Continued Uptake of Branded Therapies Will Drive the Type 2 Diabetes Market to Increase from $26 Billion in 2013 to $47 Billion in 2023

BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that as physicians continue to adopt a more individualized approach to patient care, branded type 2 diabetes therapies continue to experience increased use despite attempts by payer and reimbursement authorities to limit use of these more expensive drugs. As the robust type 2 diabetes pipeline increases the range of therapeutic options available to physicians, the overall type 2 diabetes market within the G7 (United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and Japan) is set for rapid expansion, with growth from sales of over $26 billion in 2013 to $47 billion in 2023.

Other key findings from the Pharmacor advisory service entitled Type 2 Diabetes:

• SGLT-2 inhibitors: The recently launched SGLT-2 inhibitors are experiencing rapid uptake in the major markets, despite known associations with genital mycotic and urinary tract infections; the first-to-market entrants canagliflozin (Johnson & Johnson's Invokana) and dapagliflozin (AstraZeneca's Farxiga/Forxiga) are set to garner significant sales.
• GLP-1 receptor agonists: The GLP-1 receptor agonist class is also set for significant growth during the forecast period, with the emergence of a number of once-weekly agents set for considerable uptake. As the only once-weekly agent to thus far demonstrate non-inferiority to the market-leading liraglutide (Novo Nordisk's Victoza), dulaglutide (Eli Lilly's Trulicity) is set to garner significant uptake.
• Increasingly stringent reimbursement: In response to the increasing cost burden of type 2 diabetes, payer and reimbursement agencies are becoming increasingly stringent with regard to reimbursable therapies. Payers are increasingly restricting the number of options available to physicians, particularly for drug classes with multiple therapy options, such as the DPP-IV inhibitors.
• Biosimilar insulins: The emergence of biosimilar insulins during the forecast period, in particular Eli Lilly/Boehringer Ingelheim's biosimilar insulin glargine (Basaglar/Abasria), are set to enjoy considerable uptake in response to payer concerns over the escalating costs of existing insulin formulations. However, the cost-savings associated with biosimilars are less than those associated with generic small molecules.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Analyst Eamonn O'Connor, Ph.D.:

• "Initial uptake of the SGLT-2 inhibitors has been stronger than previously anticipated, with uptake of first-to-market canagliflozin in the United States closely mirroring sales of sitagliptin (Merck's Januvia), the market-leading DPP-IV inhibitor with over $4 billion in annual sales in 2013."
• "With the majority of emerging novel therapies representing 'me-too' therapeutic options with few truly distinguishing features from earlier-to-market entries, the type 2 diabetes market may be set to witness class-specific price wars for the first time. The GLP-1 receptor agonist class appears to be the most vulnerable, with albiglutide (GlaxoSmithKline's Tanzeum/Eperzan) launching at a considerable discount to the market-leading GLP-1 agonist liraglutide."

Additional Resources:

• Eamonn O'Connor has written a blog on the development of oral insulins, which can be found here.

About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on critical issues within the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Find out more at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

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

For more information, contact:

Decision Resources Group
Christopher Comfort
781-993-2597 
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130103/MM36768LOGO

SOURCE Decision Resources Group