Echinocandin B Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Powder, Liquid), By Application (Antifungal Drugs, Drug Development, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 47.58 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.54%
Fastest Growing Segment	Drug Development
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 65.75 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Echinocandin B Market will grow from USD 47.58 Billion in 2025 to USD 65.75 Billion by 2031 at a 5.54% CAGR. Echinocandin B acts as the critical lipopeptide intermediate, typically derived through the fermentation of Aspergillus species, utilized to synthesize the echinocandin class of antifungal agents such as anidulafungin. The market is primarily propelled by the escalating global incidence of invasive fungal infections and the urgent necessity for effective therapies against azole-resistant pathogens in immunocompromised patients. This demand is substantiated by the rising burden of disease; according to the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections, in 2024, approximately 6.55 million people were estimated to be affected annually by life-threatening fungal diseases worldwide, directly driving the requirement for these essential drug precursors.

Despite robust demand, the market faces a significant impediment regarding the high cost of therapy associated with echinocandin-based drugs compared to conventional azoles. The complex fermentation and semi-synthetic manufacturing processes required to produce the Echinocandin B nucleus result in elevated production expenses, which are inherently passed on to the final pricing. This financial barrier restricts the widespread adoption of these therapeutics in price-sensitive developing regions where healthcare budgets are limited, thereby constraining the overall potential for market expansion.

Key Market Drivers

The escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens is the primary force accelerating the Global Echinocandin B Market. As immunocompromised patient populations expand due to increasing rates of organ transplants and oncological therapies, the susceptibility to severe mycoses has intensified, necessitating robust supply chains for echinocandin intermediates. This urgency is exemplified by the rapid spread of pathogens such as Candida auris, which often exhibits resistance to traditional azole therapies, thereby prioritizing echinocandin-class drugs as a first-line defense. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 2024, in the 'Tracking C. auris' surveillance report, clinical cases of this multidrug-resistant fungus in the U.S. reached 4,514 in 2023, reflecting a continued upward trend that directly amplifies the manufacturing requirements for effective lipopeptide-based antifungals.

Concurrently, the expansion of pharmaceutical R&D for novel antifungal formulations is reshaping market dynamics by driving demand for high-purity Echinocandin B nuclei. Pharmaceutical developers are actively commercializing next-generation echinocandins with improved stability and dosing schedules, a process that relies heavily on advanced semi-synthetic manufacturing. According to Cidara Therapeutics, May 2024, in the 'First Quarter 2024 Financial Results', the company received a milestone payment of approximately $11.1 million from Mundipharma following the European Union approval of the novel echinocandin rezafungin, validating the commercial viability of these advanced therapies. Reflecting broader confidence in this therapeutic area, according to F2G, in 2024, the company secured a $100 million financing round led by the AMR Action Fund to advance late-stage antifungal development, underscoring the critical global investment flowing into the sector.

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Key Market Challenges

The high cost of therapy associated with echinocandin-based drugs constitutes a significant impediment to market expansion, particularly in cost-sensitive developing regions. The production of the Echinocandin B nucleus involves intricate fermentation and semi-synthetic processes that inherently drive up manufacturing expenses. These elevated costs are transferred to the final pricing, creating a substantial financial barrier for healthcare systems with restricted budgets. Consequently, medical providers in these areas often default to conventional, lower-cost azoles despite the clinical advantages of echinocandins, thereby limiting the addressable market for these advanced therapeutics.

This price sensitivity is exacerbated by the broader economic strain that fungal diseases place on healthcare infrastructure, forcing administrators to aggressively manage pharmacy expenditures. According to the Infectious Diseases Society of America, in 2024, the total annual economic burden of fungal diseases in the United States was estimated to be approximately $19.4 billion. Such immense financial pressure compels healthcare institutions to prioritize cost containment, further suppressing the adoption rates of premium echinocandin treatments in favor of more affordable alternatives, directly hampering volume growth in the Global Echinocandin B Market.

Key Market Trends

The emergence of next-generation long-acting derivatives is fundamentally altering the commercial landscape for echinocandin intermediates, moving the market beyond daily-use formulations like anidulafungin toward weekly dosing regimens. This shift requires the Echinocandin B nucleus to serve as a scaffold for more advanced chemical modifications, thereby increasing the technical complexity and value of the supply chain. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly divesting these capital-intensive development programs to partners with specialized commercial infrastructure to maximize market penetration. According to Cidara Therapeutics, August 2024, in the 'Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results', the company projected approximately $128 million in cost savings over the patent life of rezafungin following the strategic divestiture of the asset to Mundipharma for global commercialization, illustrating the industry-wide push to realign resources toward these high-value, next-generation therapies.

