In 2019, nearly 296 million people were surviving with chronic hepatitis B infection, as per the WHO. According to this international organization, approximately 1.5 million people are infected by this virus every year. Furthermore, in July 2021, the global agency stated that around 58 million individuals are living with hepatitis C virus infection, and this virus claimed 290,000 lives in 2019 worldwide. Additionally, the WHO also estimates that the hepatitis A virus affects around 90% of children (<10 years) in low- and middle-income countries owing to poor hygiene practices and sanitary conditions.

The surging incidence of hepatitis will, therefore, strengthen the hepatitis drugs market in the foreseeable future. The march toward prosperity can also be credited to the growing geriatric population. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs forecasts that the number of individuals aged 65 years or above will rise from 727 million in 2020 to around 1.5 billion by 2050. The WHO further predicts that nearly 22% of the global population will be over 60 years of age by 2050.

In addition, the mounting investments being made by public and private organizations in research and development (R&D) activities to study hepatitis infection and facilitate drug discovery will also accelerate the use of hepatitis drugs worldwide. For instance, in 2019, the pharmaceutical industry in the U.S. allocated $83 billion to R&D activities on drug discovery, drug development, product innovations, and clinical testing for safety monitoring. Likewise, the government of Australia allocated $6.7 billion to medical research under the 2021–22 budget. 

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Dynavax Technologies Corporation, Novartis AG, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. develop and provide baraclude, hepsera, tyzeka, and viread to treat hepatitis B virus infection and harvoni, OLYSIO, pegIntron, pegasys, sovaldi, and victrelis to cure hepatitis C virus infection. Currently, these companies are focusing on developing drug therapies, offering tailor-made solutions to patients, and encouraging diagnosis. Government organizations such as CDC, WHO, Hepatitis Foundation International, America Liver Foundation, and Immunization Action Coalition, also share the objectives of pharmaceutical companies.

Thus, the growing prevalence of hepatitis A, B, and C and the burgeoning population of geriatric people will propel the use of hepatitis drugs in the upcoming years.

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