New Gout Treatments May Get Toes Tapping

Thursday 19 July 2012, Amsterdam

Joint pain caused by gout may be on its way out, as the ever-expanding market encourages the discovery of groundbreaking new therapies, according to the new Gout Therapeutics - Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2019 report.

As the new report explains, pharmaceutical companies are scrambling to expand into the gout market, as it is now the most common form of inflammatory joint disease in men and women aged over 40 years, caused by genetic metabolic defects, kidney impairment, alcohol abuse and even meat-heavy diets. Prevalence has been rising steadily over the last 20 years, due to the increased longevity of the population, alongside dietary changes and increases in obesity.

While the current gout therapeutics market is competitive, due to the availability of a number of treatments, there is a significant unmet need in due to safety concerns and treatment failures.

Currently, acute gout can be treated using NSAIDs, corticosteroids and Colcrys, while doctors can prescribe uricosurics sulphinpyrazone, benzbromarone or xanthine oxidase inhibitors to treat chronic gout. In addition, a drug called Krystexxa can catalyze the oxidation of uric acid to decrease its deposition in the body.

However, scope exists for new drug entrants able to safer and more effective treatments. As the present pipeline for new gout therapeutics is strong, with 12 molecules currently in development, it is hoped that the near future will see the healthcare sector produce these much-anticipated breakthroughs. Notably, two molecules in pre-registration, Ilaris and Rilonacept, are first-in-class (FIC), while Phase III contains best-in-class molecule Lesinurad. Growth over the next decade is anticipated as a result of the planned launch of Rilonacept and Ilaris this year.

Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints and their surrounding tissues, developing over years as the acid builds up, due to the kidney’s failure to eliminate it from the body. This can cause acute attacks characterized by sudden and severe episodes of pain, stiffness and inflammation. Chronic gout can develop, causing chronic arthritis and permanent damage to the affected joints and sometimes to the kidneys.

This analysis shows that the global gout therapeutics market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% from $527.4m in 2006 to $988.7m in 2011, and is predicted to grow further at a CAGR of 12.5% to reach $2.5 bn by 2019, providing further incentive for pharmaceutical companies to explore the market in future.

The report is an essential source of information on the global gout therapeutics market, and provides analysis of a number of key areas. It identifies the key trends shaping and driving the global gout disease therapeutics market, and provides insights into the current competitive landscape and emerging companies expected to significantly alter the market positioning of current market leaders. Most importantly, the report provides valuable insights into the pipeline products within the global gout disease sector.

This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis by a team of industry experts.