Frost & Sullivan Sees Urgent Need for Cancer Diagnostics Tests; Finds Unmet Need for Key Disorders

The range of potential therapeutic approaches available to treat cancer is expected to expand rapidly during the next decade. Current diagnostic technologies focus on detection and diagnosis of cancer using mainly blood, feces, urine tests, or genetic tests. Testing methods are now gradually moving toward targeted treatment with the help of companion diagnostics, which help track disease progress, enabling patients to be treated with appropriate drugs.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.healthcare.frost.com), Western European In Vitro Cancer Diagnostics Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $736 million in 2011 and estimates this to reach $1519.8 million in 2019. The research covers immunoassay, immunohistochemistry, nucleic acid testing (NAT), clinical chemistry, and other diagnostic methods. The growing prevalence of cancer, together with greater patient awareness, will drive test volumes. Despite falling prices, the massive increase in test volumes will keep the market on an upward trajectory.

“The projected launch of new NAT products for cancer diagnosis will result in high growth rates and revenue generation in this segment,” notes Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst Divyaa Ravishankar. “NAT products have the ability to determine the predisposition of the disease condition. They address the need for diagnostic tests that aid in the early detection and prevention of cancer.”

This is in keeping with the current focus on characterizing cancer in an asymptomatic phase or in a predisposition phase. Substantial research is being undertaken in Western Europe to validate the use of biomarkers in cancer detection. Biomarkers and associated techniques are set to play an increasingly important role in the development of oncology therapeutics.

While these are positive signs, consolidation has increased the bargaining power of laboratories, allowing them to squeeze the prices of cancer-related tests. The demand is now for high-capacity, high-volume laboratory solutions, rather than high-value, labor-intensive tests like NAT.

“On the one hand, efforts will have to be made to facilitate the integration of novel NAT technologies with existing laboratory systems,” advises Divyaa Ravishankar. “On the other hand, the development of innovative and more accurate tests, paralleled by initiatives at improving patient awareness about these new options, could create a pull effect from patients, which could negate the increasing bargaining power of the centralised lab.”

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an email with your contact details to Anna Zanchi, Corporate Communications, at anna.zanchi@frost.com.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) represent two families of bowel disorders with a common denominator of significant unmet medical need. The main unmet need in IBD is disease modifying therapies with greater efficacy in order to slow disease progression and maintain remission, particularly for severe patients. The development pipeline is bursting with potential candidates to treat IBD. In comparison, however, the IBS pipeline is relatively dry as drug developers struggle to unwind the complex pathology behind this disorder. The main unmet need in IBS is effective therapies indicated specifically to alleviate the symptoms of this syndrome.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan’s (http://www.healthcare.frost.com) Analysis of the Expanding US Market for Gastrointestinal Disorders Prescription Pharmaceuticals research finds that prescription pharmaceuticals indicated for IBD and IBS earned revenues of approximately $4.26 billion in 2011 and estimates this to reach $7.70 billion in 2017. The analysis finds that the growth is aided by an expansion of the market for biologicals and the introduction of efficacious new therapies.

“Growth opportunities exist for biologicals and other novel agents, particularly for those that justify initiation of therapy earlier in the course of IBD, as well as for first line therapies that incorporate important improvements, such as enhanced delivery or administration,” noted Frost & Sullivan Life Sciences Senior Industry Analyst Debbie Toscano. “There is also a tremendous need for safe and effective treatments for severe forms of IBS, which affects a very sizeable patient population.”

Biological therapies, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors prove very effective in getting and keeping IBD patients in remission. However, these drugs are typically reserved for more severe patients who have tried and failed standard first line therapies such as aminosalicylates and steroids.

“As evidence accumulates supporting first line use of biologics for improved outcomes for patients, tremendous growth opportunity exists if payers and clinicians are willing to adopt the new treatment paradigm,” remarked Ms. Toscano. “Considerable opportunity also exists to penetrate the largely untouched IBS market, an indication for which the US FDA recognizes significant unmet need.”

However, knowledge gaps in the underlying pathology of these diseases impede the identification of new drug targets and development of agents with superior efficacy compared to available therapies. Patient adherence to complicated therapeutic regimens can also hinder market uptake.

“The most important success factor for companies is the marketing of safe and effective therapies with a robust clinical history,” concluded Ms. Toscano. “This will raise awareness and gain the confidence of prescribing gastroenterologists, patients, and payers.”

If you are interested in more information on this research, please email Britni Myers, Corporate Communications, at britni.myers@frost.com, with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company email address, company website, city, state and country.