Heightened Awareness Extends Base of Diagnosed Patients in Taiwan's Hepatitis C Therapeutics, Finds Frost & Sullivan

SINGAPORE, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- As concerted efforts to raise disease awareness have expanded the number of diagnosed cases, the hepatitis C therapeutics market in Taiwan is beginning to witness steady growth. Nearly 50 percent of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 require treatment; and this is the most prevalent type in Taiwan. However, factors such as dosage frequency, severity of side effects, and low efficacy have often resulted in noncompliance of extended treatment. Two prominent factors that influence compliance to treatment are side effects and reimbursement.

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New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.pharma.frost.com), Hepatitis C Therapeutics Market – Taiwan, finds that the market earned revenues of over $2.3 billion in 2007 and is expected to increase to approximately $4.5 billion by 2017 due to new drug launches occurring after 2010.

"The current treatment regimen of Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin for hepatitis C comes with strong side effects, such as lowered blood platelet count, depression, and hemolytic anemia," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Jennifer Lau. "Additionally, those with hepatitis C genotype 1 have the least responsiveness to the first round of the 24-week treatment and often require an additional 24 weeks, which is complicated by the fact that the government only reimburses the first round."

According to physicians and key opinion leaders, those afflicted with hepatitis C genotype 1 have a sustained viral response of 50 percent to the first round of current therapy, which necessitates a non-reimbursed second round. As a result, only 10 percent of genotype 1 patients continue to the second round. This is especially problematic in Taiwan, where out of those who are diagnosed with hepatitis C, 50 percent in the northern region and 65 percent in the southern region are infected with genotype 1.

Encouraging better compliance now will increase the likelihood of future compliance, especially for improved treatments. Creating incentives for patients to stay on HCV treatment will enhance the chances of patient compliance.

The impediments surrounding the current treatment options have inspired the exploration of more effective treatment modes. Research that is already underway is focused on arriving at treatment options that reduce side effects. Refined versions of current HCV drugs, oral formulations of small molecule inhibitors, and the new drug class known as protease inhibitors are in the development pipeline and represent the future of HCV treatment, thereby providing greater scope for capturing this market.

As awareness levels remain dismal, disease education needs to be ramped up considerable notches. In order to increase their HCV market share with newer drugs, companies must make sure that patients are willing to take them and providers are ready to prescribe them. Creating marketing campaigns that highlight better efficacy and lowering costs will help increase market presence.

The Department of Health has made continuous attempts to educate the public about screening tests for hepatitis C in order to highlight the importance of early detection. Taiwan still has a large untapped pool of potential patients, particularly in the rural areas, where access to hospitals and blood screening are difficult.

"Non-government organizations such as the Taiwan Liver Research Foundation from Kaohsiung University Hospital conduct free blood screening for residents in the rural areas," says Lau. "This has helped in identifying the infected patients who were not aware of their infection, and in turn, it has increased their chances of survival through early treatment."

Companies must join forces with the government and Taiwan Liver Research Foundation to help further diagnostic outreach programs.

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail to Nicklaus Au, Corporate Communications, at [email protected], with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

Hepatitis C Therapeutics Market – Taiwan is part of the Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology Growth Partnership Service program, which also includes research in the following markets: Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C Market in Thailand, Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in Philippines, Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in Indonesia, Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in Singapore, Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in Australia, Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in China, Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in Hong Kong, Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in India, Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in Korea, and Opportunities Assessment of Hepatitis C in Malaysia. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan