Visceral Leishmaniasis Market Report 2026

The visceral leishmaniasis market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.06 billion in 2025 to $1.12 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of endemic disease prevalence, increasing public health awareness initiatives, availability of established antiparasitic treatments, growth of hospital-based treatment programs, international health organization support.

The visceral leishmaniasis market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.39 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in novel therapeutics, rising focus on vaccine and immunotherapy development, expansion of molecular diagnostic adoption, growing government funding for disease elimination, increasing access to treatment in endemic regions. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of advanced diagnostic techniques, rising use of combination drug therapies, growing focus on early disease detection, expansion of public health screening programs, enhanced investment in treatment accessibility.

The rise in malnutrition is expected to drive the growth of the visceral leishmaniasis market going forward. Malnutrition is a health condition caused by insufficient or imbalanced nutrient intake needed for proper physiological functioning. Increasing malnutrition is largely linked to food insecurity, which restricts access to nutritious foods, resulting in undernourishment and micronutrient deficiencies that weaken the immune system. A compromised immune system makes individuals more susceptible to infections such as visceral leishmaniasis, with nutrient deficiencies reducing the body’s defense mechanisms and increasing the risk of severe disease and complications. For instance, in July 2024, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a U.S.-based specialized agency, approximately 733 million people were undernourished globally in 2023. Therefore, the rise in malnutrition is fueling the growth of the visceral leishmaniasis market.

Major companies operating in the visceral leishmaniasis market are focusing on developing improved treatment options, such as antiparasitic drugs, to enhance efficacy and patient accessibility, especially in endemic regions. Antiparasitic drugs are medications designed to treat parasitic infections by targeting the parasite’s biological functions, disrupting its growth, reproduction, or survival within the host. For instance, in February 2024, Zydus Lifesciences Limited, an India-based pharmaceutical company, received World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification for the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and formulation of miltefosine for treating leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar. Miltefosine is an oral antiparasitic drug that disrupts the parasite’s cell membrane and interferes with its metabolism, leading to cell death. It also inhibits parasite growth and survival, making it an effective oral treatment option for visceral leishmaniasis.

In January 2023, Gilead Sciences Inc., a US-based biopharmaceutical company providing treatment for visceral leishmaniasis, extended its partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve access to treatments for the disease. As part of this collaboration, Gilead Sciences donated 304,700 vials of AmBisome (liposomal amphotericin B) to increase the availability of essential medicines for treating visceral leishmaniasis in high-burden countries, supporting global initiatives to control and eliminate this life-threatening condition. The World Health Organization (WHO), a Switzerland-based specialized agency, plays a central role in preventing, controlling, and eradicating visceral leishmaniasis through strategic programs and global health initiatives.

Major companies operating in the visceral leishmaniasis market are Pfizer Inc., GSK plc, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Aurobindo Pharma Limited, Cipla Limited, Zydus Lifesciences Limited, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited, Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Xellia Pharmaceuticals, Gufic Biosciences Ltd., United Biotech Private Limited, DNDi, Sanofi SA, Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited, Hetero Drugs Limited, Lupin Limited, Ipca Laboratories Limited, Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited, Macleods Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mankind Pharma Limited, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited.

North America was the largest region in the visceral leishmaniasis market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the visceral leishmaniasis market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the visceral leishmaniasis market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Tariffs are impacting the visceral leishmaniasis market by increasing costs of imported pharmaceutical ingredients, diagnostic reagents, laboratory equipment, and specialized treatment formulations. Healthcare systems in endemic regions across Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America are most affected due to reliance on imported diagnostics and drugs, while Europe and North America face higher research and procurement costs. These tariffs are increasing treatment expenses and affecting supply consistency. However, they are also encouraging local drug manufacturing, regional diagnostic production, and strengthened domestic healthcare supply chains aimed at improving long-term disease management.

The visceral leishmaniasis market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides visceral leishmaniasis market statistics, including visceral leishmaniasis industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a visceral leishmaniasis market share, detailed visceral leishmaniasis market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the visceral leishmaniasis industry. This visceral leishmaniasis market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, is a serious parasitic disease caused by Leishmania species and transmitted through the bites of infected sandflies. It affects internal organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow, leading to prolonged fever, weight loss, anemia, and organ enlargement. If left untreated, it can be fatal, making early diagnosis and treatment essential.

The main treatment types for visceral leishmaniasis include antiparasitic, antifungal, and others. Antiparasitic treatments are medications that specifically target and eliminate parasites by disrupting their biological processes, thereby preventing their growth, reproduction, or survival. Diagnosis is carried out using methods such as serological tests, molecular tests, microscopy, and culture methods, and treatments are administered through routes including oral, injectable, and other alternatives. Distribution channels include hospital pharmacies, online pharmacies, and retail pharmacies, and the treatments are used by end users such as hospitals, home care providers, specialty clinics, and others.

The visceral leishmaniasis market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as drug development and distribution, vector control programs, and research and clinical trials. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The visceral leishmaniasis market also includes sales of antileishmanial drugs, vaccines, vector control insecticides, recombinant antigen-based diagnostics, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection kits. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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