 Pharmacor --
August 2005
 You Need to Know
Will the newly launched M3-selective
anticholinergic agents solifenacin and darifenacin significantly expand the
market for urge urinary incontinence (UUI) therapies? How will increasing
patient and physician awareness of urge urinary incontinence and its treatments
affect drug sales? Are the nonanticholinergic agents in development capable of
truly modifying UUI treatment?
Introduction
Urge urinary incontinence--the
involuntary loss of urine accompanied by a strong and sudden urge to void--poses
a social, hygienic, and economic hardship and is characterized by very low
patient presentation rates (and therefore low diagnosis rates). Experts
interviewed by Decision Resources report that improved awareness, as well as
the availability of long-acting, selective agents with improved side-effect
profiles, will drive robust market growth over our ten-year forecast period.
Key Findings
 In 2004, the number of prevalent cases of UUI in the major
markets exceeded 46 million; that population will grow modestly during our
forecast period as a result of the increase in the average age of the
population in all markets. Sales growth will be much more robust than
population growth, particularly over the first half of our forecast period,
with uptake of newly launched anticholinergics coupled with increasing
awareness of UUI treatments driving sales up sharply from the $1.4 billion
figure in 2004.
Greater efficacy is the most significant unmet need in UUI. Even
with the most effective agents currently on the market, most UUI patients must
settle for a slight decrease in urinary incontinence events in lieu of full
relief of symptoms.
Newly launched anticholinergics selective for the M3
muscarinic receptor will take significant market share from anticholinergic
therapies currently on the market.
Neuromuscular blocking agents will find a niche market for UUI patients
refractory to anticholinergic therapy.
Why Buy This Report?
Discover how newly launched M3-selective anticholinergic
agents will fare in the clinic and the marketplace.
Uncover the clinical and commercial impact of increasing
awareness of UUI and better compliance with drug-treatment regimens.
Explore the shifting dynamics of anticholinergic agents as novel
formulations and novel delivery systems enter the market.
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