Novel disease-modifying therapies will drive MS market to $11.5 billion in 2015

The launch of several premium-priced novel disease-modifying therapies, including four oral agents, will drive the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug market to increase from $8.9 billion in 2010 to $11.5 billion in 2015 in the leading markets of the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan, predicts a report from advisory firm Decision Resources. From 2015 to 2020, owing to generic erosion, market sales will then contract modestly to $10.6 billion in 2020.

The findings from the Pharmacor topic entitled Multiple Sclerosis reveal that the approval of new disease-modifying products are beginning to usher in a new era in the treatment of MS. Oral agents in particular are forecast to capture a 29% market share in 2020, with Novartis/Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma’s first-to-market oral agent Gilenya (fingolimod) and Biogen Idec’s late-stage emerging therapy BG-12 each attaining blockbuster status thanks to robust efficacy, convenience and acceptable side effects. Owing to more-limited advantages, other late-stage oral drugs, Teva/Active Biotech’s laquinimod and Sanofi’s Aubagio (teriflunomide), are each forecast to obtain peak-year sales in excess of $450 million.

Contribution from new parenteral drugs