Antihypertensives: Key patent expiries prevent market growth

Datamonitor expects the antihypertensives market to reach $37 billion, across the seven major markets, by 2017. The growth will be driven by the uptake of Novartis's Tekturna, as well as increased use of ARBs, and their combinations. However, the expiries of some key patents, particularly Pfizer's Norvasc and Merck's Cozaar, will restrain market growth.

The growth rate of the antihypertensive market is declining. The market is mature and does not present an attractive opportunity for R&D expenditure; consequently Big Pharma are shying away from the pursuit of novel mechanisms of action in favour of developing more efficacious combination therapies.

Cozaar's and Diovan's patent expiries in the US have the potential to alter the structure of the antihypertensive market dramatically. Threats of generic substitution and money-saving healthcare strategies which have plagued other markets, are now approaching the successful ARB class, and will have an impact on the whole antihypertensive market.

Novartis is set to strengthen its position in the antihypertensives arena; Tekturna is expected to achieve moderate sales and together with Exforge form a potential for market expansion. This however will be set back by the premature expiry of Pfizer's Norvasc patent.

Read more...

• Sales Force Effectiveness Europe (26/11/2008)
• European Forecasting Excellence Summit (26/11/2008)
• Sales Force Effectiveness Europe (07/11/2008)

• Cytotoxic Therapy Cancer Brands (09/10/2008)
• Targeted Therapy Cancer Brands (07/10/2008)
• Cancer Overview (07/10/2008)

• Asthma/COPD (07/10/2008)
• Top 20 Therapy Cancer Brands (07/10/2008)
• Antihormonal Therapy Cancer Brands (06/10/2008)
• Insomnia (06/10/2008)
• Commercial Insight: HIV (06/10/2008)
• Big Pharma M&A Analysis to 2012 (06/10/2008)
• Online marketing opportunities (13/06/2008)
• Drug Repositioning Strategies (10/06/2008)
• Osteoarthritis (10/06/2008)

---