Athlete's Foot Market

• The athlete’s foot market is expected to experience steady growth during the forecast period (2024–2034). This growth is a direct consequence of various market-driving factors such as improving access to diagnosis and treatment, increased awareness and research, advancements in treatment options, and increasing participation in sports activities. 
• Currently, LUZU (luliconazole) from Bausch Health stands as the sole US FDA-approved product for treating athlete's foot. Other off-label medications are also used in the treatment of athlete's foot, these include clotrimazole, terbinafine, ketoconazole, miconazole, and others.
• The current athlete's foot treatment market has several challenges that have to be addressed like the need for faster-acting treatments, therapies that prevent disease spread, and treatment specific to severe or resistant cases, etc. With a robust emerging pipeline that focuses on tailored therapies, and new and innovative treatment approaches, the athlete’s foot market size is projected to increase driven by both approved and emerging therapies during the forecast period (2024–2034).
• Blueberry Therapeutics is developing a drug called BB1202 for athlete’s foot that is anticipated to propel the market forward upon its entry in the coming years. The overall athlete's foot treatment market size is expected to grow with a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

Factors affecting Athlete's Foot Market Growth: 

• Rising Prevalence of Fungal Infections

Increasing cases of dermatophyte infections globally drive demand for effective antifungal treatments.

• Growing Awareness of Personal Hygiene

Public health campaigns and awareness about foot hygiene encourage early treatment and prevention.

• Availability of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Treatments 

Easy access to antifungal creams, sprays, and powders supports market growth.

• Advancements in Antifungal Formulations 

Development of novel topical and oral therapies with better efficacy and reduced side effects enhances adoption.

• Increasing Sports and Fitness Activities 

Higher participation in sports increases susceptibility to foot infections, boosting treatment demand.

• Rising Geriatric Population

Elderly individuals are more prone to fungal infections due to weakened immunity, expanding the target population.

• Growing E-commerce and Online Sales Channels

Easy availability of antifungal products online improves market reach.

• Healthcare Infrastructure Development 

Improved access to dermatology clinics and healthcare facilities supports timely diagnosis and treatment.

• Rising Awareness Through Digital Health Platforms 

Telemedicine and online consultations increase patient engagement and treatment uptake.

• Strategic Collaborations & Product Launches

Pharmaceutical companies introducing innovative therapies strengthen the market landscape.

DelveInsight’s comprehensive report titled “Athlete’s foot — Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast – 2034” offers a detailed analysis of athlete’s foot. The athlete's foot treatment market report presents historical and projected epidemiological data covering incident cases of athlete’s foot, gender-specific incident cases of athlete’s foot, age-specific incident cases of athlete’s foot, type-specific incident cases of athlete’s foot, and treated cases of athlete’s foot in addition to epidemiology, the market report encompasses various aspects related to the patient population. These aspects include the diagnosis process, prescription patterns, physician perspectives, market accessibility, treatment options, and prospective developments in the market across seven major markets: the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan, spanning from 2020 to 2034.

The athlete's foot treatment market report analyzes the existing treatment practices and unmet medical requirements for athlete’s feet. It evaluates the market potential and identifies potential business prospects for enhancing therapies or interventions. This valuable information enables stakeholders to make well-informed decisions regarding product development and strategic planning for the market.

Athlete’s Foot Market Summary

An athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is an infection of the skin and feet that can be caused by a variety of different fungi. Although tinea pedis can affect any portion of the foot, the infection most often affects the space between the toes. An athlete’s foot is typically characterized by skin fissures or scales that can be red and itchy. An athlete's foot can make the feet and the skin between the toes burn and itch. The skin may peel and crack. The symptoms can depend on the type of athlete's foot. Toe web infection usually occurs between the fourth and fifth toes. The skin becomes scaly, peels, and cracks. Some people also may have an infection with bacteria. This can make the skin break down even more. Moccasin-type infection may start with a little soreness on the foot. Then the skin on the bottom or heel of foot can become thick and crack. In bad cases, the toenails get infected and can thicken, crumble, and even fall out. Fungal infection in toenails needs separate treatment.

