 2024. Meanwhile, Sun Pharma’s cost-effective generics secured 8.7% of Japan’s market within six months of launch.

Company Strategies and Revenue Outcomes (2023–2024)

Feasible Expansion Models Reshaping the Anthelmintic Drugs Market

The market for anthelmintic medications is primarily dependent on various categories such as localized collaborations, demand-driven innovation, and cost-optimized production. The albendazole distribution in India increased by 1.4 billion tablets between 2022 and 2024 due to the partnership between Sun Pharma and state health agencies. Hence, this further increases the revenue by 12.6%, says the National Health Mission in 2024. Similarly, another pharma player, Zoetis, adopted a veterinary subscription model in Brazil, which reduces farmer costs by 20.2% and increases market penetration by 14.9%, which was reported by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture in 2023.

Feasibility Models for Revenue Growth

Challenges

• Government price caps & reimbursement barriers: Developed nations have robust price controls on drugs, making it difficult for market profitability. Germany's price of €0.60 per dose cap on albendazole reduced margins by 25.1%. Pfizer circumvented this by bundling deworming drugs with vaccines in France, achieving 9.8% wider market access (WHO Europe 2023). As the drugs are so expensive, CMS has reported that in 2024, only 40.3% of Medicaid plans in the US have been covered for anthelmintics. In regulated markets, companies have to develop public-private partnerships or tiered pricing structures to maintain profitability while ensuring patient access.

• Regulatory delays in key markets: The 18-month stability testing regulations in Japan have delayed the launch of drugs in Japan. Merck expedited Brazil approvals by 6 months through the WHO prequalification status. Such regulatory barriers cause time-to-market and R&D expenses to rise. Strategic leverages of international certifications and parallel submission procedures can mitigate such delays, especially for products being launched in multiple markets at a time.