 Pharmacor --
March 2005
 You Need to Know
What impact will increased use of
biologics have on the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) market? How will the RA market
be affected by concerns over the safety of selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2
inhibitors? Are there medications on the horizon that will affect RA treatment
practices?
Introduction
Over the course of our 2003-2013
study period, the market for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapies will undergo
both considerable change and rapid growth, more than doubling to $9.5 billion.
Patient management will focus increasingly on the early, aggressive use of
disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) given both in monotherapeutic
and combined therapy regimens. Aggressive treatment strategies should increase
the uptake of high-priced biologics, including currently available therapies
and new drugs launched during the study period, to drive significant growth of
this market. Symptomatic support therapy is in a state of flux, with
uncertainty surrounding the use of selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors,
leading to the likely reinvigoration of the traditional nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) sector.
Key Findings
 The RA market will grow considerably over the study decade,
driven primarily by the increased uptake of current and emerging high-cost
biological agents in all markets under study. The number of diagnosed prevalent
cases of RA in the major markets will grow modestly during that same period as
a result of the increase in the average age of the population, helping to
expand the RA market.
Early diagnosis and intervention with disease-modifying treatment
remains the greatest unmet need in RA. Implementation of measures that would
assist in early diagnosis and treatment, such as the development of a
diagnostic test for early RA or education of primary care physicians to hasten referral
to a specialist, could, to a considerable extent, prevent the destructive joint damage that occurs with the disease.
The market share of biological agents (in particular, the tumor
necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors) will increase significantly, as
restrictions imposed by health care payers gradually ease and as physician
confidence increases in tandem with reduced concerns over potential long-term side
effects. The introduction of novel biological agents with improved convenience,
decreased cost, or novel mechanisms of action will help foster the growth of
this drug class.
Why Buy This Report?
Uncover the market dynamics of this rapidly evolving marketplace.
Understand the commercial impact of concerns affecting the COX-2
inhibitor class in RA.
Discover how new biologics will fare in the clinic and the
marketplace.
|
