The Hepatic Encephalopathy Market is Forecast to Show Growth until 2019

Wednesday 18 April 2012, Amsterdam

The “Hepatic Encephalopathy - Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2019” report is an essential source of information and analysis on the global hepatic encephalopathy market. The report identifies the key trends shaping and driving the global hepatic encephalopathy market. It also provides an insight into the prevalent competitive landscape and the emerging players expected to significantly alter the market positioning of the current market leaders. Most importantly, the report provides valuable insights into the pipeline products within the global hepatic encephalopathy sector. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by a team of industry experts.

The Hepatic Encephalopathy Market is Forecast to Show Growth until 2019

The report estimates that the global hepatic encephalopathy (HE) therapeutics market was worth $1,403.1m in 2011. The market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.3% to reach $2,115.9m in 2019. The currently available treatment options for HE include nonabsorbale disaccharides (NAD) and antibiotics. These drugs aim to decrease the levels of ammonia in the gastrointestinal tract. NAD are used as first-line agents and include drugs such as lactulose, which is currently being used widely. Antibiotics are used as second-line agents and include drugs such as Xifaxan 550mg, neomycin and metronidazole. Xifaxan 550mg is an antibiotic from Salix Pharmaceuticals, which is the only approved drug for the long term treatment of recurrent overt hepatic encephalopathy OHE. Neomycin was approved for treating acute HE and also used in adjunctive therapy for treating hepatic coma. A major barrier for the HE therapeutics market is the difficulty in diagnosing minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). MHE significantly affects the patient’s quality of life and increases the chances for progression to OHE. However, the implementation of support and awareness programs such as H.E.L.P (Hepatic Encephalopathy Living Program) by Salix Pharmaceuticals, which provides patients with HE educational materials, co-pay assistance and treatment adherence support, will result in an increase in treatment adherence in future.

Limited Availability of Approved Options has Resulted in Weak Competition

The global HE therapeutics market currently has NAD (lactulose) and antibiotics (Xifaxan 550mg, neomycin and metronidazole) as treatment options, all of which have moderate levels of safety and efficacy. Xifaxan 550mg is the only approved medication for overt recurrent HE and neomycin has been approved for treating acute HE. There is high usage of NAD such as lactulose. The currently marketed drugs have not been approved for all stages of HE. The HE therapeutics market is therefore moderately successful in meeting the market demand. The competition is weak due to a lack of competing products for Xifaxan 550mg. The market offers huge potential for molecules that are cost-effective with better safety and efficacy profiles for long-term therapy for treating HE.

Current Treatment Options Leave a Significant Unmet Need

The currently available treatment options for HE include NAD and antibiotics. Long-term therapy with these drugs results in various adverse effects. The common adverse events associated with long-term usage of NAD (such as lactulose) are unpleasant taste, flatulence and diarrhea. Whereas, long term use of antibiotics increases the danger of bacterial overgrowth, bacterial resistance, fungal colonization, peripheral edema, dizziness and diarrhea. The available pharmacological treatments for HE have moderate safety and efficacy profiles. The identification of a cost-effective and well tolerated agent for the effective long term therapy of HE remains a challenge. Therefore, there is a significant unmet need for medications with better safety and efficacy profiles.

Weak Pipeline Activity Offers Limited Scope for Market Growth

This research indicates that the pipeline for HE market is weak and consists of only four molecules across the various phases of development. All molecules in the HE pipeline are classified as first-in-class molecules, but all of them are in Phase II or early stage development. The molecules in the pipeline are unlikely to enter the market during the forecast period as they are in the early stages of development.