EVERGREEN, Colo., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The market for stroke diagnosis, pharmaceuticals, devices, and surgical intervention is projected to reach nearly $4.7 billion in 2005. Stroke prevention and treatment pharmaceuticals are projected to account for the largest share of the market, at 50.3%; diagnosis will be second, at 27.0%; surgical intervention, 15.5%; and devices, 7.2%.
Among pharmaceutical products specifically indicated for stroke, both Cozaar and Exanta continue to provide news. In 2003, Cozaar became the first antihypertensive approved for use in reducing the risk of stroke among patients with hypertension and left-ventricular hypertrophy. The Exanta saga continues, as the first oral anticoagulant in 50 years still awaits U.S. marketing approval.
The most important recent approval on the device front was that of Guidant’s Acculink and RX Acculink Carotid Stent System. The first-of-its- kind approval marked the introduction of a minimally invasive alternative to carotid endarterectomy for patients at high surgical risk.
Schering AG is paying increased attention to its diagnostics and radiopharmaceuticals sector, which posted net sales of $1.48 billion in 2003. The company’s most important contrast media are Iopamiron and Ultravist. Both are nonionic products used in a wide range of indications in computer tomography, including diagnosis of strokes, kidney diseases, and cardiac diseases. Sales of Schering’s Magnevist magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent totaled $339.5 million in 2003.
Schering’s MS-325 MRI contrast agent is awaiting U.S. marketing approval. The product is injected intravenously, then it binds reversibly to human serum albumin in the plasma, providing prolonged vascular enhancement and imaging. MS-325 was developed by Epix Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Schering AG is Epix’s worldwide sales, marketing, and development partner for MS-325. In October 2004, Schering announced that the FDA had extended the New Drug Application (NDA) review date until January 2005. No reason was given for the extension, nor was any additional documentation requested.
The biggest competitor news in the industry is the proposed merger between Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Guidant. The agreement, announced December 15, 2004, calls for an exchange of stock and cash valued at $23.9 billion.
For more news in stroke management, please visit http://www.scientiaveritas.com/StrokeManagement.asp. Update 2 of SV’s Stroke Management Markets and Strategies report is available for free download. The original Stroke Management Markets and Strategies report is on sale through February 2005. The report is 345 pages and includes 144 exhibits. It is available in file download, CD, and hard copy formats. A complete Table of Contents and List of Exhibits are available for free download at http://www.scientiaveritas.com/TOC-LOEs.asp or contact us at Healthcare@ScientiaVeritas.com.
SV’s upcoming Pain Management Markets and Strategies report will be published in March 2005.
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