Peptide Antibiotics Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Ribosomal Synthesized Peptide Antibiotics and Non-Ribosomal Synthesized Peptide Antibiotics), By Indication (Skin Infections, Pulmonary Infections, Hospital Acquired Infections, and Others), Route of Administration (Oral, Parenteral, and Others), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, and Online Pharmacy), and Regional Forecast, 2026-2034

The global peptide antibiotics market size was valued at USD 5.31 billion in 2025. The market is projected to grow from USD 5.59 billion in 2026 to USD 8.36 billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.17% during the forecast period.

Peptide antibiotics are small molecules containing polypeptide chains that act as broad-spectrum antibiotics for bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. These are classified under two categories: ribosomal synthesized, natural, and non-ribosomal synthesized peptide antibiotics such as polymyxins, bacitracin, glycopeptides, etc. Non-ribosomally synthesized peptides are found in bacteria & fungi and are proven to be effective research tools; however, compared to RAMPs, they offer limited advantages for novel applications due to emerging bacterial resistance. Peptide antibiotics act by two mechanisms: direct killing and provoking immunological regulation.

The growth of the peptide antibiotics market is fueled by factors such as the rising prevalence of cancer and infectious diseases, the increasing number of drug approvals, and growing R&D activities supported by the government to tackle antibacterial resistance. Among all, the increasing number of clinical trials to combat antibiotic resistance using these drugs is one of the major factors driving the peptide antibiotics market growth.

• Several research articles published in 2022 indicate that antimicrobial peptides are suitable alternatives for multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. For instance, according to research published in Springer Nature in 2022, LI14 is a membrane-targeted antibiotic candidate to combat resistant infections elicited by MDR pathogens.
• Below is the list of a few drug candidates used for research purposes: 

Moreover, the rising prevalence of cancer increases the demand for antibiotics, where antimicrobial peptides play a significant role. Due to depleting ozone levels, more solar UV radiation reaches the Earth, causing melanoma.

• For instance, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. The statistics revealed that 1 in five Americans would develop skin cancer by age 70.

Polypeptide antibiotics are a crucial part of chemotherapy. For example, bleomycin, a polypeptide antibiotic developed by Japan, is used to treat squamous cell cancers, sarcoma, melanoma, testicular and ovarian cancer, Hodgkin's, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The rising prevalence of cancer is increasing the demand for peptide antibiotics, driving market growth during the forecast period.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Peptide Antibiotics Market

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the peptide antibiotics market due to a restriction of patient visits that reduced the prescription numbers, leading to a decline in the revenue of key players manifold. The chemotherapy and other procedures were postponed or managed based on disease severity, further impacting patients and key players.

• For instance, according to an article published in NCBI, in 2022, during the COVID-19 period, patient visits decreased by 10%, and prescriptions per visit decreased by 39%. Moreover, the antibiotic prescription ratio decreased by 45% (from 34.2 prescriptions/100 patients to 19.1/100) compared to 2019.
• Similarly, an article published in SAGE Journals in 2020 revealed that Saudi Oncology Pharmacy Assembly (SOPA) managed cancer patients by adopting intermittent chemotherapy and treatment de-escalation for eligible patients.

However, during and after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, prescription generation again took a pace. The increased sales of peptide antibiotics resulted in the revenue growth of key players. For instance, in 2020, Xellia Pharmaceuticals predicted normal and sustainable revenue and profit growth from 2022. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the peptide antibiotics manufacturer and the market.

Key Insights

The report will cover the following key insights:

• New Product Approvals, by Key Players.
• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships).
• R & D expenditures, by Leading Players.
• Technological Advancement in the peptide antibiotics market.
• Impact of COVID-19 on the market.

Analysis by Product

The non-ribosomal synthesized peptide antibiotics segment constituted a significant share of the global peptide antibiotics market. The increased use of these drugs in bacterial infection, increased R&D activities to produce non-ribosomal synthesized peptide antibiotics, and associated features such as structural diversity and unique antibacterial mechanisms are major factors to boost the segment's growth during the forecast period.

• For instance, in November 2021, research published in Nature Communications revealed that scientists at The University of Manchester developed a new way to produce complex antibiotics using gene editing to combat antimicrobial resistance, treat neglected diseases, and tackle future pandemics. The novel method uses CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to produce new non-ribosomal peptide synthetase enzymes that deliver clinically important antibiotics.
• The UK government estimated that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance would cost the global economy USD 100 trillion, causing 10 million deaths globally.

Such research and development boosted the market share of the non-ribosomal synthesized peptide segment in historical years and are expected to grow in coming years due to increased use to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Regional Analysis

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Asia Pacific showed sustainable growth and constituted a significant market share in the peptide antibiotics market. The presence of emerging players and the increasing research and clinical trials in the region is attributed to the peptide antibiotics market growth in Asia Pacific.

• For instance, in February 2023, researchers at Hokkaido University, Japan, revealed that they had developed a novel method, "scanning and direct derivatization", for designing and developing peptide antibiotics in large numbers. The method developed for targeted modification of Polymyxin.
• In February 2023, scientists at RMIT University, Australia, developed a novel antibiotic, Priscilicidin, an antimicrobial peptide. Priscilicidin can be quickly modified to avoid becoming resistant to harmful superbugs.

Moreover, continuously developed healthcare infrastructure, increasing population and patient pool, and growing pharmaceutical industry in the Asia Pacific led the region to grow significantly.

Key Players Covered

The report will include profiles of key players such as Merck KGaA,  GSK plc, Pfizer Inc, AbbVie Inc, Sandoz AG (Novartis AG), Eugia US LLC, Theravance Biopharma, Xellia PHARMACEUTICALS, Revance Therapeutics Inc, and Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments

• March 2022: Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. Verity Pharmaceuticals International Ltd. announced the launch of Cumberland's VIBATIV (telavancin) injection in Puerto Rico. The launch is followed by an agreement between the companies providing Verity with the right to introduce the product to patients in that market.
• September 2021: Eugia US announced that the company received final approval from USFDA to manufacture and market Daptomycin for Injection of 500 mg. The drug is used for complicated skin and skin structure infections.
• July 2021: AbbVie Inc announced that the U.S. FDA approved DALVANCE for treating acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections in pediatric patients from birth.
• March 2021: Melinta Therapeutics announced approval for its new-and-improved formulation of its antibiotic oritavancin in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible isolates of Gram-positive microorganisms, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• February 2021: CARB-X announced USD 2.65 million non-dilutive funding to Peptilogics to develop a new class of peptide antibiotics with broad activity against drug-resistant bacteria.