Concurrently, the market is witnessing a rapid expansion of generic anidulafungin API production, driven by the expiry of key patents and the subsequent entry of large-scale sterile injectable manufacturers. This trend is democratizing access to echinocandin therapies, forcing incumbent API producers to optimize fermentation yields to compete on price while meeting the stringent purity standards required for generic regulatory approvals. The intense volume growth in this segment is benefitting manufacturers with vertically integrated capabilities who can sustain margins despite pricing pressures. According to Gland Pharma, May 2024, in the 'Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year ended March 31, 2024', the company reported a 56% year-over-year increase in consolidated revenue, a surge attributed to robust volume growth in its core sterile injectable markets which validates the accelerating global demand for cost-effective generic antifungal formulations.

Segmental Insights

The Drug Development segment is identified as the fastest-growing area in the Global Echinocandin B Market, primarily due to the intensifying search for novel antifungal therapies. Pharmaceutical researchers increasingly utilize Echinocandin B as a foundational intermediate to synthesize new semi-synthetic derivatives that address rising fungal resistance against established treatments. This expansion is reinforced by supportive frameworks from regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which aim to expedite the availability of treatments for serious infections. These combined efforts significantly boost the utilization of this compound throughout various clinical research stages.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global Echinocandin B Market due to the extensive presence of pharmaceutical manufacturers specializing in antifungal therapeutics. The region experiences a sustained prevalence of invasive fungal infections, which drives the demand for essential precursors used in drug synthesis. Additionally, the market is supported by a structured regulatory framework under the US Food and Drug Administration that facilitates the approval and commercialization of antifungal treatments. This combination of established manufacturing capabilities and consistent clinical requirements secures North America as the primary market for this compound.

Recent Developments

• In April 2025, Mundipharma announced the commercial launch of its novel once-weekly echinocandin treatment in the Republic of Ireland following a reimbursement agreement with the Health Service Executive. The company introduced the therapy for adult patients suffering from invasive candidiasis, highlighting it as a crucial new option for managing severe fungal infections in hospital settings. This launch expanded the European footprint of the drug, which is structurally related to anidulafungin and designed to improve patient management through a simplified dosing regimen compared to existing daily treatments.
• In February 2025, Accord Healthcare secured regulatory approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia for its generic version of anidulafungin. The listing on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods confirmed the registration of the company's 100 mg powder for injection, expanding the availability of echinocandin-based therapies in the region. This approval allows the company to supply the semisynthetic antifungal agent, which is derived from the fermentation product Echinocandin B, to healthcare providers for the treatment of invasive candidiasis and other fungal infections.
• In April 2024, Mundipharma acquired all global assets and rights related to the antifungal agent rezafungin from Cidara Therapeutics. The agreement transferred the responsibilities for ongoing development, commercialisation, and distribution of the echinocandin drug to Mundipharma. As part of the transaction, the biotechnology company divested its interest in the program to focus on its immunotherapy platform, while Mundipharma strengthened its portfolio in infectious diseases. The deal included the assumption of future royalties and milestones, with the seller projecting significant cost savings of approximately $128 million over the patent life of the product.
• In January 2024, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom granted marketing authorisation for a novel echinocandin antifungal treatment for invasive candidiasis in adults. The approval was based on positive results from a pivotal Phase III clinical trial which demonstrated that the drug was non-inferior to the current standard of care, caspofungin. This regulatory milestone marked a significant development in the echinocandin market, introducing the first new treatment option of its class in over a decade for patients with life-threatening fungal infections.

Key Market Players

• Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
• Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
• Mylan N.V.
• Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Astellas Pharma Inc.
• Pfizer Inc.
• Cidara Therapeutics, Inc.
• Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC

By Type	By Application	By Region
Powder Liquid	Antifungal Drugs Drug Development Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Echinocandin B Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Echinocandin B Market, By Type:

• Powder
• Liquid

• Echinocandin B Market, By Application:

• Antifungal Drugs
• Drug Development
• Others

• Echinocandin B Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE