Innovative Drugs to Transform European Alzheimer's Disease Medication Market by 2015, Says Frost & Sullivan

Projected launch of disease-modifying drugs to set new industry standards

LONDON, Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The patent expiry of all four existing EMEA approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD) by 2015 is likely to cause a steep decline in the growth of the European AD medication market. However, the approval of next generation therapies that can delay disease progression and restore cognitive functions are expected to revive opportunities in the market from 2015 to 2018.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (

http://www.healthcare.frost.com( http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/svcg.pag/HCLS )), European Alzheimer's Disease Medication Market, estimates the market to earn US$1.80 billion in 2012 and reach US$4.78 billion in 2019, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.1% from 2012-2019.

"Increasing R&D activity and a strong pipeline of disease modifying drugs bode well for market expansion," notes Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst Aiswariya Chidambaram. "Considerable unexplored opportunities and the commercial goldmine that is the AD medication market have motivated several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to invest in R&D, particularly targeting the moderate-to-severe patient group."

Existing drug classes for AD offer poor therapeutic efficacy. The core focus of new R&D approaches has therefore centered on novel disease modifying drugs.

"These drugs are expected to offer potential benefits over conventional therapeutic options as they are safer, more effective and aim to prevent or slow down disease progression rather than provide just symptomatic relief," adds Chidambaram. "Therefore, these new drugs are expected to command premium prices and fuel market growth."

A key challenge at present is the looming patent expiry of key blockbuster drugs including Aricept, Exelon Patch and Ebixa. Their going off-patent is set to unleash a flood of cheaper generic equivalents that will result in lowered market revenues.

The accurate diagnosis of AD, especially in the early stages and monitoring of disease progression, will play a vital role in promoting proper market segmentation and positioning of drugs by market participants.

AD diagnostics and therapeutics go hand-in-hand. Although the development and approval of new, improved diagnostic tools over a period of time has been a boon to the AD market, the levels of unmet need still remain high.

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Innovative Drugs to Transform European Alzheimer's Disease Medication Market by 2015, Says Frost & Sullivan