Summary
Multiple Sclerosis
It is estimated that over 350,000 Americans (approximately 1 in 1,000 aged over 30 years) live with multiple sclerosis (MS) and approximately 3 million live with it worldwide. However, the prevalence may be higher because of the uncertainty in diagnosing the condition. Women are twice as susceptible as men and it is more common in people in northern latitudes over the age of 18 years. In addition, siblings of an individual with multiple sclerosis have a higher chance of developing the disease.
The incidence of multiple sclerosis varies throughout the world, although there is a significantly higher incidence of the disease found in the Northern Hemisphere. Multiple sclerosis is the most common cause of neurological disability in young adults in the UK. It is variable in presentation and progression. Although there is no cure, there are many symptomatic treatments available. However, many patients do not respond to current therapies (30%) and the more chronic forms (secondary-progressive MS) are poorly treated with existing therapies.
Global multiple sclerosis market
Approximately 50% of multiple sclerosis global sales were derived from the US (US$2.3 billion) in 2004, with the remainder largely derived in Europe (nearly 50%, US$2.2 billion). Avonex (Biogen Idec) is amongst the few CNS drugs that generated blockbuster sales of over US$1 billion globally in 2004. There has been considerable growth in sales as more beta-interferon-naive patients receive treatment due to reimbursement of injectable agents - Betaseron has benefited from European approval to treat secondary -progressive multiple sclerosis (around 40% of the patient population).
Sales growth will be driven by current drugs gaining broader indications, MS medicine being prescribed earlier in treatment in clinically -defined multiple sclerosis patients and the longer-term use of combination therapies as more classes of drug become available.
Key questions answered by this chapter include:
- What are the 5 leading products in the US, Europe and Japan?
- What will the shape of the market be in 2010?
- How will Biogen Idec defend its market leading position from Serono, Schering and Teva?
- What role will combination therapies play?
- What opportunities are there in the treatment of primary-progressive multiple sclerosis?
- What are the prospects for drugs in development such as Tysabri Campath, Mylinax, Fampridine SR and laquinimod?
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