Neuropathic Pain: Painful Diabetic Neuropathy, Postherpetic Neuralgia, and HIV-Related Neuropathic Pain

Pharmacor -- April 2007

  Introduction:

Despite the success of recently launched agents, the painful diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and HIV-related neuropathic pain (NP) marketplaces are distinguished by immense unmet need. Thought leaders inform us that the most imperative need in this market is for rational, mechanism-based treatment approaches.

  Questions Answered in This Report:

Interviewed expert clinicians tell us that a mechanism-based treatment approach would revolutionize the market for NP therapies. Will a mechanism-based approach to treating NP be realized during our forecast period?

Two major agents, pregabalin (Pfizer’s Lyrica) and duloxetine (Eli Lilly’s Cymbalta), were recently approved for NP. What impact have these agents had on medical practice in the United States and Europe? What has been their effect on class sales and overall sales?

We forecast that, by 2015, approximately ten new agents will launch into the NP arena currently dominated by antiepileptic drugs. What will be physician uptake of these new pharmacological therapies? Will they be used in combination with currently used agents or in place of them?

  Scope:

Markets covered: United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan.

Primary research: 22 country-specific interviews with thought-leaders.

Epidemiology: Prevalence of painful neuropathy among diagnosed diabetics, diagnosed prevalence of postherpetic neuralgia, prevalence of neuropathic pain among diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients.

Population segments in market forecast: Painful diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, HIV-related neuropathic pain.

Emerging therapies: Phase II: 17 drugs; Phase III: 7 drugs; preregistration: 1 drug. Coverage of 4 select preclinical and Phase I products.

Market forecast features: Analyzing the market at a subpopulation level, we forecast drug sales for neuropathic pain through 2015.