Roche to gain most ground in neurodegnerative drugs market by 2022, GBI Research claims

According to business intelligence provider GBI Research, pharmaceuticals company Roche will be the biggest mover in the neurodegenerative drugs space over the next five years.

The anticipated approval of the company’s ocrelizumab drug, which can be used to help treat people with multiple sclerosis, is expected to drive Roche’s share of the market from less than 1% in 2016 to approximately 15% by 2022.

Whilst Roche will make significant gains, the report states that biotechnology company Biogen will remain the largest player in the neurodegenerative drugs market. However, Biogen’s shares in the market, which includes Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS), are predicted to drop from 33% in 2016 to 26.5% by 2022.

Qaisrah Khalid, analyst for GBI Research, said: “Roche has one drug in the market for neurodegenerative disorders, Madopar, for use in Parkinson’s disease, although this drug has not been approved for use in the US. However, Roche has three neurodegenerative disorder drugs due to be approved in the forecast period, namely ocrelizumab, in 2016, and crenezumab and gantenerumab, both in 2019.”

GBI Research also states Biogen’s overall revenues derived from neurodegenerative disorder products are expected to remain stable.

Roche’s revenue from neurodegenerative products is expected to increase at a very rapid compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 66.97% between 2015 and 2022.

Khalid continues: “Biogen is the market leader in the neurodegenerative disorder space, thanks largely to Tecfidera which is not set for patent expiry until 2028. Biogen also markets several other drugs in this therapy area, with Plegridy expected to reach blockbuster status within the forecast period, meaning there will not be an overall revenue loss within this market for Biogen.

“While Avonex lost its patent protection in 2007, it will still remain a blockbuster drug despite revenue losses by 2022. Additionally, Tysabri’s patent is expected to expire in 2017 and is anticipated to be at risk from biosimilar erosion. However, the rate of potential erosion is likely to be slow as biosimilars will be priced at a limited discount to the branded product.”