Rotavirus, as the name suggests, is a
kind of virus that readily infects children and infants. The virus can
cause severe watery diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Rotavirus-infected children usually suffer from dehydration and in
severe cases, they need to be hospitalized. Rotavirus vaccine is a
highly successful method to protect children from rotavirus infection.
Before the introduction of rotavirus vaccines in the market, rotavirus
disease was a serious health issue among children in major developed and
developing countries. For instance, in the U.S., almost all children
have at least one rotavirus infection within the span of five years from
birth; around 400,000 children are taken to doctors for treatment; and
around 50–60 deaths occur every year. However, after the introduction of
rotavirus vaccines, the number of emergency visits and hospitalizations
due to rotavirus infection has dropped significantly. Four out of five
children that are vaccinated get protection from severe rotavirus
infection.
The global rotavirus vaccines market can be segmented based on
product and distribution channel. Among products, two vaccines are
licensed for use in the U.S. viz. RotaTeq (RV5) and Rotarix (RV1).
RotaTeq is administered in three doses and Rotarix is administered in
two doses at the interval of every two months. The first dose in
administered after two months of birth. Currently, two key players
operate in the rotavirus vaccines market, which are WHO-prequalified:
Merck and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Two rotavirus vaccines currently being
developed are expected to gain pre-qualification from the WHO between
2017 and 2018. One of these is Rotavac, which is being manufactured by
Bharat Biotech. It was licensed for use in India in 2014. Based on
distribution channel, the global rotavirus vaccines market can be
classified into hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics / health care centers
associated with government programs. The inflow of patients to
hospitals is expected to increase during the forecast period, as
hospitals are considered to be more reliable and they have a large
number of suppliers, reimbursement authority, and government support.
Increasing incidence of rotavirus infection among children is a major
factor that drives the market, as it leads to the rise in demand for
rotavirus vaccines. Rotavirus disease is highly contagious and it
spreads easily among children due to their poor hygiene habits. The
spread of rotavirus infection is a common issue in hospitals and daycare
settings. Along with this, support from organizations such as UNICEF
and GAVI (is a vaccine alliance of multiple countries under which 45
countries are approved for Rotavirus vaccine support) for large scale
vaccination, supply availability, and access to affordable prices is
another factor fueling the rotavirus vaccines market. There are a few
restrictions in delivering the rotavirus vaccines. For instance, a baby
or infant who had a history of allergic reaction upon the administration
of rotavirus vaccine should not be administered another dose. Also,
diarrhea or vomiting caused by any other microorganism should not be
treated with rotavirus vaccines. A virus named porcine circovirus is
found in both rotavirus vaccines. Even though porcine circovirus does
not have any harmful effect and there is no known safety risk, it is not
preferred for critical patients. Moreover, delayed timelines for new
manufacturers, delays in planned introductions, rising demand that
exceeds the current supply, and uncertain demand from non-GAVI MICs are
other factors that restrict the market for rotavirus vaccines.
Based on geography, the global rotavirus vaccines market has been
divided into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin
America, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominates the
global rotavirus vaccines market, with the U.S. accounting for a major
market share.
Manufacturers in the Americas are developing innovative
products to cure severe rotavirus infections among children. The safety
and efficacy of these new products are being ensured by pre-market
approval through clinical trials. Europe is considered the
second-largest market for rotavirus vaccines. On the other hand, the
market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand rapidly and at the maximum
growth rate during the forecast period. This is attributable to rising
government initiatives and favorable government laws in the region.
Also, major manufacturers with their rotavirus vaccines currently
undergoing development are located in Asia Pacific. For instance, Bharat
Biotech International Limited, a manufacturer of Rotavac, is located in
India and Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products that manufactures
Lanzhou lamb rotavirus vaccine is located in China. Emerging countries
with rapidly developing economies offer significant growth opportunities
to the rotavirus vaccines market, as they witness the rising prevalence
of rotavirus infection.
Key players in the global rotavirus
vaccines market are GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Merck, and Bharat Biotech
International Limited. Other prominent bodies that are working on the
development of rotavirus vaccines are Center for Research and Production
of Vaccines, Vietnam and Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products,
China.
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