Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Medications {Antibiotics, Anthelmintics, Others} v/s Surgery), By Diagnostic Procedure (Cholangiography, MRI, Ultrasonography, CT scan, Others), By Symptom (Jaundice, Diarrhea, Fever, Splenomegaly, Weight loss, Tachycardia, Others), By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Care Centers, Others), By Region and Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 423.17 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.62%
Fastest Growing Segment	Cholangiography
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 657.47 Million

Market Overview

The Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market will grow from USD 423.17 Million in 2025 to USD 657.47 Million by 2031 at a 7.62% CAGR. The Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market centers on the pharmaceutical distribution of anthelmintic agents, primarily praziquantel, utilized to eradicate parasitic liver fluke infections caused by Opisthorchis viverrini and Opisthorchis felineus. The market’s growth is fundamentally supported by the persistent disease burden in endemic regions of Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, necessitating sustained procurement of therapeutic courses by national public health programs. Furthermore, increased government investment in mass drug administration campaigns and improved surveillance frameworks act as critical drivers for sector development. According to the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis, in 2024, the pooled prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini infection across the Greater Mekong Subregion was identified as 21.11%, highlighting the substantial and ongoing demand for effective treatment solutions in these high-risk territories.

Despite these drivers, a significant challenge that could impede market expansion is the limited accessibility of accurate diagnostic tools in remote rural communities where the disease is most prevalent. The reliance on microscopic stool examination, which often has low sensitivity, leads to underdiagnosis and subsequently restricts the addressable patient population for treatment providers. Additionally, the lack of alternative therapeutic classes beyond praziquantel creates a vulnerability regarding potential drug resistance, further complicating long-term market sustainability.

Key Market Drivers

The Rising Prevalence of Opisthorchiasis in Endemic Regions acts as a primary catalyst for market growth, particularly within Southeast Asia where the parasite remains deeply entrenched in rural communities. High infection rates drive the continuous demand for anthelmintic drugs as public health bodies struggle to contain transmission cycles facilitated by traditional dietary habits involving raw fish consumption. This sustained endemicity ensures a steady reliance on pharmacological treatments to mitigate morbidity and prevent severe hepatic complications. According to Infectious Diseases of Poverty, May 2024, the pooled prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini infection in the Lao People's Democratic Republic was reported at 34.06 percent, a figure significantly higher than the regional average, underscoring the critical need for therapeutic intervention in these high-burden zones.

Concurrently, Strategic Government Initiatives for Parasitic Disease Control are reshaping the market landscape through enhanced screening and eradication campaigns. National health authorities are increasingly prioritizing the elimination of liver flukes to prevent downstream complications like bile duct cancer, thereby increasing the procurement and distribution of praziquantel. For instance, according to The Thaiger, February 2024, the Thai Ministry of Public Health established a rigorous objective to decrease the liver fluke infection rate to less than 1 percent of the population by 2025 through comprehensive screening of at-risk groups. These policy-driven mandates are further reinforced by the severe long-term health risks associated with the disease; according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health in December 2024, the Northeastern region of Thailand continues to exhibit a critically high Age-Standardized Rate of cholangiocarcinoma at 13.4 per 100,000 person-years, necessitating aggressive preventive treatment strategies.

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Key Market Challenges

The expansion of the Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market is significantly impeded by the limited accessibility of accurate diagnostic tools in remote rural communities. In these high-prevalence areas, the reliance on microscopic stool examination, which possesses low sensitivity, frequently fails to detect lighter infections. This diagnostic inefficiency results in a high rate of false negatives, causing a large segment of the infected population to remain undiagnosed. Consequently, the addressable market for anthelmintic agents is artificially restricted, as pharmaceutical procurement orders are driven by confirmed case counts rather than the actual epidemiological burden.

This inability to effectively identify patients directly hampers revenue growth for treatment providers. When national health programs cannot validate the true extent of infection due to poor surveillance data, they are unable to justify increased budgetary allocation for praziquantel procurement. This systemic underestimation of disease volume creates a disconnect between the persistent disease prevalence and market performance. According to Uniting to Combat NTDs, in 2024, reports indicated that approximately 1.62 billion people globally required interventions for neglected tropical diseases, yet a substantial gap in treatment coverage persists due to barriers such as inadequate case detection. This disparity underscores how diagnostic limitations severely constrain the realized commercial potential of the sector.

Key Market Trends

The Integration of Treatment into Cholangiocarcinoma Prevention Programs is fundamentally altering the strategic deployment of anthelmintic therapies by linking parasite eradication directly to cancer control. Public health protocols are increasingly embedding praziquantel administration within broader screening frameworks, such as the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program, to interrupt the carcinogenic progression of long-term infection. This shift elevates the market from simple deworming initiatives to critical oncology prevention strategies, securing sustained government funding for therapeutic procurement. According to the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, February 2024, in the 'Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Cholangiocarcinoma in a High Prevalence Area of Northeastern Thailand' article, the overall incidence rate of cholangiocarcinoma was reported as 32 per 100,000 population over a ten-year screening period, reinforcing the urgency of these integrated intervention models.

Simultaneously, the Implementation of One Health Disease Control Models is expanding the market's scope beyond human therapeutics to encompass environmental and reservoir host management. This holistic approach utilizes advanced spatial modeling to identify transmission hotspots involving intermediate hosts, thereby guiding more precise resource allocation for community-based interventions. By addressing the ecological cycle of the parasite, these models drive demand for surveillance tools and targeted treatment campaigns in high-risk zones. According to Frontiers in Veterinary Science, November 2024, in the 'Spatial prediction of the probability of liver fluke infection in water resource within sub-basin' article, an optimized geographically-weighted regression model achieved a prediction accuracy R-squared value of 0.800, significantly enhancing the ability to locate and manage infection sources in complex aquatic environments.

Segmental Insights

Within the Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market, the Cholangiography segment is emerging as the fastest-growing category due to its critical role in diagnosing severe complications like cholangiocarcinoma. Medical professionals rely on this imaging technique to visualize bile duct obstructions caused by chronic liver fluke infections, which is essential for determining the appropriate therapeutic course. Furthermore, the focus of the World Health Organization on managing morbidity associated with neglected tropical diseases has accelerated the adoption of rigorous surveillance protocols. This heightened demand for accurate disease staging and complication monitoring directly drives the rapid expansion of the Cholangiography segment.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific leads the Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market primarily because of the high prevalence of the infection across Southeast Asia. This regional dominance is attributed to established dietary habits in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, where the consumption of raw freshwater fish drives transmission. Consequently, there is a consistent requirement for effective medication to manage the patient population. The market is further strengthened by strategic control programs supported by the World Health Organization and local health ministries, which facilitate widespread access to treatment and routine monitoring in these deeply impacted areas.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, the pharmaceutical purchasing agency of New Zealand announced the selection of Shin Poong Pharm. Co., Ltd. as the new supplier for praziquantel tablets, effectively replacing the previous supplier, Bayer. This procurement decision followed the discontinuation of the former brand and marked a significant market share shift in the Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market. The selection of the South Korean company’s product, distributed under the brand name Distocide, ensured the continued availability of the essential treatment for patients suffering from liver fluke and tapeworm infections. This transition underscored the growing prominence of Asian pharmaceutical manufacturers in sustaining the global supply of critical antiparasitic medications.
• In October 2024, Bayer AG notified public health authorities, including the National Department of Health in South Africa, regarding the discontinuation of its branded praziquantel product, Biltricide. This corporate decision had immediate repercussions for the Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market, as the brand had been a long-standing therapeutic option for managing opisthorchiasis and other trematode infections. The notification cited a depletion of stock and a cessation of production for the specific formulation, prompting health agencies to urgently procure alternative generic versions. This market exit by a major pharmaceutical player highlighted the shifting commercial landscape and the increasing reliance on generic manufacturers for essential neglected tropical disease treatments.
• In July 2024, Merck KGaA and the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium advanced the manufacturing capabilities for the key antiparasitic drug by formalizing a technology transfer agreement with Farmanguinhos/Fiocruz in Brazil. This strategic collaboration aimed to establish the Brazilian institute as a new global production hub for the pediatric formulation of praziquantel. Within the context of the Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market, this partnership was crucial for diversifying the manufacturing base of the active pharmaceutical ingredient used to treat liver fluke infections. The initiative was designed to ensure a sustainable, long-term supply of the medication for mass drug administration programs in high-burden regions across Africa and Latin America.
• In May 2024, the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, led by Merck KGaA, announced that its novel pediatric formulation of praziquantel, known as arpraziquantel, was officially included in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of prequalified medicines. This regulatory milestone was a significant development in the Global Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market, as praziquantel remains the primary standard of care for parasitic fluke infections, including opisthorchiasis. The prequalification of this dispersible tablet confirmed its quality, safety, and efficacy, thereby facilitating its procurement and distribution by international agencies. This achievement addressed a critical gap in treating parasitic diseases in young children and strengthened the global supply chain for this essential antiparasitic drug class.

Key Market Players

• Cipla Inc.
• Johnson & Johnson
• Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
• Merck KGaA
• Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
• Pfizer Inc.
• GlaxoSmithKline plc
• F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
• AbbVie Inc
• Mankind Pharma Limited

By Type	By Diagnostic Procedure	By Symptom	By End User	By Region
Medications {Antibiotics Anthelmintics Others} v/s Surgery	Cholangiography MRI Ultrasonography CT scan Others	Jaundice Diarrhea Fever Splenomegaly Weight loss Tachycardia Others	Hospitals & Clinics Ambulatory Care Centers Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market, By Type:

• Medications {Antibiotics
• Anthelmintics
• Others} v/s Surgery

• Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market, By Diagnostic Procedure:

• Cholangiography
• MRI
• Ultrasonography
• CT scan
• Others

• Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market, By Symptom:

• Jaundice
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Splenomegaly
• Weight loss
• Tachycardia
• Others

• Opisthorchiasis Treatment Market, By End User:

• Hospitals & Clinics
• Ambulatory Care Centers
• Others

• Opisthorchiasis 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