LONDON, UK (GlobalData), 17 May 2012 - Treatment for vision loss in elderly populations may continue to lag behind for the next few years, if pharmaceutical companies struggle to see a way to improve upon current drug options for retinal vein occlusion (RVO), according to a new report by pharmaceuticals expert GlobalData.
The new report* anticipates that despite an increase in the prevalence of RVO during the next few years creating a larger market for potential new drugs, the treatment pipeline will remain weak.
RVO is a vascular disorder of the retina, which results in irreversible obstruction in the retinal vein system, as increasing pressure in capillaries leads to macular edema. The main risk factors associated with RVO are hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, and all three of these conditions are seeing rising incidence rates in the US and Europe due to increasingly commonplace disorders such as obesity.
There is no treatment for RVO as the process cannot be reversed, but complications of occlusion such as macular edema can be treated. During 2006-2011, the RVO therapeutics market grew at an astounding compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44.5%, primarily due to the approval of two drugs which are the only two currently approved products for the treatment of macular edema secondary to RVO. Corticosteroid, Ozurdex (dexamethasone implant), was approved in the US in 2009 and in Europe in 2010, while anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) drug, Lucentis (ranibizumab) was approved in 2010 and 2011 in the US and Europe, respectively. Both approved drugs have a high cost of therapy, and as a result there is significant off-label usage of Avastin in the RVO therapeutics market, as this drug offers similar safety and efficacy profiles. This trend looks likely to continue into the future, unless the RVO market can formulate a cost-effective with unique methods of function.
However, GlobalData’s analysis shows that the current RVO therapeutics pipeline is weak, as none of the 11 drugs currently in late-stage development boasts a novel mechanism of action. In addition, the only first-in-class molecule under development at present is in Phase II, so will not be available for patient use for some time to come.
Increasing prevalence, disease awareness and drug approvals such as Eylea will together drive the future RVO market in future. Eylea is expected to be launched in 2014 in the US, 2015 in Europe, and 2016 in Japan. Additionally, Lucentis is also expected to be launched in Japan in 2014. Despite this, market growth will be significantly slower than in the recent past, as the pharmaceutical industry proves underwhelming in terms of upcoming medical offerings. GlobalData estimates that the global RVO therapeutics market was worth $759.3m in 2011. According to their market forecasts, this is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% to reach $1,739m by 2019.
*Retinal Vein Occlusion Therapeutics - Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2019
This report is an essential source of information and analysis on the global Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) market. The report identifies the key trends shaping and driving the global RVO market, and provides insights on the prevalent competitive landscape and the emerging players expected to significantly alter the market positioning of the current market leaders. Most importantly, the report provides valuable insights on the pipeline products within the global RVO sector. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData’s team of industry experts.
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