Increasing use of combination therapies is driving growth in the U.S. HIV/AIDS market and lowering the number of AIDS-related deaths, according to recent research by New York-based Datamonitor.
Increasing use of combination therapies is driving growth in the U.S. HIV/AIDS market and lowering the number of AIDS-related deaths, according to recent research by New York-based Datamonitor.
According to the study, "Market Dynamic Global Opportunities in HIV to 2010," combination therapy is being prescribed more often despite its higher costs per patient. Increased use of highly effective drug cocktails is boosting the growth of the HIV/AIDS market while the Centers for Disease Control reports that the number of AIDS-related deaths in the United States dropped by 23% in 1996, the first decrease ever.
Protease inhibitors, one ingredient in the popular drug cocktails, have enjoyed considerable gains in sales, both globally and in the United States. Glaxo Wellcome's Combivir (lamivudine/AZT) demonstrated rapid growth in the first half of 1998, for example.
In the U.S., Datamonitor reports such therapies drove growth 195.7% in 1997 to almost $1 billion. The market research firm's analysts predict that protease inhibitors will "continue to take an increasing share of the HIV therapy market by value to 2002." Growth, they indicate, should be strongest in the late 1990s.
Factors behind the growth include more common treatment of HIV-infected patients (who have not yet developed AIDS) with protease inhibitors, and the increasing prevalence of the disease. Furthermore, because the mortality rate should continue to drop, the number of patients on long-term therapy will rise, making AIDS more of a chronic disease.
As a result, new problems will develop in the cost and treatment of AIDS and HIV.
"The cost of maintaining patients using combination therapies will therefore increase as more people need the therapies for longer," said Patrick Taaffe, analyst for Datamonitor. "Resistance to drugs is expected to become more of a problem in individual patients, and with increasing numbers of patients on combination therapies, cases of resistance will appear more frequently."
In addition, patients in long-term AIDS therapy who can maintain viral suppression will begin to experience compliance problems, the analysts predict. As the symptoms of their disease become less noticeable, but the side effects of their medications continue, they may grow lax in maintaining their already difficult drug regimens. For this reason, the analysts say, commercial research into newer therapies and vaccines will continue and, consequently, drive future growth. PR
Young & Partners Pharmaceutical Executive Summit 2024: Brave New World – Where Are We Heading?
October 23rd 2024Peter Marks, director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA, presented the keynote presentation on the future of gene therapy as part of the 20th Annual Young & Partners Pharmaceutical Executive Summit held at the Yale Club of New York.
The Transformative Role of Medical Information in Customer Engagement
October 3rd 2024Stacey Fung, Head of Global Medical Information at Gilead Lifesciences, delves into the evolving role of Medical Information (MI) in the pharmaceutical industry. Covering key topics like patient engagement through omnichannel strategies, combating misinformation, and leveraging AI to enhance medical inquiries, the conversation with Stacey highlights MI's critical role in ensuring patient safety and supporting drug development. She also shares her professional journey and tidbits for early career professionals on professional development.
Unlocking value and cost savings in patient services with technology and talent
October 2nd 2024Traci Miller, Director, Sonexus™ Access and Patient Support, Cardinal Health, discusses the current digital trends in the patient services industry and how the optimal balance of technology and talent can transform manufacturer-sponsored patient support programs. Hear how Cardinal Health combines best-in-class program and pharmacy operations with smart digital tools to ensure product and patient success and reduce operational costs.