AEGiS-PRn: Market for Peripheral Neuropathy Among Diabetics, HIV/AIDS and Cancer Patients Approaches $1B by 2012

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Market for Peripheral Neuropathy Among Diabetics, HIV/AIDS and Cancer Patients Approaches $1B by 2012

PRNewswire - November 20, 2003

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Prevention and reversal of damage to peripheral nerves -- peripheral neuropathy -- continues to confound clinicians and their patients worldwide. More than one million people in the U.S., Europe, and Japan suffer the symptoms of this frequently under-diagnosed and irreversible condition each year. This population is projected to grow more than 2.5% in these markets each year, surpassing 1.5 billion patients through 2012.

Until now, hope for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy has relied solely -- and ineffectively -- on ameliorating the symptoms of pain and numbness and addressing the root cause of the nerve damage. Metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes), infections (e.g., HIV/AIDS), and toxic exposure (e.g., chemotherapy treatment of cancer) are the leading causes of this damage.

A promising pipeline of therapeutics -- including Eli Lilly's phase III PKC inhibitor, ruboxistaurin -- has the potential to significantly improve the prospects for peripheral neuropathy patients' quality of life. Worldwide, at least 18 agents are in development for treating peripheral neuropathy; these drugs utilize molecular approaches ranging from the reduction of oxidative stress to stimulating nerve growth. Clinical success of these products would transform the treatment of peripheral neuropathy into a key emerging pharmaceutical market by 2012 in the top seven pharmaceutical country-markets -- U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Japan.

Promising new peripheral neuropathy treatments include aldose reductase inhibitors epalrestat (Ono Pharmaceutical), fidarestat (N.K. Curex / Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho / Sankyo), zenarestat (Fijisawa / Pfizer); carnitine acetyltransferase stimulant levacecarnine / carnitine (Sigma Tau / GlaxoSmithKline); cannabinoid receptor antagonist THC:CBD (GW Pharmaceuticals / Bayer AG); chemoprotectants dimesna (BioNumerik Pharmaceuticals / Baxter Oncology) and amifostine (MedImmune Oncology); dopamine receptor agonist uridine (Polifarma / AMINO GmbH); interleukin-6 (Serono); nerve growth factor agonist TAK 428 (Takeda); prosaposin-derived peptide prosaptide TX14 A (Savient Pharmaceuticals); prostacyclin agonist beraprost (Toray Industries / Kaken); prostaglandin E agonist liposomal alprostadil (Endovasc Ltd.); vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF (Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center of Boston); copolymer surfactant poloxamer 188 NF (CytRx); ion channel modulator ABT 202 (Abbott Laboratories / Neurosearch); and protein kinase C inhibitor ruboxistaurin (Eli Lilly); and drugs including QR 333 (Quigley Corporation), with undefined mechanisms of action.

Worldwide Peripheral Neuropathy is a newly released report from EP Publications, a service of WWMR (Worldwide Marketing Research), Inc., http://www.WWMR.com , forecasting the value of the peripheral neuropathy market by drug class, by condition and by country. Also included is the commercial potential for current and upcoming drug classes in individual country markets as well as patient projections associated with diabetes, HIV/AIDS and chemotherapy treatment.

Recent reports include:

-- U.S. Neuropathic Pain

-- European Neuropathic Pain

-- Brand Erosion by Generics

-- Rx Brand Erosion by OTC Switches

-- European Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement

-- Patient Compliance

WWMR, Inc., is an established marketing research and strategic consulting firm with global capabilities. Since 1994, WWMR, Inc., has provided over 500 insightful, proprietary studies to pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and diagnostics companies worldwide. Using primary and secondary research methodologies, WWMR, Inc., provides market and product assessments, competitive intelligence, forecast modeling, patient population projections, product launch monitoring (pre- and post-), primary marketing research and medical economic analyses.

SOURCE WWMR, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.wwmr.com

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