BIOSPECTRUM | SEPTEMBER 2018 | http://www.biospectrumindia.com ANALYSIS^23
the brain as measured using amyloid-PET.
“This is the first late-stage anti-amyloid antibody
study to successfully achieve statistically significant
results at 18 months, further validating the amyloid
hypothesis,” said Lynn Kramer, M.D., Chief Clinical
Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Neurology
Business Group, Eisai in its press release on July
- “We will discuss these very encouraging results
with regulatory authorities to determine the best
path forward. We continue to work towards the goal
of delivering BAN2401 to patients and healthcare
professionals as early as possible.”
Earlier many pharma giants have also focused
on addressing the issue of amyloid protein buildup
in Alzheimer’s patients. Many of these clinical
trials flopped and this has cast doubt on amyloid
hypothesis. The latest results for BAN2401, however,
showed improvement on two key fronts. First, the
drug slowed progression in Alzheimer’s disease by a
statistically significant amount. Second, it reduced
the amount of amyloid accumulated in the brains of
patients by a statistically significant amount.
This aside, the more promising late-stage
Alzheimer’s disease drug for Biogen is aducanumab,
which it is co-developing with Neurimmune Holding.
Biogen has three candidates in phase 3 clinical
testing. Two of them, like BAN2401, target the
treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. And both, also
like BAN2401, seek to reduce amyloid accumulation
in the brain. Aducanumab ranked third on market
research firm EvaluatePharma’s list of top pipeline
assets in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Huge untapped market
Statisticians estimate that more than 2 billion
WORLDWIDE PROJECTIONS OF ALZHEIMER’S PREVALENCE FOR ME YEARS 2005-2050, BY STAGE OF DISEASE (IN MILLIONS)2005201020152020203020402050“Adapted from “Forecasting the global burden of Alzheimer’s disease” by Ron Brookmeyer, Elizabeth Johnson, Kathryn Ziegler-Graham and H Michael Arrighi, 2007, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, volumne
3, p.189. Copy right 2007 by The Alzheimer’s Association.106.23 Million25.73 Million77.49 Million56.55 Million41.27 Million35.26 Million30.12 MillionKEY
=2 Million Early-stagecases of Alzheimer’s=2 Million Late-stagecases of Alzheimer’s
who require a high level
of care equivalent to
that of a nursing homepeople will be above 60 years by 2026. Rising
old age population and higher incidences of
neurodegenerative diseases are two significant factors
that supplement the market growth. Moreover,
increasing R&D investment, global initiatives and
encouragement to find a cure for Alzheimer’s is
further expected to fuel the market growth.
A recent market report suggests that
global Alzheimer’s drugs market was valued at
approximately $3.42 billion in 2016 and is expected
to generate revenue of around $5.09 billion by end
of 2022, growing at a CAGR of around 8 per cent
between 2017 and 2022.
Alzheimer’s is one of the leading causes of death
in the United States. The huge disease burden
with very few therapeutic alternatives indicates an
impending market need that would provide lucrative
growth opportunities to the industry players.
Asia Pacific is also a key market for Alzheimer’s
interventions. Growth in Asia Pacific market is
expected to be driven due to growing awareness
about the treatment of Alzheimer’s in the region.
This region is likely to be a key contributor to the
global Alzheimer’s drugs market in the coming years.
Some of the key players in Alzheimer’s Drugs are Ono
Pharmaceutical, Johnson & Johnson, Daiichi Sankyo,
H Lundbeck A/S, Eisai, and among others.
Global Data analyst Tom Moore thinks that
Biogen’s BAN2401 could generate peak annual sales
of more than $1 billion if it earns FDA approval.
Hence, though the risks, funding challenges and
barriers for companies working in Alzheimer’s are
huge, but so too, potentially, are the rewards.
Aishwarya Venkatesh
[email protected]