China's acute coronary syndrome drug market forecast to grow to nearly $450 million in 2015

The acute coronary syndrome (ACS) drug market in China will grow from $326 million in 2010 to $448 million in 2015. According to advisory firm Decision Resources’ Emerging Markets report, Acute Coronary Syndrome in China, Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) Brilinta (ticagrelor) will exceed sales of French drugmaker Sanofi’s (Euronext: SAN) Plavix (clopidogrel) in the treatment of ACS, making Brilinta the top Western brand in the ACS therapeutic market in China in 2015.

According to the report, the success of Brilinta in China will be due to its efficacy, premium price and potential reimbursement coverage. Brilinta is expected to launch in China in 2012 and to be included on the next National Drug Reimbursement List, which should publish by 2014.

Meanwhile, market share of Sanofi’s Plavix will decrease between 2010 and 2015 because of the adoption of more efficacious adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonists - Brilinta and US major Eli Lilly’s (NYSE: LLY) Effient (prasugrel) - following their launch, and the increasing use of generic clopidogrel.