The GERD Therapeutics Market is Forecast to Decline Up to 2018

Monday 17 October 2011, Amsterdam

The new analysis valued the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) therapeutics market to be worth $5.8 billion in 2010. It is then forecast to decline at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.0% over the next eight years to reach $4.9 billion by 2018. This decline is primarily attributed to the patent expiries of all the major Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium (esomeprazole) and Aciphex/Pariet (rabeprazole) during the forecast period. However,the increase in the prevalent population and long term anti-reflux maintenance therapy are expected to sustain the GERD therapeutics market.

 
Low Unmet Need Leaving Little Scope for New Entrants

The study has found that the global GERD therapeutics market is not a lucrative one, with low levels of unmet need. The market is well served with existing treatments which target patients with different disease characteristics. The efficacy and safety profiles of these products have improved over the years. Although the therapies significantly improve efficacy, long-term maintenance is the key to therapy. Therefore, the GERD therapeutics market has low levels of unmet need that can only be fulfilled by products that target the patient population inadequately responding to the currently marketed products and offer improved safety and efficacy profiles.


GERD Therapeutics Market has Strong Competition Among the Several Marketed Products

The analysis has found that the current competition in GERD therapeutics market is strong, led by AstraZeneca’s Nexium and Eisai’s Aciphex/Pariet. There are several marketed products for the symptomatic relief of GERD, which include antacids, Histamine (H2) receptor antagonists, and PPIs. All treatments are based on attempts to decrease gastric acid production; neutralize gastric acidity; facilitate gastric emptying; restore lower esophageal sphincter function and decrease the frequency of Transient Lower Esophageal Sphincter Relaxations (TLESRs). Monotherapy regimens and combination therapies have satisfactory efficacy and safety profiles. However, patent expiries of the major prescribed PPIs during the forecast period have raised concerns, meaning that the GERD therapeutics market will become increasingly genericized. New entrants in the market will be forced to match or exceed the efficacy and safety profiles of the currently marketed products.


Weak Clinical Pipeline Unlikely to Impact on the Market in the Future

The study analyzed the GERD therapeutics pipeline and found it to be weak. The pipeline consists of 13 molecules currently in various phases of clinical development. The late stage pipeline consists of me-too molecules. In Phase III, there is only one molecule.  Most of the first-in-class molecules are present in early stages of development. These early stage development products with novel mechanisms of action seem to be more promising in targeting symptoms associated with the disease such as relieving nighttime symptoms, achlorhydria (absent acid secretion), providing symptomatic relief to GERD patients inadequately responding to PPIs and notably addressing the underlying cause of the disease.


About the new market research:
The report is an essential source of information and analysis on the global Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Therapeutics market. The report identifies the key trends shaping and driving the global Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Therapeutics market. The report also provides insights on 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 on the pipeline products within the global Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Therapeutics sector. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData’s team of industry experts.