Anti-Malarial Drugs Market Size & Outlook, 2026-2034

Anti-Malarial Drugs Market Overview

The global anti-malarial drugs market size is estimated at USD 1,013.88 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1,605.23 million by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.28% during the forecast period. Sustained growth of the market is propelled by the focus on multidrug resistance management, as well as increased research in novel antimalarial molecules.

Key Market Trends & Insights

• According to Straits Research, North America held a dominant share of the global market, accounting for 38.41%.
• According to Straits Research, the Asia Pacific region is growing at the fastest pace, with a CAGR of 6.14%.
• Based on Drug Class, the artemisinin compounds segment dominated the market in 2025 with a revenue share of 43.82%.
• Based on the Malaria Parasite, the Plasmodium vivax segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR growth of 6.46%.
• Based on Distribution Channel, the hospital pharmacies segment dominated the market in 2025, with a market share of 45.02%.
• The U.S. dominates the global anti-malarial drugs market, valued at USD 344.15 million in 2024 and reaching USD 360.84 million in 2025.

Graph: U.S. Market Revenue Forecast (2022 – 2034)

Source: Straits Research

Market Size & Forecast

• 2025 Market Size: USD 1,013.88 million
• 2034 Projected Market Size: USD 1,605.23 million
• CAGR (2025 to 2034): 5.28%
• Dominating Region: North America
• Fastest Growing Region: Asia Pacific

The global antimalarial drugs market encompasses a comprehensive range of therapeutic products designed for the prevention and treatment of malaria caused by different Plasmodium species. The market includes various drug classes such as aryl amino alcohol compounds, antifolate compounds, artemisinin compounds, endoperoxide analogues, spiroindolone compounds, and others, each formulated to target specific stages of the parasite’s lifecycle and address drug resistance challenges. Antimalarial therapies are developed to treat infections caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium knowlesi, which together represent the major sources of malaria infections worldwide. These drugs are distributed through hospital pharmacies, drug stores and retail pharmacies, online pharmacies, and other healthcare outlets, ensuring availability across both urban and remote endemic regions.

Latest Market Trends

Shift from Monotherapy to Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies

A major trend in the anti-malarial drugs market is the shift from traditional monotherapy treatments to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) reinforced the recommendation that ACTs should be used as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, replacing older monotherapy drugs such as chloroquine.

This transition improved treatment efficacy, reduced drug resistance, and enhanced patient outcomes. Such a shift led to wider adoption of ACTs, improved cure rates, and slowed the spread of drug-resistant malaria strains, which further drives the demand for combination therapies over single-drug options.

Development of Long-Acting Injectable Anti-Malarial Treatments

A key trend in the anti-malarial drugs market is the development of long-acting injectable anti-malarial treatments, aimed at improving patient adherence and treatment outcomes. Several companies, like Amivas, Inc., announced the U.S. FDA approval of Artesunate for Injection, a long-acting injectable treatment for severe malaria.

This approval marked an advancement in the treatment of severe malaria, which provided healthcare providers with a potent option for managing this life-threatening condition, especially in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.

To get more insights about this report Download Free Sample Report

Anti-Malarial Drugs Market Drivers

Advancements in Anti-Malarial Drug Development for the Pediatric Population

A key driver of anti-malarial drug development is the introduction of pediatric-friendly formulations of malaria resistant drugs, which makes it simpler for children to complete their treatment. For example, in July 2025, the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) reported that Brazil adopted a new pediatric formulation of tafenoquine, a single-dose treatment for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria. This child-friendly, dispersible formulation is designed to reduce relapses and break the disease transmission cycle in children.

This advancement depicted that child-focused drug formulations improved treatment compliance and reduced malaria relapses, which further drives overall market growth.

Market Restraint

Rising Antimalarial Drug Resistance Threatens Global Malaria Control Efforts

A challenge in the anti-malarial drugs market is the escalating resistance of malaria parasites, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the WHO, the 78th World Health Assembly highlighted the growing challenge of antimalarial drug resistance in countries such as Eritrea, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania, where partial resistance to artemisinin has led to higher treatment failure rates, which further impacted the global malaria control efforts.

Such resistance undermined the efficiency of current therapies and underscored the urgent need for new therapies, strengthened surveillance, and coordinated efforts to sustain progress in the fight against malaria.

Market Opportunity

Global Funding for Anti-Malarial Drugs

A major opportunity for the anti-malarial drugs market is the large funding provided by the government for malaria control. For example, in February 2025, as per the data reported by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Congress allocated USD 795 million in FY 2024 to the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), led by USAID and CDC, to support malaria prevention, treatment, and health worker programs in high-burden countries.

This funding created strong opportunities for manufacturers and healthcare providers to expand access to anti-malarial drugs globally and also supported in improving treatment outcomes.

Regional Analysis

The North America region dominated the market with a revenue share of 38.41% in 2025. The growth is attributed to factors such as high demand for antimalarial prophylaxis. In addition, supporting this robust demand is North America's strong pharmaceutical industry, which plays a key role in the antimalarial drugs market. The global operations of the pharmaceutical industry and extensive distribution networks ensure widespread availability and accessibility of both branded and generic antimalarial medications, which helps maintain a stable market and drives the continued growth of the antimalarial drug sector in the region.

The U.S. market is widely driven by government initiatives, such as the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative 2021-2026, which aimed to reduce malaria deaths and cases. Such a government-led effort not only strengthened disease prevention but also supported market growth by enabling wider distribution of efficient treatments.

Asia Pacific Market Insights

The Asia Pacific region is the fastest-growing region with a CAGR of 6.14% during the forecast timeframe, owing to the increasing spread of drug-resistant malaria strains, particularly in Southeast Asia, which has heightened the need for new and potent antimalarial drugs. This alarming trend has spurred governments, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions to intensify research and development efforts focused on discovering new drug classes, developing combination therapies, and creating improved formulations capable of overcoming resistance.

The factor propelling the growth of the market is the government's introduction of the Integrated Health Management Platform (IHMP). This digital initiative enabled real time monitoring of malaria cases and drug distribution, which enhanced the efficiency of treatment delivery. By ensuring timely access to antimalarial medications, the IHMP contributes to the market's expansion.

Pie Chart: Regional Market Share, 2025

Source: Straits Research

Europe Market Insights

In Europe, a key driving factor for the antimalarial drugs market is the rising demand for prophylactic treatments among international travellers and expatriates visiting malaria-endemic regions. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, health agencies have reported 99.8% seasonal increases linked to travel, which leads to higher demand for prevention as well as treatment. Therefore, such factor boosts the market size and fuels anti-malarial drugs market growth through stronger public health actions and awareness campaigns.

The anti-malarial drugs market in UK is propelling due to the government’s USD 9.2 million investment in MedAccess, which supported in negotiating lower prices for essential malaria drugs and diagnostic tests, ultimately boosting the market size by driving increased global demand.

Middle East and Africa Market Insights

The factor driving the antimalarial drugs market in the Middle East and Africa is the expansion of public-private partnerships for malaria elimination programs. Governments in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Sudan are collaborating with private pharmaceutical companies and NGOs to enhance access to advanced antimalarial therapies, distribute combination drugs in remote regions, and implement community awareness campaigns. These partnerships not only improve drug penetration in underserved areas but also create demand for newer and various potent treatments, strengthening the market in this region.

In South Africa, the factor driving the antimalarial drugs market is the focus on seasonal malaria chemoprevention programs in high-risk provinces. Targeted initiatives during peak transmission periods, particularly in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, provide preventive treatment to vulnerable populations such as children under five and pregnant women. The South African National Department of Health collaborated with local clinics to distribute artemisinin based combination therapies as part of these seasonal campaigns, increasing demand for specific antimalarial formulations and supporting market growth in a highly targeted, program-driven manner.

Latin America Market Insights

The antimalarial drugs market is fuelling due to the growing emphasis on vector-borne disease control in remote Amazonian regions. Countries like Brazil and Peru are implementing localized strategies combining community-based diagnosis with targeted drug distribution to combat Plasmodium vivax outbreaks. The Brazilian Ministry of Health’s “Malaria Free Brazil” initiative provides rapid diagnostic testing alongside timely delivery of antimalarial drugs in hard to hard-to-reach rainforest communities, boosting demand for treatments tailored to P. vivax and supporting the growth of the market in these remote areas.

