Women’s Health Therapeutics, Analysis and Market Forecasts to 2016 - High Unmet Need will Drive the Uptake of Novel Drugs in the Menopause and Osteopo

09 Sep 2010 • by Natalie Aster

GBI Research, a leading business intelligence provider, has released its latest research “Women’s Health Therapeutics, Analysis and Market Forecasts to 2016 - High Unmet Need will Drive the Uptake of Novel Drugs in the Menopause and Osteoporosis Markets”. The report provides in-depth analysis of the unmet needs, drivers and barriers that affect the global Women’s Health (WH) market. The report analyzes the markets for WH disorders in the US, the top five markets in Europe (the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain) and Japan. Treatment usage patterns, sales, prices and volumes are forecast until 2016 for the key geographies as well as the leading therapeutic segments. Furthermore, the report provides competitive benchmarking for the leading companies and analyzes the mergers, acquisitions and licensing agreements that shape the global markets.

It is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GBI Research’s team of industry experts.

The Global WH Disorder Therapeutics Market is Forecast to Grow Rapidly from 2009 to 2016

In 2009, the global women’s health (WH) disorder therapeutics market was estimated to be worth $12.1 billion, after having had a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.6% between 2001 and 2009. By 2016, the global WH disorder therapeutics market is estimated to reach $22 billion, indicating a CAGR of 8.8% between 2009 and 2016. Owing to several factors, such as the publication of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study results, a lack of effective therapeutics, the WH disorder therapeutics market grew moderately between 2001 and 2009. However, the launch of novel therapeutics in the near future is expected to satisfy the unmet need in the market. This will have a pronounced effect on the menopause therapeutics market.

The current WH disorder therapeutics pipeline is promising with a strong line-up of first-in-class molecules in late stages of clinical development such as Pristiq, Aprela, Menerba, Elagolix and Cetrorelix. In addition, the recent launch of potential blockbuster drugs such as Prolia (Denosumab) for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis will nullify the effect of major drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel losing their patents. Thus, the WH disorder therapeutics market is an attractive market with huge opportunities for novel entrants with high safety and efficacy profiles.

Novel Therapies Are Poised to Dominate the WH Disorder Therapeutics Market

The WH disorder therapeutics market is backed by a strong pipeline which is expected to drive the growth of this market. Major players such as Pfizer, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc. and BioSante Pharmaceuticals Inc. have attractive pipelines with many first-in-class molecules for the treatment of the menopause, osteoporosis and endometriosis. If approved, a trend shift in the treatment pattern will be very evident, particularly in the menopause and osteoporosis markets.

Amgen Inc’s recently launched Prolia, a first-in-class drug for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, is estimated to generate revenues of $1 billion annually. Merck’s Odanacatib, a cathepsin K inhibitor, has also shown promising results in postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment. The menopause therapeutics market is presently dominated by hormone therapeutics that have highly questionable safety profiles. If approved for treatment and shown to be safer, non-hormones for the treatment of menopause will strongly compete with the currently marketed drugs and will significantly alter the market dynamics, with the potential to drive the menopause market sales up to $7.2 billion by 2016. Pfizer, Merck, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Æterna Zentaris Inc., BioSante and Depomed Inc. have promising line-ups of first-in-class molecules.

The WH Disorder Therapeutics Market is Concentrated, with the Top Five Companies Accounting for More Than 80% of the Market

The market is significantly consolidated as the top five players in the market control approximately 81% of the market. Eli Lilly is the current market leader with two major selling osteoporosis drugs, Evista and Forteo, controlling 26% of the total women’s health market. Merck holds the second highest share of 16%. Though presently off-patent, Merck’s Fosamax recorded sales close to $1.1 billion in 2009. Pfizer follows with a market share of 15%, primarily due to its top selling hormone drugs of the Premarin family. Premarin family drugs raked in revenues close to $1 billion in 2009, making Pfizer the market leader in the menopause market. Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth strengthened Pfizer’s presence in the women’s health market. F. Hoffman-La Roche holds the fourth highest share of 13%. Roche’s Boniva, indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, generated revenues of approximately $0.9 billion in 2009.

Procter & Gamble (P&G) is the fifth largest player with an 11% market share. P&G owned the blockbuster drug Actonel which generated sales close to $1 billion in 2009. However, Warner Chilcott now owns Actonel after the acquisition of P&G’s prescription drug business by Warner Chilcott in October 2009. This acquisition also strengthened Warner Chilcott’s existing women’s health portfolio. Novo Nordisk and Warner Chilcott are the sixth and seventh largest players with market shares of 6% and 5% respectively, due to sales from hormone therapy drugs, indicated for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. AstraZeneca and Abbott follow with shares of 3% and 2% respectively in the women’s health market.

With the expected launch of novel drugs in the near future, the market shares of the top players are expected to witness changes. The future dominant players are expected to be those who come up with more efficacious and safe therapeutics in the WH disorder therapeutics market.

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