Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Treatment Type (Prescription Treatment, Supporting Treatment), By Route of administration (Oral, Intravenous, Others), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies) By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 271.12 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	3.92%
Fastest Growing Segment	Prescription Treatment
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 341.47 Million

Market Overview

The Global Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market will grow from USD 271.12 Million in 2025 to USD 341.47 Million by 2031 at a 3.92% CAGR. The Global Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market encompasses the therapeutic and preventative landscape involving antiviral pharmacotherapies, analgesic agents for neuropathic pain management, and recombinant vaccines designed to inhibit the varicella-zoster virus. The primary drivers propelling this market include the accelerating rate of global immunosenescence within the aging population, which correlates with a natural decline in cell-mediated immunity and heightened susceptibility to viral reactivation. Furthermore, the rising incidence of shingles among immunocompromised individuals, coupled with robust public health initiatives advocating for adult immunization schedules, serves as a fundamental catalyst for sustained industry demand.

However, the market encounters a significant impediment regarding the high cost structure associated with advanced recombinant vaccines and long-term pain management therapies, which restricts accessibility in cost-sensitive regions. This economic barrier limits widespread adoption and adherence to optimal treatment protocols, potentially stifling revenue growth in emerging economies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2025, approximately 10% to 18% of individuals diagnosed with herpes zoster developed postherpetic neuralgia, a complication necessitating prolonged and often costly medical intervention.

Key Market Drivers

The rapidly aging global population serves as the primary demographic engine for the market, necessitating expanded prophylactic measures and state-sponsored immunization protocols. As immunosenescence weakens the natural defense against the varicella-zoster virus in older adults, governments are increasingly integrating shingles vaccinations into public health subsidies to mitigate the long-term economic burden of complications. This structural shift is evidenced by major policy updates in regions with high geriatric densities, where subsidized access directly correlates with market volume expansion. According to Pharma Japan, December 2024, in the article 'Japan to Add Shingles Vaccines to NIP List from FY2025', the Japanese health ministry approved a plan to include shingles vaccines in the national immunization program for individuals aged 65 and older. This regulatory support effectively converts the high latent demand within the aging demographic into active revenue streams for manufacturers, ensuring market sustainability despite economic fluctuations.

Advancements in antiviral therapeutic pipelines and next-generation vaccine technologies are continually reshaping the competitive landscape by addressing unmet needs regarding tolerability and administration efficiency. Pharmaceutical developers are prioritizing the formulation of improved candidates that offer comparable efficacy to existing standards while reducing the severity of local adverse events, thereby improving patient compliance. Demonstrating this progress, according to Curevo Vaccine, January 2024, in the 'Announcement of Positive Topline Results from Phase 2 Trial', their adjuvanted subunit vaccine candidate achieved a 100% vaccine response rate one month after the second dose in a head-to-head comparison. These clinical innovations are critical for capturing the significant portion of the unvaccinated population, particularly as GSK reported in 2024 that the cumulative immunization penetration rate in the US had only reached 39% of the recommended adult population.

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Key Market Challenges

The high cost structure associated with advanced recombinant vaccines and long-term pain management therapies constitutes a formidable barrier to the expansion of the Global Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market. This economic impediment severely restricts market penetration, particularly in emerging economies and cost-sensitive regions where healthcare budgets are tightly constrained. Although the clinical necessity for effective shingles prevention is rising due to global aging, the substantial financial investment required for multi-dose vaccine regimens often deters both individual patients and institutional payers. Consequently, manufacturers encounter significant difficulties in converting the high volume of at-risk individuals into actual revenue, as the prohibitive pricing compels many to forego necessary preventative care or treatment.

This affordability gap creates a fragmented market landscape where growth is largely confined to nations with robust reimbursement frameworks, leaving vast potential markets untapped. The direct correlation between high costs and low uptake stifles the industry's ability to capitalize on the increasing prevalence of the virus. According to the International Federation on Ageing, in 2025, the significant out-of-pocket expense of approximately $150 per dose remained a primary barrier, resulting in vaccination coverage rates of just 32.9% in jurisdictions lacking public funding. Such low adherence figures demonstrate how pricing barriers directly hamper the market's trajectory and limit sustained revenue generation.

Key Market Trends

The two most significant trends in the Global Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market are the research into next-generation adjuvant systems and the transition toward recombinant subunit vaccine dominance.

Research into Next-Generation Adjuvant Systems for Improved Tolerability is reshaping the prophylactic landscape by addressing the high reactogenicity associated with current standard-of-care vaccines. Industry players are prioritizing the development of proprietary adjuvant formulations, such as CpG 1018, which aim to maintain high immunogenicity while significantly reducing local and systemic adverse events. This focus on optimizing the safety profile is critical for overcoming vaccine hesitancy and improving uptake rates in the elderly population. According to Dynavax Technologies Corporation, August 2025, in the press release regarding the Phase 1/2 trial results, the Z-1018 candidate demonstrated a 100% humoral vaccine response rate one month after the second dose while exhibiting a favorable tolerability profile with lower rates of injection site reactions compared to the existing standard.

The Transition Toward Recombinant Subunit Vaccine Dominance is accelerating as new market entrants advance their candidates through regulatory milestones, challenging the monopoly of existing recombinant options and marking the definitive decline of live-attenuated vaccines. This trend is characterized by the expansion of the subunit class into global markets, driven by the need for robust supply chains and diversified sourcing to meet the demands of immunization programs. This shift is substantiated by recent regulatory progress; according to Jiangsu Recbio Technology Co., Ltd., December 2025, in the announcement regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for REC610, the candidate's application was officially accepted by the Center for Drug Evaluation, positioning it as a key challenger in the expanding recombinant subunit market.

Segmental Insights

According to recent market analysis, the Prescription Treatment segment is the fastest-growing category within the Global Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market. This expansion is largely driven by the rising geriatric population, which faces a higher risk of severe infection and requires systemic antiviral drugs available only by prescription. Furthermore, the clinical necessity to manage complex conditions, such as Postherpetic Neuralgia, compels healthcare professionals to utilize prescription-strength neuropathic pain agents rather than over-the-counter alternatives. Consequently, the demand for these targeted therapeutic regimens is surging as providers prioritize effective viral suppression and comprehensive patient care.

Regional Insights

North America commands the leading share of the global herpes zoster infection treatment market, driven by a rising incidence of shingles and a well-established healthcare infrastructure. This dominance is reinforced by the strong presence of key pharmaceutical manufacturers and favorable reimbursement frameworks that facilitate widespread patient access to treatments. Additionally, supportive initiatives by regulatory entities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding drug approvals and clinical trials further strengthen the regional market. These combined factors sustain North America's primary position in the global landscape.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, GSK received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a new prefilled syringe presentation of its recombinant zoster vaccine, Shingrix. This regulatory decision introduced a streamlined format that eliminates the need for healthcare professionals to reconstitute the vaccine from separate vials before administration. The company noted that this new presentation simplifies the vaccination process and improves efficiency for pharmacists and physicians. The approval was supported by comprehensive data demonstrating that the prefilled syringe offers technical comparability to the original vial-based formulation, ensuring the same safety and efficacy profile for preventing herpes zoster.
• In June 2024, Dynavax Technologies administered the first dose to a participant in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating its investigational shingles vaccine, Z-1018. The randomized, active-controlled study was designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate in healthy adults aged 50 to 69. This development marked a significant milestone in the company's efforts to expand its vaccine portfolio targeting infectious diseases. The investigational product utilizes a proprietary adjuvant aiming to elicit a robust immune response. The company intends to enroll a substantial number of participants to generate data that will determine the optimal dose regimen for future studies.
• In March 2024, Moderna released positive clinical trial data for its mRNA-based varicella-zoster virus vaccine candidate, mRNA-1468. The company reported results from a Phase 1/2 study involving healthy adults, which showed that the candidate elicited robust T-cell antigen-specific responses comparable to existing treatments. Based on these promising interim findings, the biotechnology firm announced its strategic decision to advance the program into late-stage clinical development. The update highlighted the potential of the proprietary mRNA platform to effectively address latent viruses. The organization emphasized that the ongoing development aims to provide an effective alternative for the prevention of shingles in older adults.
• In January 2024, Jiangsu Recbio Technology announced positive interim results from the first-in-human clinical trial of its novel adjuvanted recombinant shingles vaccine, REC610. The study, conducted in the Philippines, compared the investigational vaccine against the market-leading active comparator. Data indicated that the candidate demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in participants aged 40 and older. Furthermore, the vaccine induced strong cellular and humoral immune responses, which were comparable to the active control. The company stated that these findings supported the continued clinical development of the vaccine as a potential new option for preventing herpes zoster in the global market.

Key Market Players

• GSK plc.
• Bausch Health Companies Inc.
• Renata Limited
• Novan, Inc.
• Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
• Pfizer Inc.
• Apotex Inc.
• Sandoz Canada Inc.
• Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

By Treatment Type	By Route of administration	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Prescription Treatment Supporting Treatment	Oral Intravenous Others	Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market, By Treatment Type:

• Prescription Treatment
• Supporting Treatment

• Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market, By Route of administration:

• Oral
• Intravenous
• Others

• Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Hospital Pharmacies
• Retail Pharmacies
• Online Pharmacies

• Herpes Zoster Infection Treatment 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