The Sjögren’s syndrome therapeutics market will grow to $626m

Tuesday 13 March 2012, Amsterdam

An industry analysis specialist, has released its new report, “Sjögren’s Syndrome Therapeutics - Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2019”. The report is an essential source of information and analysis on the global Sjögren’s syndrome therapeutics market and identifies the key trends shaping and driving it. The report 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 Sjögren’s syndrome therapeutics sector.


The Sjögren’s Syndrome Therapeutics Market is Forecast to Show Steady Growth until 2019

They estimates the global Sjögren’s syndrome therapeutics market to be worth $411m in 2011. It is expected to grow to $626m at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.4% by 2019. The growth in the market is primarily attributed to the increasing prevalence and an increase in the rate of diagnosis. The market is currently underserved as the available treatment options provide only symptomatic relief. Moreover, there is no single therapy approved for both primary and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome. Evoxac (cevimeline) is approved in the US for xerostomia (dry mouth) associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. Pilocarpine is a generic, approved for xerostomia associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. However, physicians prefer to prescribe Salagen, a brand for pilocarpine. The current market demands new drugs with novel mechanisms of action to potentially treat and cure the disease in totality.


Current Treatment Options Leave High Level of Unmet Need

The current competition in the Sjögren’s syndrome therapeutics market is weak. There is significant opportunity for new entrants that are able to offer a disease-targeting approach. Only two drugs (pilocarpine (brand name Salagen) and cevimeline marketed as Evoxac) are approved for symptomatic relief. Other treatment options include generics, over the counter medication and off-label drugs with low safety profiles. The current therapies only offer symptomatic treatment for Sjögren’s syndrome. New drugs able to reduce the severity or provide a disease-targeting mechanism will be able to successfully capture the Sjögren’s syndrome therapeutics market.


No Significant Change in the Future Landscape of the Sjögren’s Syndrome Market

An analysis indicates that there will be no significant change in the future landscape of the Sjögren’s syndrome therapeutics market. This is mainly attributed to the weak pipeline with only one company-sponsored First-In-Class (FIC) molecule (P-522-02, developed by Parion Sciences in collaboration with Kainos Medicines) in Phase II. The present competition in the market is weak, as there are no approved drugs that can slow the progression of the disease or treatment options that can cure the disease.

The current market is dominated by the usage of generics, over the counter and off-label medicines, such as Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDS) such as hydroxycholoroquine, cyclosporine A, methotrexate, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) (ibuprofen), salicytes (aspirin), corticosteroids (predinisone, Solbar 50), artificial tears, artificial saliva and other medications. These drugs only provide symptomatic relief. P-522-02 is also expected to provide symptomatic relief and is therefore not expected to impact the market during the forecast period.


A Weak Pipeline Unlikely to Contribute to the Sjögren’s Syndrome Therapeutics Market during the Forecast period

The product pipeline for the clinical development of Sjögren’s syndrome treatment is weak, with seven molecules in the various phases of development. However, only one of these is sponsored by a company as the rest are all clinical studies sponsored by academic institutions/hospitals. There is only one molecule in Phase III, accounting for 14% of the pipeline, followed by five molecules in Phase II, accounting for 71% of the pipeline and one molecule in Phase I, accounting for 14% of the pipeline. There are six FIC molecules in the pipeline; however, only P-552-02 (Phase II) is sponsored by a company.