Almost 50 Percent of the Glaucoma Patient Population Remains Untreated, Signifying a Vast Market for Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals, Finds Frost & Sullivan

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, presenting the glaucoma pharmaceuticals market with a significant opportunity to fulfill unmet medical needs. Being an adult disease, the patient pool for glaucoma will expand as the population ages.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan's (http://www.pharma.frost.com) Analysis of the United States Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals Market research finds that the market earned revenues of approximately $2.19 billion in 2010 and estimates this to reach $2.25 billion in 2016.

If you are interested in more information on this research, please send an email to Britni Myers, Corporate Communications, at [email protected], with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company email address, company Web site, city, state and country.

Considering almost 50 percent of the patient population is under-diagnosed and underserved with available pharmacotherapy options, pharmaceuticals that offer effective therapies, improved drug delivery, and higher disease awareness through patient education will be immensely successful.

Additionally, patients suffering from glaucoma, whether they are aware of the disease or not, need therapies better than the numerous pharmacotherapy options available currently.

"The underserved population of patients is not achieving therapy goals and demonstrates poor patient compliance with daily eye drops," said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Debbie Toscano. "There is considerable need for more effective therapies that go beyond targeting intraocular pressure to preserve optic nerve function, as well as for innovations in delivery to improve patient compliance and clinical outcomes."

So far, the availability of a number of low-cost generic medications, including a generic version of the gold-standard prostaglandin analog (PA), Xalatan, may reduce the attractiveness of this market to potential participants. As glaucoma requires life-long therapy, there is a huge demand for low-cost therapeutic options, which slows down innovation in the market. The increasing economic pressures are also expected to compel payers and prescribers to encourage the use of generics.

However, there is a substantial need for innovation in drug delivery and alternatives to daily eye drops. For example, many patients, particularly the elderly, have difficulty in self-administering them. Eye drops also involve other challenges such as high frequency of administration, wastage of drops, and inability to last for the duration of prescription, leading to non-compliance and under-treatment.

Innovative pharmaceutical and biotech companies seeking to tap into this market have to offer improved therapies exhibiting novel mechanisms and/or delivery methods. Novelty in mechanisms that address the underlying causes of glaucoma and provide additional clinical benefit such as neuroprotection is vital to improve patient outcomes and prevent blindness.

"The heterogeneous nature of the pathophysiology of glaucoma and the variable patient response to therapy drive the need for multiple effective therapeutic choices," said Toscano.  "Currently, PAs dominate the market with 59.8 percent of the total share due to their superior efficacy, tolerability and convenience profiles. The introduction of this class to the market has significantly raised the bar for new entrants."

Analysis of the United States Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals Market is part of the Life Sciences Growth Partnership Services program, which also includes research in the following markets: U.S. Retinal Therapeutics Market, European Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals Market, U.S. Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals Market, and 2010 U.S. Ophthalmologists' Assessment of Eye Care Medication Brands. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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Analysis of the United States Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals Market
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Britni Myers
Corporate Communications – North America
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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan