Global Gastrointestinal Drug Market: Sales in the next decade will reach $18 billion

According to a new research report released by Research and Markets, global sales of gastrointestinal drugs have exceeded US$11 billion in 2009, and are still compounded by slightly higher than the industry average. The annual growth rate (CAGR) is increasing. It is expected that sales will reach 18 billion U.S. dollars in the next decade.

According to the analysis, the changes in the global market for gastroesophageal reflux medicines are particularly worthy of attention due to the expiration of all drug patents and the absence of new varieties. Another report also mentioned that there are many new bright spots in other types of gastrointestinal drug market, such as the irritable bowel syndrome drug market, ulcerative colitis drugs.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease drug: market decline

According to a recent Research and Markets report, “Dose of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (CERD) to 2016, Drug Pipeline Analysis and Market Forecasts”. In the next 7 years, global gastroesophageal reflux disease market sales will decline, its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) will be close to -10%, and the reason for the high rate of decline is the total proton pump inhibitor (PPI) during this period of time. The patent will expire, and the factors that sustain the CERD market are the increase in the number of people seeking treatment and diagnosis, and the need for long-term maintenance treatment of anticoagulant reflux. The report is an important source of global gastroesophageal reflux disease market information and analysis. It points out the main trends in forming and driving the global CERD market. The report also analyzes the current competitive situation and may lead to significant changes in the current market leader position. Emerging competitors.

The current competition for CERD drugs is particularly fierce. The current market for relieving H2-receptor antagonists and PPIs is mainly to reduce the frequency of gastric acid production or neutralization of gastric acid, promote gastric emptying, restore lower esophageal sphincter function, and reduce transient oesophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR). Both single and combination use of medication safety and efficacy can meet clinical needs. However, the expiration of the major prescription PPI patents during the forecast period has attracted attention, which means that the GERD market will become increasingly un-patented. This requires that new products entering the market will have the same efficacy and safety as existing products in the market, or have more advantages.

As for the research and development of gastroesophageal reflux drugs, the report found it still very weak. At present, there are only 45 GERD products that contain different pathologies developed for the disease. Nearly 43% of the drugs are still imitations (only 10 in the phase III clinical trials are only imitations and 7 extensions), including H+/K+ ATPase inhibitors and H2-receptor antagonists. However, it gives new clinical feeling that these products are expected to be approved for special populations such as infants and young children. In particular, products with new mechanisms of action appear to be more promising in the corresponding fields, such as relieving nocturnal symptoms, gastric acid deficiency, and alleviating the symptoms of GERD patients who respond poorly to PPI.

Irritable bowel syndrome drug: lack of competitive products

According to the latest report from Business Insights, the Global Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) market was worth US$1.6 billion in 2009 and is expected to grow at a rate of 9.1% per annum in the next seven years, reaching US$ 3 billion by 2016. The growth rate mainly comes from the expected new drug development and the high incidence of the disease. However, the report also estimates the problems faced by the drug, the most critical of which is the difficulty of diagnosis and generic drugs may limit the development of the market.

At present, the competition of IBS drugs is relatively weak, and there are only 4 commonly used licensed products and one generic drug for the clinical treatment of IBS. Amitiza of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and Lotronex of GlaxoSmithKline are two licensed drugs for the treatment of constipation- and diarrhea-type IBS (IBS-C and IBS-D), respectively. In addition, there are currently two mint oil products used to treat the symptoms of IBS, including abdominal pain and abdominal distention, respectively Colpermine and Mintec, and the other generic drug has a small market share. Therefore, the report concludes that the overall competition for brand drugs in the field of irritable bowel syndrome treatment is weak, mainly due to the lack of products for the treatment of IBS-C and IBS-D competing with Amitiza and Lotronex, and the market has a very broad prospect for development.

Ulcerative Colitis Drugs: New Products

According to consulting firm Decision Resources (DR), in the next 10 years, the market value of ulcerative colitis drugs will double in the seven major global markets (the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Japan). During this period, the main driving force for market growth came from the sales of Amicorp/Eisai’s Humira(adalimumab) and Centocor Ortho Biotech/Merck&Co/Mitsubishi Tianbian/Janssen’s SIM poni(golimumab), and the general increase in diagnosed patients in the United States. .

DR's research also shows that there is still plenty of opportunity to develop more effective long-acting maintenance therapies for new drugs that treat severe chronic illnesses and new treatments that can combat powerful corticosteroids, such as prednisone. . Emerging therapies such as Humira and golimumab (both TNF-alpha inhibitors) have proven to be effective alternatives to existing maintenance therapy in moderate to severe patients. However, the high price expectations of these new biological products will limit their overall market share.

The most commonly used clinically for patients with severe and refractory ulcerative colitis and who require hospitalization is via intravenous corticosteroids, cyclosporine (Novartis Sandimmune, imitation) and Centocor Ortho Biotech/Merck/Mitsubishi. Temby's Remicade (infliximab) for treatment. However, the short-term nature of corticosteroid therapy and the weaker efficacy of immunosuppressive agents and TNF-α inhibitors all underscore the shortcomings of current commercial products for the induction and maintenance of ulcerative colitis.