Vesicular-type infection usually begins with a sudden outbreak of fluid-filled blisters under the skin. The blisters are usually on the bottom of the foot. Certain risk factors can increase the risk of an athlete's foot like genetic predisposition if a lot of people in the family have it, allergies and eczema, and a weak immune system, for instance, due to a serious illness or the long-term use of medication that weakens the immune system. 

Athlete’s Foot Diagnosis and Treatment Algorithm 

The doctor examines the affected parts of the skin and asks about the symptoms. They may take a skin sample to rule out other similar skin conditions. That involves scraping off a small amount of skin and treating it with a chemical agent to identify fungal spores under a microscope. The results are often available the next day. In rare cases, a fungal culture will be grown in a laboratory to determine the exact strain of fungus.

Athlete’s foot is usually treated with antifungal creams, powders, or sprays that can be obtained by prescription or purchased over the counter. Treatment is usually continued for up to four weeks although the infection may seem to have disappeared before this. Medical therapy is the main treatment for tinea pedis. It is treated with topical antifungal agents; however, depending on the patient’s response to topical agents and the severity of the infection, both topical and oral (i.e. systemic) agents may be used. Medications used to treat tinea pedis work by disrupting the synthesis of ergosterol, which is a crucial component of fungal cell membranes. 

Athlete’s foot Epidemiology Analysis

The epidemiology section on the athlete’s foot market report offers information on the patient populations, including historical and projected trends for each of the seven major markets. Examining key opinion leader views from physicians or clinical experts can assist in identifying the reasons behind historical and projected trends. The diagnosed patient pool, their trends, and the underlying assumptions are all included in this section of the report.

This section also presents the data with relevant tables and graphs, offering a clear and concise view of the occurrence of athlete’s foot. Additionally, the report discloses the assumptions made during the analysis, ensuring data interpretation and presentation transparency. This epidemiological data is valuable for understanding the disease burden and its impact on the patient population across various regions.

Key Findings from Athlete’s foot Epidemiological Analyses and Forecast

According to various literature analyses, nearly 70% of the population in the US is infected with tinea pedis at some point in time. The disease affects males more commonly compared to females, and this gender difference is attributed to various factors such as wearing unventilated footwear, engaging in activities like marathon running, and having certain risk factors like hyperhidrosis (abnormally increased sweating). 

Various studies state that athlete's foot is a common condition and is present in about 15% to 25% of the general population of the United Kingdom

As per analysis, about 5% of patients were of the 0–17 age group, 12% were of the 18–30 age group, 54% were of the 31–60 age group, and the remaining 28% were of the>60 years age group.

Based on our analysis, 20% of runners free of dermatophyte infection had lesions resembling those of tinea pedis. Increasing age and use of communal bathing facilities were predictive of T. rubrum culture.

Athlete’s Foot Market Outlook

Athlete’s foot is usually treated with antifungal creams, powders, or sprays that can be obtained by prescription or purchased over the counter. Treatment is usually continued for up to four weeks although the infection may seem to have disappeared before this. Medical therapy is the main treatment for tinea pedis.

Azoles that are available for clinical use are classified as either imidazoles or triazoles, according to the number of nitrogen atoms they contain in their chemical structure. When uncontrolled or if the infection recurs physicians and dermatologists may prescribe itraconazole, griseofulvin, and terbinafine as well. These drugs also have side effects like gastrointestinal upsets, nausea, etc. Medications for bacterial infections may also be prescribed if there is a secondary infection.

For blisters, skin lesions, soggy skin dressing, local compresses, soaks, etc. may be recommended. For chronic moccasin type of tinea pedis infection, long-term therapy with oral drugs may be needed. In the vesicular type of lesions, the blisters in the instep may be removed by a health care provider, and the bases dressed or soaked till they dry out. The soak commonly used is the Burow’s solution which is used several times a day for 3 days or more until the blister is dried out. Once dried the area is covered in topical antifungal creams. Diabetics have a higher risk of foot infections.

Reducing moisture on the feet and in footwear helps prevent recurrences. Wearing open-toe shoes or shoes that “breathe” and frequently changing socks are important, especially during warm weather. Spaces between toes should be thoroughly towel-dried after bathing. To help keep the feet dry, people may apply antifungal powders (such as miconazole), gentian violet, or aluminum chloride solution or soak their feet in the Burow solution (aluminum subacetate).

In 2018, the US FDA approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to expand the use of LUZU (luliconazole) cream, 1% for the topical treatment of patients 12 and older with athlete's foot (interdigital tinea pedis). Before this, NAFTIN Gel 2% was approved by the US FDA for interdigital tinea pedis caused by the organisms Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum, however, it has generics in the market now.

While there are various over-the-counter and prescription treatments available, including antifungal creams, ointments, gels, sprays, and pills, the challenge remains in ensuring that individuals complete the full course of treatment to prevent the infection from coming back and becoming harder to treat.

With ongoing research and continued dedication, the future holds hope for even more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for this challenging condition. According to DelveInsight, the Athlete’s foot market in the 7MM is expected to change significantly during the study period 2020–2034.       

Athlete’s Foot Drug Analysis 

Marketed Athlete’s foot Drugs

• LUZU (luliconazole): Bausch Health 

Luliconazole is a topical antifungal agent whose mechanism of action is not known but it is postulated to be involved in altering the synthesis of fungi cell membranes. It was approved by the US FDA in November 2013 and is marketed under the brand name LUZU. Luliconazole is also approved in Japan. It comes in the form of cream with 1% strength. In 2018, the US FDA approved the sNDA to expand the use of LUZU (luliconazole) cream, 1% for the topical treatment of patients 12 and older with athlete's foot (interdigital tinea pedis). 

Note: Detailed marketed therapies assessment will be provided in the final report.

Emerging Athlete’s Foot Drugs

The pipeline of Athlete’s foot is quite limited with few products available in the developmental stage. There are several key players involved in the development of promising products such as Blueberry Therapeutics and others.

• BB1202: Blueberry Therapeutics

Blueberry is developing a new, topical antifungal spray formulation (BB1202) for the topical treatment of tinea pedis using our nano delivery platform technology. By enhancing drug penetration into the upper layers of the skin, we aim to be able to use significantly lower doses of an existing antifungal agent but to match the efficacy and match or improve safety. It has completed Phase II trial and is preparing to enter late-stage Phase III clinical development with Blueberry seeking advice from the US FDA to finalize the trial design, however, there is no recent update on the same.

Note: Detailed emerging therapies assessment will be provided in the final report.

Athlete’s Foot Market Segmentation

DelveInsight’s ‘Athlete’s Foot Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast – 2034’ report provides a detailed outlook of the current and future athlete’s foot market, segmented within countries, by therapies, and by classes. Further, the market of each region is then segmented by each therapy to provide a detailed view of the current and future market share of all therapies. 

Athlete’s Foot Market Size by Countries

The athlete’s foot market size is assessed separately for various countries, including the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the UK, and Japan. In 2022, the United States held a significant share of the overall 7MM (Seven Major Markets) athlete’s foot market, primarily attributed to the country's higher incidence of the condition and the elevated cost of the available treatments. This dominance is projected to persist, especially with the potential early introduction of new products.

Athlete’s Foot Market Size by Therapies

Athlete’s foot Market Size by Therapies is categorized into current and emerging markets for the study period 2020–2034. One of the emerging drugs anticipated to launch during the forecast period is BB1202 by Blueberry Therapeutics.

Note: Detailed market segment assessment will be provided in the final report.

Athlete’s Foot Drugs Uptake

This section focuses on the sales uptake of potential athlete’s foot drugs that have recently been launched or are anticipated to be launched in the athlete’s foot market between 2020 and 2034. It estimates the market penetration of athlete’s foot drugs for a given country, examining their impact within and across classes and segments. It also touches upon the financial and regulatory decisions contributing to the probability of success (PoS) of the drugs in the athlete’s foot market.