The increased focus on cross border malaria prevention in the northern provinces bordering Bolivia and Paraguay drives the market growth. Regional health authorities are implementing coordinated surveillance and treatment programs to prevent imported cases from triggering local outbreaks. For example, the Ministry of Health distributes prophylactic and treatment drugs in provinces like Salta and Misiones, particularly targeting migrant workers and travellers, which creates a specialized demand for antimalarial therapies and supports market growth in these border regions.

Drug Class Insights

The artemisinin compounds segment dominated the market in 2025 with a revenue share of 43.82%. The growth is attributed to the proven high efficacy of artemisinin-based therapies by the World Health Organization in treating resistant strains of malaria, especially for Plasmodium falciparum infections, which further increases the adoption of combination therapies.

The spiroindolone compounds are anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 6.13% during the forecast period, due to the novel mechanism of action and efficiency against multidrug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. These compounds, exemplified by cipargamin (KAE609), target the parasite’s PfATP4 enzyme, disrupting sodium homeostasis and leading to rapid parasite clearance.

Segmentation by Drug Class in 2025 (%)

Source: Straits Research

Malaria Parasite Insights

The Plasmodium vivax segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.46% during 2026-2034. This growth is attributed to the rising prevalence of P. vivax malaria in endemic regions, which further enhances the market growth by propelling the development of targeted anti-malarial therapies specifically functional against this parasite.

Plasmodium falciparum dominates the global antimalarial drugs market in 2025 and accounts for the largest revenue share of 46.22%, owing to its high prevalence and severity. P. falciparum infections are often associated with severe and complicated malaria cases that require hospital-based treatment, driving substantial demand for therapeutic regimens.

Distribution Channel Insights

The hospital pharmacies dominated the market in 2025, with a revenue share of 45.02%. The growth is attributed to increased patient influx for malaria treatment. Rising awareness about early diagnosis and prompt treatment has led various patients to seek care at hospitals rather than local clinics, which directly boosts the market growth.

The online pharmacies segment is estimated to register the fastest CAGR of 6.22% during the forecast period. The growth is attributed due to the rising accessibility, convenience, and expanding digital healthcare infrastructure across emerging economies. The increasing adoption of e-commerce platforms for medicines, driven by smartphone penetration, digital payment systems, and government-backed telehealth initiatives, has made online purchasing of prescription drugs easier and authentic.

Competitive Landscape

The global anti-malarial drugs market is moderately fragmented, with the competition spread across several multinational pharmaceutical companies, regional generic drug manufacturers as well as research-based organizations.

Novartis AG: An emerging market player

Novartis AG is an emerging player in the anti-malarial drugs market, specializing in the development of patient-centric therapies that address the critical treatment gaps.

• In July 2025, Novartis AG announced the approval of Coartem by Swissmedic. It is the first malaria medicine that has been approved for newborns and young infants.

List of key players in Anti-Malarial Drugs Market

1. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
2. MMV
3. Zydus Cadila
4. Cipla Ltd
5. Mylan N.V.
6. Novartis AG
7. Bayer AG
8. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
9. Strides Pharma Science Limited
10. GSK plc
11. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc.
12. Ipca Laboratories Ltd.
13. Lincoln Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
14. Alliance Pharmaceuticals
15. Alvizia Health Care
16. Hetero
17. Medochemie
18. Strides Pharma Science Limited
19. Jubilant Pharmova Limited
20. Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
21. Others

To get more findings about this report Download Market Share

Strategic Initiatives

• September 2024: Researchers from the University of California, Riverside (UCR), UC Irvine, and Yale School of Medicine developed a synthetic endoperoxide analogue inspired by marine sponge-derived natural products. The compound targeted multiple pathways in the malaria parasite and showed strong efficacy against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains in preclinical studies
• July 2024: SAFIRE Consortium conducted a Phase III clinical trial to evaluate antimalarial medicines during early pregnancy, with an aim to assess the safety, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness of antimalarial drugs for women in their first trimester.
• July 2024: GSK plc and Medicines for Malaria Venture launched tafenoquine, which is a new single-dose medication that has been designed to prevent the relapse of Plasmodium vivax malaria in malaria-endemic countries, such as in Brazil and Thailand.