The Acute Ischemic Stroke Drug Market Will Remain Relatively Flat, Increasing from $460 Million in 2009 to Approximately $610 Million in 2019

BURLINGTON, Mass., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the acute ischemic stroke (AIS) drug market will remain relatively flat, increasing from $460 million in 2009 to approximately $610 million in 2019 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and Japan.

The Pharmacor 2010 findings from the topic entitled Acute Ischemic Stroke reveal that, in the forecasted absence of new therapies, drug-treatment rates in AIS will grow modestly as the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA; Genentech's Activase, other brands) gradually increases, aided by a recently extended treatment window. Rt-PA, the gold standard of pharmacological treatment in AIS, is administered to only a small fraction (less than 4 percent in 2009) of diagnosed patients in the world's major pharmaceutical markets.

"Broadening the use of rt-PA and interventional therapies such as stroke devices, including Concentric Medical's Merci Retrieval System, coupled with continued improvements in stroke systems of care will be crucial steps in the near-term future of stroke treatment," said Decision Resources Analyst Jonathan Searles. "Given the lingering questions among interviewed thought leaders about mid- and late-stage emerging treatments such as Paion/Lundbeck's thrombolytic desmoteplase and D-Pharm's metal ion chelator DP-b99, and in light of the continual attrition of investigational treatments in stroke, we do not forecast the launch of any novel therapies through 2019, although we continue to monitor several new therapies with great interest."

The findings also reveal that the persistent failure of neuroprotectants in clinical trials underscores physicians' growing skepticism about the promise of acute neuroprotection, particularly in monotherapy. Interviewed neurologists indicate that new directions in neurorestorative therapy that are currently under research offer potentially more promising and much needed avenues for treatment. Although research in this arena suffered a setback with the failure of Stem Cell Therapeutics' NTx-265 in a Phase II clinical study earlier this year, a growing number of companies including ReNeuron, Athersys, SanBio and Stemedica Cell Technologies are preparing for early clinical studies with stem cells, while PhotoThera is continuing to assess its innovative NeuroThera transcranial laser recovery device.

"Significant opportunity exists for effective neurorestorative therapies—treatments that could repair damaged tissue post-stroke to enhance recovery," Mr. Searles said. "This arena represents an untapped clinical and commercial opportunity with game-changing implications if a treatment—drug or device—can demonstrate regenerative effects and is safe and easy to administer."

About Pharmacor 2010

The newly redesigned Pharmacor advisory service offers clients in the biopharmaceutical industry the most up-to-date information available on commercially significant disease topics.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

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

SOURCE Decision Resources