GlobalData Reports Unmet Need For Novel Neuropathic Pain Therapies
By Cyndi Root
GlobalData, a research and consulting firm, reports that there is a significant unmet need for novel treatments for neuropathic pain (NP). The report titled, “PharmaPoint: Neuropathic Pain - Global Drug Forecast and Market Analysis to 2022,” states that pharmaceutical companies have an opportunity for growth in this therapy area. However, it cautions that development costs and high rate of failure in clinical trials have led large companies to deprioritize NP therapies. The report focuses on three forms of NP and the classes of drugs used to treat NP such as anticonvulsants, antidepressants, opioids, and topical treatments. Study authors state that only 50 percent of patients respond to these treatments, signifying a high unmet need and a point of entry for drug companies.
Generic Erosion
Additionally, patent expiration of some leading drugs will lead to marketing of generics, providing opportunities for pharmaceutical companies. Sally Chege, GlobalData’s analyst covering Neurology says, “All three market-leading therapies, Pfizer’s Lyrica, Eli Lilly’s Cymbalta, and Endo Health’s Lidoderm, will lose patent protection over the forecast period, therefore increasing the risk of generic erosion.”
How that generic erosion will develop remains to be seen in the NP market. In a 2011 report, Decision Resources, an analytics company, evaluated ten drugs that lost market exclusivity. Study authors found that the U.S. uses generics more than any other market and Germany leads Europe in generic use. Interested parties can review the report to apply the findings to the NP market.
NP Market Value
The recent report from GlobalData says that the total NP market is expected to increase by 3.19 percent (Compound Annual Growth Rate), from $2.58 billion in 2012 to $3.53 billion by 2022. Seven treatments for diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and trigeminal neuralgia are expected to hit the market in the coming years and are forecasted to have 23.8 percent of the global NP market by 2022. Drugs include Convergence’s CNV-2197944, Daiichi Sankyo’s DS-5565, and Impax’s Eladur. Dr. Chege says that these drugs are effective but there is still room for new drugs in the market that are safe, effective, well-tolerated, and convenient.
Nature magazine developed its own NP forecast in 2012. It provided data for seven major markets including the United States, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Nature deems Nucynta ER, by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, to be the leader in 2020 with sales of $1.2 billion.