The Volatile Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Pipeline Continues to Disappoint, Continually Reshaping Expectations for the Future Market Outlook

BURLINGTON, Mass., March 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group closely monitors the ever-changing Alzheimer's disease (AD) market. The last six months have seen clinical trial failures for a number of high-profile development programs including Eli Lilly's disease-modifying therapy (DMT) solanezumab, Lundbeck/Otsuka's symptomatic therapy idalopirdine, and most recently Merck's DMT verubecestat in mild to moderate AD (a trial in prodromal AD continues).

Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenge of bringing a drug for AD to market, pipeline activity in the space is as strong as ever, given the enormous market potential. DRG's Disease Landscape & Forecast: Alzheimer's Disease report projects substantial growth in the AD market, which could eclipse $30 billion in 2025. Our model assumes the launch of a wide range of emerging therapies, including as many as six premium-priced DMTs, though there is no guarantee any of these agents will launch. Indeed, the failure of Merck's oral BACE inhibitor in the EPOCH study puts its first-to-market launch prospects in jeopardy, and any delay or termination could have meaningful repercussions on future market dynamics.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Senior Business Insights Analyst Tamara Blutstein, Ph.D.:

• "Despite mounting setbacks among amyloid-targeted DMTs, companies are doubling down on their AD investment in this arena. The question remains, will any of these drugs succeed where others, or they themselves, have failed? Perhaps, if amyloid is indeed the right target and the key to success is earlier intervention."
• "DMTs will pose a number of new challenges to the various stakeholders—high cost, a different risk-benefit calculus, regulatory question marks, and treatment logistics, among others. But these issues ultimately may amount to little if a drug can offer real, clinically meaningful benefits for AD patients, something that may be difficult to achieve."

Other key findings from the Disease Landscape & Forecast report on Alzheimer's Disease:

• The launch of the first DMTs for AD will undoubtedly have a measurable impact on diagnosis and drug treatment, particularly in the pre-AD and mild AD populations; the timing of this inflection point, however, hinges on at least one Phase III DMT delivering on its promise.
• While the pipeline for procognitive symptomatics has dwindled, there has been an increased focus on the behavioral symptoms of AD, including agitation, which according to DRG's proprietary epidemiology affects the majority of diagnosed AD patients. Lundbeck/Otsuka's Rexulti (brexpiprazole) could be the first drug approved for the treatment of agitation in AD, reaching the market as soon as 2018 and driving blockbuster sales. A number of other candidates are also in late-phase development, the most advanced of which is Avanir/Otsuka's AVP-786.   

To request a demo of this report, please visit our website. To follow DRG experts, and stay up to date on their analysis of the latest industry news, connect with DRG on Twitter @DRGInsights and on LinkedIn and the DRG Blog.

About Decision Resources Group
DRG, a subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Ltd., is the premier source for global healthcare data and market intelligence. A trusted partner for over 20 years, DRG helps companies competing in the global healthcare industry make informed business decisions. Organizations committed to the developing and delivering life-changing therapies to patients rely on DRG's in-house team of expert healthcare analysts, data scientists, and consultants for critical guidance. DRG products and services, built on extensive data assets and delivered by experts, empower organizations to succeed in complex healthcare markets.

To learn more, visit www.decisionresourcesgroup.com.

Media contact: 
Decision Resources Group 
Whitney Goldstein 
617-747-9037 
[email protected]

SOURCE Decision Resources Group

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