Namenda & Aricept Command Over 49% of the Market for Dementia: PharmaLive Special Report
Newtown, PA, Aug. 24, 2011 - Neurodegenerative diseases are the sixth-leading cause of death in high-income countries, with 35.6 million people suffering from dementia worldwide. This patient population is predicted to reach 115.4 million people by 2050.
Up to 8% of all people over 65 years old have some form of
dementia. Dementia prevalence about doubles for every five years of
age starting at 60. Dementia caused by nervous system diseases,
especially Alzheimer's disease, is increasing in frequency.
Alzheimer's disease strikes nearly a half million new patients each
year.
There are only a handful of FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease. These drugs temporarily reduce symptoms
including memory problems, confusion, aggression, and a general
decline in bodily functions. These medicines work by slowing down
the disease activity that breaks down a key neurotransmitter or by
regulating the activity of glutamate, a chemical messenger involved
in learning and memory.
Industry experts hope for a breakthrough Alzheimer's drug that will
treat the underlying disease and stop or delay the cell damage that
eventually leads to worsening of symptoms. A drug that can stop or
reduce memory loss could generate annual sales exceeding $5
billion.
"The late-stage industry pipeline is expected to yield a few
blockbuster medications for Alzheimer's disease," says Andrew
Humphreys, editor in chief of UBM Canon Data Products. "Pfizer and
J&J's bapineuzumab and Eli Lilly's solanezumab appear have the
most commercial and clinical potential. These drug candidates are
being developed to target beta amyloid plaque, considered to be a
main contributor to Alzheimer's disease."
Pfizer Inc. and Eisai Co. Ltd.'s Aricept is the top-selling drug
for the treatment of dementia. Aricept is the first and only
prescription medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of
all stages of AD – mild, moderate and severe dementia of the
Alzheimer's type.
Aricept is not a cure for AD, but may help provide symptomatic
benefits for some patients. For those who respond, symptoms may
improve, stabilize or progress more slowly than patients who do not
take Aricept.
Aricept generated 2010 global sales of about $3.97 billion. Since
Pfizer's loss of exclusivity in November 2010, other companies such
as Teva are shipping generic versions of the top-selling
medication.
More information is available in Dementia: Causes, Treatments, and
Outlook 2011, located at www.pharmalive.com/specialreports.
For additional information, contact Sandra Baker at +1-215-944-9836 or Sandra.Baker@ubm.com.
About UBM Canon Data Products
UBM Canon Data Products provide financial, company, and product
statistical data and qualitative analysis for the global
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and appliance
industries through PharmaLive Special Reports and Appliance Market
Research Reports; maintains eKnowledgeBase and MDRWeb,
comprehensive market intelligence tools serving the pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, and medical-device sectors; and manages company-wide
Site Licenses for PharmaLive.com, Med Ad News, and R&D
Directions.
About UBM Canon
UBM Canon is a business-to-business media company serving the
worldwide advanced manufacturing sector through its publications,
trade events, and electronic media.
Contact:
Amanda Wells
+1-215-944-9840
Amanda.wells@ubm.com
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Posted: August 2011
