Permethrin - Generic Drug Details

What are the generic drug sources for permethrin and what is the scope of freedom to operate?

Permethrin is the generic ingredient in three branded drugs marketed by Aurobindo Pharma Usa, Actavis Labs, Dr Reddys Labs Eu, Encube Ethicals, Padagis Israel, Glaxosmithkline, Medtech Products, Actavis Mid Atlantic, and Perrigo New York, and is included in nine NDAs. Additional information is available in the individual branded drug profile pages.

There are five drug master file entries for permethrin. Fourteen suppliers are listed for this compound.

Summary for permethrin

US Patents:	0
Tradenames:	3
Applicants:	9
NDAs:	9
Drug Master File Entries:	5
Finished Product Suppliers / Packagers:	14
Raw Ingredient (Bulk) Api Vendors:	1
Clinical Trials:	37
Drug Prices:	Drug price trends for permethrin
Drug Sales Revenues:	Drug sales revenues for permethrin
What excipients (inactive ingredients) are in permethrin?	permethrin excipients list
DailyMed Link:	permethrin at DailyMed

See drug prices for permethrin

See drug sales revenues for permethrin

Recent Clinical Trials for permethrin

Identify potential brand extensions & 505(b)(2) entrants

Sponsor	Phase
College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan	EARLY_PHASE1
Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore	PHASE2
Infectopharm Arzneimittel GmbH	PHASE3

See all permethrin clinical trials

Pharmacology for permethrin

Drug Class

Pyrethroid

Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) Categories for permethrin

Enzyme Inhibitors

Insecticides

Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classes for permethrin

P03AC	Pyrethrines, incl. synthetic compounds
P03A	ECTOPARASITICIDES, INCL. SCABICIDES
P03	ECTOPARASITICIDES, INCL. SCABICIDES, INSECTICIDES AND REPELLENTS
P	Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents

US Patents and Regulatory Information for permethrin

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	TE	Type	RLD	RS	Patent No.	Patent Expiration	Product	Substance	Delist Req.	Exclusivity Expiration
Actavis Mid Atlantic	PERMETHRIN	permethrin	LOTION;TOPICAL	075014-001	Mar 28, 2000		OTC	No	No
Aurobindo Pharma Usa	ELIMITE	permethrin	CREAM;TOPICAL	019855-001	Aug 25, 1989	AB	RX	Yes	No
Perrigo New York	PERMETHRIN	permethrin	LOTION;TOPICAL	076090-001	Dec 20, 2001		OTC	No	No
Encube Ethicals	PERMETHRIN	permethrin	CREAM;TOPICAL	211303-001	Apr 3, 2019	AB	RX	No	No

Expired US Patents for permethrin

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Patent Expiration
Glaxosmithkline	NIX	permethrin	LOTION;TOPICAL	019435-001	Mar 31, 1986
Medtech Products	NIX	permethrin	LOTION;TOPICAL	019918-001	May 2, 1990

Market Dynamics and Financial Trajectory for Permethrin

Last updated: February 19, 2026

What Is Permethrin?

Permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide widely used in medical, agricultural, and residential applications. It serves as a topical treatment for scabies and lice and is embedded in various products for pest control. Its invention dates back to the late 1970s, with subsequent approvals for human medical use in decades following.

Market Size and Growth

Global permethrin market was valued at approximately USD 150 million in 2021. It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% from 2022 to 2030. The expansion stems from increasing insect-borne disease prevalence and demand for effective pest control solutions.

Year	Market Value (USD million)	CAGR	Notes
2021	150	--	Baseline
2022	157.7	4.5%	Projected
2025	183	4.5%	Approximate
2030	220	4.5%	Projected

Key Market Drivers

1. Medical Applications: Permethrin remains first-line treatment for scabies and head lice. The World Health Organization endorses its use, promoting market stability.

2. Regulatory Approvals: US FDA approval for permethrin-based topical treatments has remained steady. Recent approvals target resistant lice strains and alternative formulations.

3. Resistance Challenges: Increasing resistance in lice populations impacts sales volume. Development of new formulations aims to address this.