The emerging athlete’s foot therapies are analyzed based on various attributes such as safety and efficacy in randomized clinical trials, order of entry and other market dynamics, and the unmet need they fulfill in the athlete’s foot market.

Note: Detailed assessment of drug uptake and attribute analysis will be provided in the full report

Athlete’s Foot Market Access and Reimbursement

DelveInsight’s ‘Athlete’s Foot – Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast – 2034’ report provides a descriptive overview of the market access and reimbursement scenario of athlete’s foot.

This section includes a detailed analysis of the country-wise healthcare system for each therapy, enlightening the market access, reimbursement policies, and health technology assessments. 

Latest KOL Views on Athlete’s Foot

To keep up with current Athlete’s foot market trends and fill gaps in secondary findings, we interview KOLs and SMEs working in the Athlete’s foot domain. Their opinion helps understand and validate current and emerging therapies and treatment patterns or Athlete’s foot market trends. This will support the clients in potential upcoming novel treatments by identifying the overall scenario of the market and the Athlete’s foot unmet needs.

Athlete’s foot: KOL Insights

DelveInsight’s analysts connected with 50+ KOLs to gather insights; however, interviews were conducted with 15+ KOLs in the 7MM. These KOLs were from organizations, institutes, and hospitals, such as NYU Langone Health's Division of Sports Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and The University of Edinburgh among others.

“Antifungal therapy has provided much-needed relief to the management of patients, but many prescribers and patients are awaiting the approval of upcoming therapies”.

Note: Detailed assessment of KOL Views will be provided in the full report on the athlete’s foot.

Competitive Intelligence Analysis

We conduct a Competitive and Market Intelligence analysis of the athlete’s foot market, utilizing various competitive intelligence tools such as SWOT analysis and market entry strategies. The inclusion of these analyses is contingent upon data availability, ensuring a comprehensive and well-informed assessment of the market landscape and competitive dynamics.

Athlete’s Foot Pipeline Development Activities

The report offers an analysis of therapeutic candidates in Phase II and III stages and examines companies involved in developing targeted therapeutics for athlete’s foot. It provides valuable insights into the advancements and progress of potential treatments in clinical development for this condition.

Pipeline Development Activities

The report covers information on collaborations, acquisitions and mergers, licensing, patent details, and other information for emerging Athlete’s Foot therapies.

Athlete’s Foot Report Insights

• Athlete’s Foot Patient Population
• Therapeutic Approaches
• Athlete’s Foot Pipeline Analysis
• Athlete’s Foot Market Size and Trends
• Athlete’s Foot Market Opportunities
• Impact of Upcoming Therapies

Athlete’s Foot Report Key Strengths

• 11 Years Forecast
• The 7MM Coverage
• Athlete’s Foot Epidemiology Segmentation
• Key Cross Competition
• Highly Analyzed Athlete’s Foot Market
• Athlete’s foot Drugs Uptake

Athlete’s Foot Report Assessment

• Athlete’s foot Current Treatment Practices
• Unmet Needs
• Athlete’s Foot Pipeline Product Profiles
• Athlete’s foot Market Attractiveness

Key Questions Answered in the Athlete’s Foot Report

• How common is an Athlete’s Foot?
• What are the key findings of Athlete’s Foot epidemiology across the 7MM, and which country will have the highest number of patients during the study period (2020–2034)?
• What are the currently available treatments for Athlete’s Foot?
• What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of an Athlete’s Foot?
• At what CAGR is the Athlete’s Foot market and its epidemiology is expected to grow in the 7MM during the forecast period (2024–2034)?
• How would the unmet needs impact the Athlete’s foot market dynamics and subsequently influence the analysis of the related trends?
• What would be the forecasted patient pool of Athlete’s Foot in the 7MM covering the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the UK, and Japan?
• Among EU4 and the UK, which country will have the highest number of patients during the forecast period (2024–2034)?
• How many companies are currently developing therapies for the treatment of Athletes’ Foot?