US HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Treatment Market to More than Treble in Value by 2023, According to a New Study on ASDReports

Friday 24 October 2014, Amsterdam

The US treatment market for human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer will increase more than threefold in value, from $2.41 billion in 2013 to $7.95 billion by 2023, says a new report on ASDReports.

The new report states that of eight major countries, the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan and China, the US HER2-positive breast cancer therapeutics market will expand the most, representing an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.7%.

Jamie Mallinson, Ph.D., The reports Analyst covering Oncology and Hematology, says: “The rising incidence of HER2-positive breast cancer in the US, along with the significant use of premium-priced HER2-targeting therapies in all stages of the disease, particularly the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, has boosted sales of these drugs in the country.

“Of adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment sales, the former will undergo the highest growth, from $1.25 billion in 2013 to $5.44 billion by 2023, representing a rise in market share from 52% to 69%. The neoadjuvant market share will remain steady at just 5% during this period.”

Mallinson adds that the US Affordable Care Act will be another driving factor behind the overall market expansion, as a higher number of patients will be eligible for treatment with more expensive therapies.

Herceptin is currently the US’ market-leading HER2-positive breast cancer treatment, with blockbuster revenues of over $1.83 billion in 2013, accounting for a significant 76% share. However, the new report anticipates its sales to decrease at a negative CAGR of 4.4% by the end of 2023.

Mallinson explains: “Herceptin’s decline will be due largely to its US patent expiration in 2019 and the rapidly increasing market shares of Roche’s two latest biologics, Perjeta and Kadcyla, which will see their revenues rise at respective CAGRs of 27.9% and 30.9%.”

Additional obstacles to market growth include the use of HER2-targeting biologics in the early lines of metastatic disease, which the new report believes will limit the entry of new agents during the forecast period. Increasing cost consciousness in public healthcare spending could also impact on payer reimbursement for drugs covered under Medicare Part D, which include all of the branded HER2-positive therapies.

“These cuts may encourage oncologists to prescribe alternatives to the more expensive HER2-targeting therapies, further hindering market expansion,” the analyst concludes.