MS therapeutics market led by Copaxone

The multiple sclerosis (MS) therapeutics market has been forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% over the next six years, increasing from a value of $8.1 billion in 2012, to reach a value of $17.6 billion by 2019.

Several therapies for multiple sclerosis exist, although there is no known cure. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS).

The most common initial course of the disease is the relapsing-remitting subtype, which is characterised by unpredictable attacks (relapses) followed by periods of relative remission with no new signs of disease activity.

After some years, many of the people who have this subtype begin to experience neurologic decline without acute relapses. When this happens it is called secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

The US will remain the biggest market, constituting approximately 65% of the total by 2019, although this represents little change in the intervening years.

Despite some countries in the EU growing more slowly in terms of prevalence than others (such as Germany and Spain), the European market in general will grow due to population growth and subsequent patient-population growth, higher drug prices, and strong uptake due to more expensive and efficacious pipeline drugs.

According to a recent market report, 'Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics to 2019,' the market is led by Copaxone, which achieved global sales of $4 billion in 2012.

Over the forecast period 2012-2019, a variety of new drugs are due to enter the market that will offer a vast improvement in efficacy but also convenience, as many of these drugs are orally administered.

Additionally, a high number of monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) are due to enter the market and diversify it in terms of its portfolio for late stage or aggressive MS. All of these drugs have been shown to offer substantial improvements over current therapies.

The price of these new therapies is expected to be high, particularly for the mAbs, but this is unlikely to hinder their uptake.

For more information on the MS therapeutics market, see the latest research: MS Therapeutics Market

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