New Treatment Options Needed for Severe or Persistent Cases of Chronic Uticaria, Study Finds

Wednesday 18 April 2012, Amsterdam

The need for new therapies to effectively treat severe and recurrent cases of Chronic Urticaria (CU) is increasing, the Chronic Urticaria or Hives Therapeutics - Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2019 report.

The report shows that although the CU therapeutics market is well-served by products which provide symptomatic relief, despite that fact that the cause of CU remains unknown, opportunity exists within the market for new drug candidates whose novel mechanisms of action can target severe and persistent CU cases.

Strong competition exists in the CU drug market, and first and second generation antihistamines such as fexofenadine, desloratadine, levocetirizine, and cetirizine show market dominance, in addition to off-label usage of antileukotriens and Cyclosporine.

While these drugs can control the common symptoms associated with CU, increasing hospitalization rates involving patients with severe CU associated with angioedema have caused clinicians to call for further treatment options.

In particular, a significant unmet need exists for pharmacologically active molecules able to manage severe cases of CU where patients do not respond to antihistamines. Molecules that can reduce the recurrence rate of CU in refractory patients are also required.

However, this analysis found that the current CU therapeutics pipeline is weak. Only five molecules are under clinical development, and all aim to provide only symptomatic relief for CU. These include a first-in-class (FIC) Phase III monoclonal antibody molecule named Xolair (Omalizumab). Xolair is being studied for CU patients who remain symptomatic despite treatment with H1 antihistamines and leukotriene receptor antagonists, and is expected to enter the market at a premium price in the late forecast period. The Phase II FIC molecule BF-derm1 also shows a unique mechanism, blocking synthesis of histamine through inhibiting the histidine decarboxylase enzyme to manage CU symptoms.

The CU therapeutics market held a value of $1,808.0m in 2006, which grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.1% to reach $2,006.6m in 2011. However, market growth over the next eight years is forecast to slow to a marginal CAGR of 0.6%, reaching only $2,109.5m by 2019. This predicted decline in growth is partly due to the anticipated generic entry of CU drug desloratadine to the market in 2012.

The report is an essential source of insight into global chronic urticaria therapeutics, providing actionable analysis on the key trends affecting the market, including pipeline products. The report also provides insights into the prevalent competitive landscape and key players expected to significantly alter the market positioning of the current market leaders. This report was built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by a team of industry experts.