The Treatment Landscape for Thyroid Carcinoma Will Change Dramatically Through 2021

BURLINGTON, Mass., Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, through 2021, the treatment landscape for thyroid carcinoma will change dramatically in the United States and Europe due to the expected approval of several new therapies. In addition to Exelixis's Cometriq (cabozantinib) for advanced medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC)—which was approved in the U.S. late last year—the other emerging agents in the thyroid carcinoma space are Bayer HealthCare/Onyx Pharmaceuticals' Nexavar (sorafenib), Eisai's lenvatinib, Genentech/Roche's Zelboraf (vemurafenib), GlaxoSmithKline's combination of dabrafenib and trametinib and OXiGENE's Zybrestat (fosbretabulin). A large focus of drug development has been on the radioiodine (RAI)-refractory, differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patient population.

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"These therapies will likely be high priced but will dramatically increase treatment options for RAI-refractory thyroid carcinoma patient populations for which there is no standard of care," said Decision Resources Analyst Gemma McConnell, Ph.D. 

According to Niche Markets and Rare Diseases: Thyroid Carcinoma, the overall incidence of thyroid carcinoma will increase over the next decade, driven by demographic change and more sensitive diagnostic procedures. In particular, the incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), which accounts for the vast majority of all diagnosed cases of thyroid carcinoma, will rise. In 2021, the number of incident cases of PTC will increase by approximately 23 percent, thereby contributing to an increase in the size of the drug-treatable population.

The report also finds that the opportunity for uptake of emerging agents developed for DTC will be constrained by small patient populations in the locally advanced or advanced disease setting. The majority of DTC cases are usually diagnosed early and have a good prognosis with current treatment of surgery, typically a total thyroidectomy, and RAI ablation therapy.

"Surgery and RAI therapy is the primary treatment approach for patients whose disease is considered resectable and the tumor is RAI-avid," Dr. McConnell said. "As long as a patient remains RAI-avid, RAI will remain the treatment of choice, constraining the opportunity for emerging therapies."

About Thyroid Carcinoma
Thyroid Carcinoma is offered as part of Decision Resources' Niche Markets and Rare Diseases service. Each report assesses opportunity in a select drug market across the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. The report provides detailed coverage of patient populations, current therapies, unmet needs and emerging therapies, and includes primary research with country-specific thought leaders.

About Decision Resources
Decision Resources (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources Group company.

About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources Group at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE Decision Resources

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