4. Agricultural Demand: Permethrin's efficacy against a variety of pests in crops sustains demand. Regulatory bans on other insecticides slightly favor permethrin's position.

5. COVID-19 Pandemic: Disrupted supply chains initially, but heightened awareness of vector-borne diseases increased demand for pest control products.

Competitive Landscape

Major producers include BASF, Dow AgroSciences (now Corteva), and Bayer. These companies' R&D investments focus on improving formulations, reducing resistance, and expanding labeling for new indications.

Company	Market Share (Est.)	Product Focus	Approximate Revenue (USD, 2022)
BASF	40%	Agricultural and residential	USD 60 million
Corteva	35%	Agricultural pest control	USD 52 million
Bayer	15%	Medical and agricultural	USD 22 million
Others	10%	Various regional suppliers	USD 15 million

Patent Landscape

The core patents for permethrin's formulation and medical indications largely expired by 2015, facilitating generic entry. New patents around formulations (e.g., long-acting topical applications, microencapsulation) filed in developing countries extend market exclusivity until 2030.

Regulatory Environment

Permethrin's regulatory status is stable in major markets. The US EPA classifies it as a likely carcinogen at high exposure levels but deems typical use safe in approved formulations. The European Union maintains a registration under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, with periodic reviews.

Key Challenges and Opportunities

• Resistance Development: Emergence of permethrin-resistant pests necessitates formulation enhancements and integrated pest management strategies.

• Novel Formulations: Microencapsulation and combination products aim to improve efficacy and reduce resistance.

• Global Health Initiatives: Funding for neglected tropical diseases supports permethrin's use in low-resource settings, expanding markets.

• Environmental and Safety Concerns: Regulatory review of permethrin's environmental persistence influences agricultural and residential use policies.

Financial Outlook

R&D investments in public health and resistance management are expected to increase profits for existing producers. Profit margins are estimated at 15-20% for leading firms, with risk-adjusted potential for growth through product differentiation.

Indicator	2022 Estimate	2030 Projection	Notes
Revenue (USD million)	150	220	Based on market expansion and product launches
R&D Spending (USD million)	10	15	Focused on formulation improvements and new uses
Profit Margin (%)	15-20	15-20	Stable, barring regulatory disruptions

Conclusion

The permethrin market exhibits steady growth driven by medical, agricultural, and residential demand. Resistance issues represent a critical risk, mitigated by ongoing innovation. Regulatory environments remain conducive to sustained sales, especially in regions with active global health initiatives.

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Key Takeaways

• The global permethrin market is projected to grow at a 4.5% CAGR through 2030, reaching USD 220 million.
• Major drivers include its use in treating scabies and lice, pest control in agriculture, and infrastructure associated with vector-borne disease prevention.
• Market concentration exists among key players with over 90% share, and patent expirations facilitate generic competition.
• Resistance development impacts future sales potential, but innovations in formulation help counteract this.
• Regulatory stability supports ongoing market penetration across key regions.

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FAQs

1. How does resistance affect permethrin's market?
Resistance in pests such as head lice reduces product effectiveness, prompting the development of new formulations. While resistance slows growth temporarily, innovations can mitigate this effect.

2. Are there regulatory risks for permethrin?
Regulatory reviews focus on environmental persistence and safety. Increased restrictions could diminish market size, but current approvals remain stable.

3. Which regions are primary markets for permethrin?
North America and Europe dominate medical sales, while Asia-Pacific and Latin America see expanding agricultural demand.

4. What innovations are expected to extend permethrin's market life?
Formulations using microencapsulation or combination therapies aim to improve efficacy and resistance management.

5. How significant is the impact of COVID-19 on permethrin?
Supply disruptions initially affected manufacturing but have since stabilized. The pandemic heightened awareness of vector control, boosting demand.

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References

[1] MarketsandMarkets. (2022). Permethrin Market by Application, Formulation, and Region.
[2] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2022). Permethrin; Pesticide Registration Review.
[3] World Health Organization. (2021). Strategies for control of scabies and head lice.
[4] European Chemicals Agency. (2022). Permethrin assessment report.
[5] Grand View Research. (2023). Insecticide Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis.