World Hepatitis Treatment and Vaccine Market Will Reach $8.7bn in 2012

Tuesday 15 May 2012, Amsterdam

A new report predicts that global revenues for hepatitis treatments and vaccines will reach $8.7 billion for 2012. Between 2011 and 2022, the global market will grow with a CAGR of 8.7%, according to Hepatitis Treatments and Vaccines: World Market 2012-2022, published in May 2012.

It forecasts that oral antivirals will be the largest sector of the hepatitis treatment and vaccines market in 2022. The approval of direct-acting antivirals for treating hepatitis C throughout the coming 10 years will drive this growth. In 2011, interferon therapies, used for treating hepatitis B and C, accounted for 34.0% of the hepatitis market. The influence of these therapies in the market will decline, however, as increasing numbers of patients will be switched to oral antivirals in hepatitis C, particularly beyond the middle of the decade. Between 2011 and 2016, the interferons submarket will fall with a CAGR of -4.6%.

Richard Lang, a pharmaceutical industry analyst explains: “Currently, unmet needs exist in hepatitis C treatment. Drug developers are attempting to meet these needs, developing new direct-acting antivirals. The launch of the first interferon-free, oral regimens towards the middle of the decade will dramatically change the hepatitis market. Many companies, such as Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead, are chasing this lucrative target. Companies that reach the market first will gain a significant advantage and market share.

“This study forecasts the future of ten leading brands in the hepatitis treatment and vaccines market. In 2011, only two blockbusters existed in the market - Baraclude for treating hepatitis B and Incivek for treating hepatitis C. This new report forecasts strong growth in revenue for both products early in the forecast period. However, patent expiries for Baraclude and increased competition for Incivek will cause revenue for both products to fall beyond 2016. GSK’s hepatitis vaccines will remain dominant in that submarket early in the forecast period. However, Engerix-B will face increasing competition from Dynavax Technologies’ Heplisav, expected to be approved in the US in 2013.”

This new report also discusses the leading national markets for hepatitis treatments and vaccines. In 2011, the US was the largest national market, with revenue there totalling $3.72 billion. The launch of new oral antivirals for hepatitis C, as well as the launch of Heplisav for hepatitis B prophylaxis, will drive growth in developed markets in the coming 10 years. Expanding vaccination programmes and rising wealth and disease awareness will stimulate growth in emerging national markets.

High rates of efficacy and barriers to resistance in leading treatments mean the hepatitis B market will grow strongly towards 2016. However, generic competition will affect the market towards the end of the period 2012 to 2022. Unmet treatment needs in hepatitis C, expanding vaccination programmes in emerging markets, and increased virus awareness and screening will ensure that the global hepatitis treatment and vaccine market will grow strongly between 2012 and 2022.