Osteopenia Therapeutics Market Forecast to Show Moderate Growth up to 2019

Monday 12 March 2012, Amsterdam

The report identifies the key trends shaping and driving the global osteopenia therapeutics market. It also 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 osteopenia therapeutics sector.

Osteopenia Therapeutics Market Forecast to Show Moderate Growth up to 2019

An analysis shows that the global osteopenia therapeutics market stood at $1.6 billion in 2006 and grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.6% to reach $2.0 billion in 2011. They forecasts that the global osteopenia therapeutics market will grow moderately at a CAGR of 2.9% over the next eight years to reach $2.7 billion by 2019. The current competitive landscape consists mainly of bisphosphonates, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM) and hormone therapy including estrogen and its derivatives. The expected moderate growth can be attributed to an increase in awareness, an ageing population and the launch of newer formulations of currently marketed products. The impending patent expiry of Boniva (ibandronate) in 2012; Actonel (risedronate sodium) and Reclast (zoledronic acid) in 2013; and Evista (raloxifene) in 2014 will allow patients to access treatment at a much lower cost; however, it will also result in the brand erosion of these drugs. The growth in the historic period was also affected by Fosamax (alendronate) generics, which lost its patent exclusivity in 2008.

Lack of Adequate Treatment Options in the Osteopenia Therapeutics Market

They assessed the current competitive landscape for osteopenia drugs and found that the competition is strong. The market has several therapeutic options for the management of osteopenia, which includes bisphosphonates such as alendronate, Actonel, Reclast and Boniva as the first line of therapy and SERMs such as Evista and other drugs containing hormones (estrogen/progesterone). Current treatment options in osteopenia therapeutics have comparable efficacy levels and safety profiles, with only marginal differences; this has intensified the competition in the market. However, these agents do not completely satisfy the patients’ needs; there is a large percentage of people looking for better treatment options in terms of safety, efficacy and dosage patterns for better compliance. Such patients do not have a choice but to continue with the presently available drugs, even though they do not meet their needs sufficiently. Any drug that could successfully cater to the needs of this patient segment is expected to capture a major revenue share of the osteopenia therapeutics market.

Strong Pipeline Products Likely to Enter the Market and Uncover Better Treatment Options

An analysis shows that the osteopenia therapeutics pipeline is strong with 14 molecules in the various phases of clinical development. There are three products which are awaiting regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMEA). They are Fablyn (bazedoxifene), Viviant (lasofoxifene) and EX101 (alendronate in effervescent form). Fablyn and Viviant have been filed for approval with the US FDA.

As osteopenia has a significant impact on a patient’s Quality Of Life (QOL), companies must prioritize Research and Development (R&D) in order to identify new molecules for the prevention and treatment of this disease. This will facilitate the discovery of new molecules with novel disease-targeting mechanisms of action for clinical development. They also expects that the osteopenia therapeutics market is experiencing a shift towards combination products, using two or more effective osteopenia treatments.

Significant Unmet Need in the Osteopenia Therapeutics Market Due to Low Levels of Drug Safety and Patient Compliance to Medication

The osteopenia therapeutics market demonstrates a significant unmet need due to the fact that a number of patients suffering with osteopenia remain untreated due to the adverse reactions and safety issues surrounding the drug. The bisphosphonates are chosen as the first-line treatment for osteopenia. However, the prolonged use of bisphosphonates is associated with various side effects such as Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects and in rare cases, Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ). Due to the inconveniences of the dosing regimen of products prescribed for the treatment of osteopenia, compliance to medication is a key challenge. The inability to comply with the strict dosage schedule may result in patient withdrawal from therapy. The significant unmet need can be addressed by future drugs that have a convenient dosage pattern with better safety and efficacy profiles compared to the currently available products in the market. Osteopenia can lead to loss of Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY), which is a measure of the disease burden on the population.