Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Delivering Opportunities in the Inhalable Drugs Market: Innovative formulations and devices

Delivering Opportunities in the Inhalable Drugs Market: Innovative formulations and devices

The delivery of drugs using inhaled formulations is currently heavily underexploited except for the treatment of respiratory diseases. However, the large surface area offered by the lungs offers the opportunity to achieve rapid absorption of drugs from suitable inhaled formulations. It represents an opportunity to provide an effective delivery route for therapeutics, such as proteins, that are suitable for oral administration. The delivery of insulin via inhalation  has been suggested as a major commercial opportunity, However, commercial success necessitates identifying stable and effective formulations, combined with a suitable, convenient, device for delivering the inhaled formulation.
This report evaluates the current state of the inhaled market, examining the currently limited impact of inhaled formulations in non-respiratory segments and the dominance of the respiratory market, a major market segment, by inhaled formulations. It examines the formulations currently in development for both non-respiratory and respiratory indications as well as summarizing the inhaled formulations of new chemical entities being developed for the treatment of respiratory disease. The development of methods of delivering biological products  by inhalation is highlighted as a major opportunity for growth. The value of formulation and inhaler developments is highlighted by case histories that show how they can play a key role in product lifecycle management, by building and sustaining blockbuster revenues; while not providing suitable inhalers can lead to high profile, and very costly, failure. The critical role of specialist companies in advancing technological developments with inhalers and inhaled formulations is highlighted, with the commercial opportunities that can be afforded by partnerships with such companies examined.
Key features of this report
  • Analysis of inhaled drug market for both respiratory and non-respiratory indications.
  • Detailed analysis of inhaled respiratory market, both by chemical entity/formulation and by inhaler device type.
  • Discussion of inhaled formulations in development and assessment of opportunities offered, highlighting the current emphasis on developing new combination formulations and the challenges of developing inhaled protein formulations.

Scope of this report
Key Market Issues
  • Inhaled therapeutics represent a significant segment of the pharmaceutical market, generating revenues of $26.3 billion in 2008, and accounted for 78% of the revenues in the respiratory market segment.
  • Growth opportunities are provided by the development of inhaled formulations of new chemical entities, or  by developing and establishing inhaled formulations of other classes of agent, especially protein therapeutics.
  • The high value of the combination steroid long acting b2 agonist segment ($10 billion) provides considerable opportunities for third parties to develop competing formulations of generically available agents.
Key findings from this report
  • Revenues from inhaled therapeutics for non-respiratory indications are modest.
  • Inhaled therapeutics dominate the respiratory market segment.
  • There is increasing emphasis on the use of, and developing new, dry powder inhalers.
  • The use of nebulizers is confined to certain classes of drug and specific indications, in part due to their size and lack of portability.
  • Pressurized metered dose inhalers remain a key delivery option for some classes of drug.
  • Inhaled combination formulations represent substantially the most valuable class of inhaled therapeutics.
Key questions answered
  • Where are the major opportunities in the inhaled therapeutic market?
  • What strategies should be considered in developing inhaled products?
  • Which companies have an expertise in developing proprietary inhaler devices?
  • Which companies have expertise in developing inhaled formulations?
  • Where are the commercially viable opportunities for developing inhaled formulations of  systemically acting agents?
Buy Now: Market Research

Related Reports