HIV market growth to be impacted by patent expiries

Due to patent expirations of several key therapies, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment market value will increase at a slow pace in the coming years, from $14.3 billion in 2012 to $16.3 billion by 2019, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.9%.

According to the latest report from business intelligence provider GBI Research, the first-line antiretroviral therapies Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir) and Truvada (emtricitabine and Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) – both from Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) -will lose patent protection during the forecast period, which will hurt their markets in Europe and Canada.

Angel Wong, an analyst for GBI Research, says: “Despite such patent losses, a number of drugs will enter the HIV market by 2019. Among these new entrants, 572-Trii is expected to perform the strongest commercially and will compete with Atripla following its approval. However, these drugs will not offset the impact of generic erosion.”