Depression Therapeutics Market is Forecast to Show Slow Growth until 2018

Monday 17 October 2011, Amsterdam

This new study estimates that the global depression therapeutics market was worth $4.3 billion in 2010. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% over the next eight years to reach $8 billion by 2018. The depression therapeutics market will witness the patent expiry of Lexapro in 2012, Cymbalta in 2013 and Effexor XR in 2014. However, the launch of new drugs such as Viibryd, LuAA21004, Levomilnacipran (F2695) and AGO178 (in the US), offering better efficacy and safety profiles, along with disease modifying properties, will help to sustain steady and positive growth during the forecast period to 2018.


Decline in Market Size Due to Patent Expiries is Expected to be Fulfilled by the Launch of Pipeline Molecules

This research indicates that the market for depression therapeutics is well served by the current approved drug classes, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). The depression therapeutics market will face the patent expiry of leading drugs such as Lexapro (2012), Cymbalta (2013) and Effexor XR (2014). However, the expected launch of Lu AA21004 by Lundbeck and Levomilnacipran (F2695) by Forest Laboratories in the US and EU5 in 2013 and the launch of AGO178 in the US in 2013 by Novartis, will help to maintain the positive growth trend during the forecast period.


Changing Future Landscape of the Depression Market

H Lundbeck A/S, Novartis, Targacept Inc., AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly are going to be the future key players in the depression market. The study has profiled these companies as they hold important pipeline drugs in Phase III for the treatment of depression.

The existing market landscape remains competitive, because the treatment of depression relies on established therapies such as SSRIs, SNRIs and TCAs. The market scenario will change after the launch of new disease modifying therapies, which will act as the driver for the future depression therapeutics market. The current development pipeline for depression contains 31 first-in-class molecules. Out of these, late stage molecules such as Viibryd, LuAA21004 and AGO178, which have disease modifying mechanisms of action and are expected to launch during the forecast period, will have significant impact and lead to positive growth in the depression therapeutics market.


Increase in the Prevalence and Incidence of Depression Expected to Positively Impact the Future Market

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared depression to be one of the most disabling disorders in the world. It is estimated that more than 340 million people worldwide and more than 18 million people in the US alone suffer from depression, affecting approximately 25% of women and 10% of men at some point in their lifetime. In addition to its widespread prevalence, depression has a high recurrence rate, which may be due to genetic vulnerability, inadequate emphasis on prevention, poor diagnosis and treatment, high degree of association with other medical disorders such as diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, and other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and alcoholism. This is expected to drive the current depression market and is likely to increase the patient volume by 2018.


About this new research:
GlobalData, the industry analysis specialist, has released its new report, “Depression Therapeutics - Pipeline Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2018”. The report is an essential source of information and analysis on the global depression therapeutics market. The report identifies the key trends shaping and driving the global depression market. The report also provides insights in to 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 in to the pipeline products within the global depression market. 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.