Hepatitis C (HCV) – Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2016

March 24, 2011 - PRLog -- GlobalData, the industry analysis specialist, has released a new report, “Hepatitis C - Pipeline Analysis and Market Forecasts to 2016”. The report is an essential source of information and analysis on the global hepatitis C (HCV) market. The report identifies the key trends shaping and driving the global HCV market. The report also provides insights into the prevalent competitive landscape and the emerging players expected to cause significant shifts in the positioning of the existing market leaders. Most importantly, the report provides valuable insight into the pipeline products within the global hepatitis C sector.  

The Hepatitis C (HCV) Market is Forecast to Show High Growth Until 2016

GlobalData’s analysis suggests that the global hepatitis C market was worth $4.4 billion in 2009. It is forecast to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.8% for the next seven years to reach $8.5 billion by 2016. The high projected growth rate is primarily attributable to a strong pipeline. The increase in the prevalence of the disease and the availability of new first-in-class therapies with better safety and efficacy profiles are expected to drive the growth of the hepatitis C market.

Current Hepatitis C Market Is Weak Due to the Availability of Limited Treatment Options

GlobalData analyzed the current competitive landscape for HCV drugs and found that the current market competition is weak. There are six commonly used approved products for the treatment of HCV. The combination therapy of Peginterferon alfa 2 b from Merck and Peginterferon alfa 2a from Roche are the two approved combination therapies present in the market for the treatment of HCV. Generics do not hold a major share in the market. GlobalData’s analysis of the entire competitive landscape of the branded products shows weak competition between the available treatments for HCV. The competition is weak because most products have low-moderate efficacy with low safety profiles and are branded premium or combination products. The market has a huge potential for molecules with better safety and efficacy profiles.

Strong Pipeline Consists of Several First-in-Class Molecules

GlobalData analyzed the hepatitis C pipeline and found it to be strong. The pipeline for hepatitis C consists of around 63 molecules currently in development. Most of these molecules are first-in-class and are promising better safety and efficacy profiles. There are approximately three molecules in the Phase III clinical trial development stage. For example, SCH 503034 (Merck, albinterferon alfa-2b (Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (HGS)), RG7128 (Roche) and VX-950 (Vertex and Tibotec pharmaceuticals) are among the most promising molecules in pipeline for the treatment of hepatitis C. A strong clinical pipeline coupled with high unmet needs in the hepatitis C market is expected to help sustain the market’s high growth rate during the forecast period.

Opportunity and Unmet Need in the Hepatitis C Market, 2016

Source: GlobalData

The Hepatitis C Market Has High Unmet Need

The global HCV market is attractive, with high levels of unmet need.  The unmet need in the market is around 70%, which is approximately $3 billion. Some of the unmet needs in this market are due to the lack of availability of effective treatment options and the moderate safety profiles of the marketed drugs. The efficacy of the marketed products in HCV market is only moderate. The safety profiles of the products available to treat HCV are low and some serious side effects are associated with the drugs that may even lead to death in rare cases.

The adverse effects of the drugs include problems with pregnancy, mental health problems, blood related disorders and autoimmune disorders. Patients using the standard interferon combination therapy to treat HCV soon develop resistance against these drugs and must wait for novel therapies to enter the market. Apart from various drugs that are available for the treatment of HCV, certain biosimilars like interferon alfa-2a and interferon beta-1a can also drive the HCV market in future. There is huge untapped potential in the current HCV market which could be captured by novel molecules, targeted to fulfill the current void left by the existing treatment options. Thus the HCV market has high potential for further research and development (R&D) activities. For more details, please vist http://www.reportreserve.com/reportdet.php?company=Global...

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