A new report predicts that the global market for ophthalmic drugs will reach $21.9bn in 2015. That market generated $17.5bn in 2011, according to Ophthalmic Drugs: World Market Prospects 2013-2023, published in March 2013.
The world market for ophthalmic drugs is a profitable niche segment of the healthcare market. Expansion of the ophthalmic market is driven by increasing prevalence of eye disorders. The main causes of visual impairment and sight loss in developed countries are retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion. Worldwide, over 50 million patients are estimated to have AMD, with prevalence rates expected to double by 2020. Glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness affects an estimated 70 million people worldwide and remains the largest segment of the ophthalmic prescription drugs market. The recent successful launch of Regeneron/Bayer’s Eylea (wet AMD) has given further impetus to this sector.
According to Dr Syed Ahmed, a senior healthcare industry analyst: ''Over the next ten years, there will be intense focus in ophthalmic R&D on sustained release implant and injection technologies for retinal diseases. These sustained release formulations will help reduce the frequency of administered injections. Therefore, they offer great potential for driving growth in the ophthalmic sector. Sustained release formulations are likely to benefit market leading drugs such as Lucentis and Eylea.
‘‘Diabetic macular edema (DME) will also be a key player for ophthalmology in the future. The number of people developing type II diabetes is on the increase, and many of these diabetic patients are likely to go on and develop DME. Currently there is no FDA-approved treatment and it is becoming clearer that anti-VEGF therapy will also play an increasing role in the treatment of DME”.
Our forecasts that the overall market for ophthalmic drugs will grow strongly to 2023. The major causes of vision impairment and blindness, and the main targets of pharmacological treatment – glaucoma, AMD and DR, will drive growth in the sector.
Our report gives revenue forecasts to 2023 at overall world market, therapeutic submarket and national level. It forecasts world sales for the following segments: