Opposing Market Forces Lead to Limited Growth of the Acute Pain Market Through 2023

Entrenchment of Current Analgesics and Increasing Cost Sensitivity Will Hamper Uptake of Emerging Acute Pain Therapies, According to Findings from Decision Resources Group

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Decision Resources Group

Oct 23, 2014, 02:00 ET

BURLINGTON, Mass., Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that the acute pain market will grow minimally from $12.7 billion in 2013 to $13.3 billion in 2023 across the major pharmaceutical markets (United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan), representing an annual growth rate of less than 0.5 percent. The limited sales increase expected over the 2013-2023 forecast period masks the underlying dynamics in this market. Through 2018, market growth attributable to a growing patient population and continued uptake of several branded pain therapies—most notably Mallinckrodt's Ofirmev and Pacira's Exparel in the United States and fast-acting fentanyl formulations across all markets under study—will be tempered by generic erosion of several sales-leading pain therapies, such as Pfizer/Astellas' Celebrex/Celecox. During the second half of the forecast period, the market impact of emerging therapies—such as The Medicines Company's Ionsys and AcelRx/Grunenthal's Zalviso—will be largely offset by generic entry of several pain therapies, including Ofirmev and fast-acting fentanyl products, that had been contributing notable growth to the market from 2013 to 2018.

Other key findings from the Pharmacor report entitled Acute Pain include:

Treatment of acute pain over the next decade: The late-stage pipeline for acute pain continues to be composed largely of reformulations of existing molecules. Despite the forecasted launch of over ten new analgesic therapies in the acute pain space during our forecast period, physicians' approach to treating acute pain will change little over the next decade.
Novel PCA drug/device systems: The most successful emerging therapies are expected to include The Medicines Company's Ionsys and AcelRx/Grunenthal's Zalviso. Decision Resources Group forecasts that these new PCA drug/device combinations will earn the greatest sales among emerging therapies expected to launch in the acute pain market through 2023. However, their uptake will be constrained by restrictive hospital formulary coverage, which we believe will continue to favor generically available parenteral opioids and conventional PCA devices.
Remaining unmet need in the acute pain market: Opportunity exists for drug developers that can address the most significant areas of unmet need in acute pain, which are for safer and better tolerated analgesics, effective analgesics for opioid-refractory severe pain and/or acute neuropathic pain, effective analgesics able to prevent progression to chronic pain and more-potent, opioid-sparing analgesics for postoperative pain.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Principal Business Insights Analyst Andrea Buurma:

"Widespread physician satisfaction with currently available acute pain therapies, especially those used to treat mild to moderate pain—many of which are generically available and well entrenched in treatment—creates a substantial challenge to market penetration of novel agents."
"Furthermore, overcoming third-party payers' reimbursement restrictions of expensive new therapies that offer minimal clinically meaningful benefits over less-expensive existing alternatives will be a considerable challenge in the acute pain space."

About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on critical issues within the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Find out more at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

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For more information, contact:

Decision Resources Group
Christopher Comfort
781-993-2597
[email protected]

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SOURCE Decision Resources Group