The development and application of biomarkers as key role indicators in health diagnostics has become a central strategy in the general re-evaluation of drug discovery processes and points the way to major changes in health diagnostics and clinical research. Shalini Gupta finds out more in an interview with Sanjeev Johar, Chief Executive Officer, Alere India
How huge is the global biomarker diagnostic test market?
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| Sanjeev Johar |
While some estimate the market to be between $16 to $17 billlion, as per GIA estimates, the global market for biomarkers is likely to touch $34 billion by 2017. It is growing at a healthy pace of around 18 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and has immense growth potential over the next 10 years. The global biomarker disease indication market comprises segments such as oncology, cardiology, neurology, HIV, renal disorders, diabetes, arthritis, tuberculosis and so on. Oncology accounts for the biggest share, driven by the need for early diagnosis of tumour cells.
Biomarkers have come to occupy an important place in diagnostic procedures worldwide. They not only improve diagnostic accuracy, but also provide information about the present disease state, thereby aiding clinicians in deciding how aggressively the disease needs to be treated. Diagnostic tests incorporating molecular biomarkers contribute the most to the advancement of personalised medicine.
What is the current market for biomarker-based diagnostic tests in India?
The market in India for biomarker-based diagnostic tests is currently small but expanding fast. The key is to create awareness in the country about biomarkers as vital investigative modalities. For this purpose, we organise an annual event called Alere Biomarker Conclave where medical experts from all over India assemble to discuss the most up-to-date standards in clinical application of biomarkers for early diagnosis and better prognosis.
Tell us about the range of tests offered by Alere.
Alere has one of the widest and most comprehensive test portfolio in cardiovascular, infectious diseases and women’s health segments. Alere is the largest purveyor of POC diagnostic tests. We believe that the POC diagnostic is the future and it will assume more importance in saving lives and improving health outcomes. For instance, in cardiovascular, markers such as BNP and Troponin can help healthcare professionals to start treatment immediately by providing critical test results in minutes compared with time taken in traditional modus operandi of lab testing.
The diagnostics market in general is quite fragmented in India, yet it is rapidly changing. Enumerate the pros and cons of operating in such a market.
The healthcare industry is growing at a fast pace in India. The diagnostics and laboratory services segment, worth over $2 billion, is expanding rapidly because effective diagnosis is the first step towards treatment. There is a huge untapped potential in tier III and IV towns for more diagnostic facilities as the Indian healthcare market beyond the metros is hugely underserved by diagnostics. Diagnostic centres existing in major cities are upgrading their systems with latest technologies including semi- and fully automated instruments. Molecular diagnostics is a big area of growth. The spending power of people has increased over the years and they can now afford sophisticated and comprehensive tests which are a little expensive than usual.
There are strong drivers of growth for the diagnostics industry in India. More hospitals are being set up, healthcare infrastructure is being strengthened, medical equipment is advancing, and there is more demand from patients for quick, good-quality diagnostics. This gives an opportunity for a company like Alere to penetrate the Indian diagnostics market which is currently nascent, fragmented and largely unorganised. We aim at expanding point care diagnostics to reduce dependence on labs and empower patients as well as doctors.
In India, the trend is rapidly changing. There has not only been an increase in the complexity of diseases, the disease profile itself is slowly shifting from communicable disease to chronic disease like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer due to unhealthy lifestyles. All of these require frequent diagnostic testing. Challenges include a lack of awareness, skilled labour to operate the equipment and carry out tests along with the unregulated nature of the industry which gives no guarantee of patients receiving quality diagnostics.
What are the unmet needs of the Indian diagnostic industry?
Indian market offers a huge opportunity for Alere. The biggest unmet need in the country is an absence of high-quality diagnostic facilities that makes the practice of good therapy ,difficult. Affordability is another issue, even the fact that the Indian market is essentially non-reimbursed market. However, with the government initiatives and with the penetration of health insurance, the affordability issue will be addressed at least in the urban areas. However, many more interventions are needed on the supply side so as to reduce the costs of delivering diagnostic tests to patients.
Accessibility is also a challenge. There is limited awareness and even less availability of modern medicine and treatments in tier-III and IV cities, small towns and rural areas. Alere aims to be the diagnostics and health management powerhouse in India and make our products and services the first choice of consumers. To be more cost efficient, we have set up local manufacturing facilities in the country and reach out to consumers through efficient distribution channels.
Predictive biomarkers such as companion diagnostics could change the future of drug development research. What is Alere doing towards this?
The companion diagnostics market has seen impressive growth in the last few years and has become one of the most promising areas within the IVD market. The worldwide market for this segment is still evolving. Many biomarkers are now being co-developed as companion diagnostic tests for drugs that are still in development. This can have a huge impact on the way new drugs are developed and commercialised. The drugs would become safer with better therapeutic outcomes, thus trimming healthcare costs. Drug development firms and diagnostic companies need to work in close coordination with each other to take this exciting new segment forward so that it becomes the cornerstone of modern medicine. In India, Alere is working with several pharma companies to co-market our POC tests with drugs.
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