Public awareness on anorexia improving, but pharma industry still lacking ideas: GlobalData

A new molecule from Daiichi Sankyo, is set to change the scenario when it hits the Japanese market in 2014

Current pipeline therapeutics suggest that the pharmaceutical industry will continue to contribute little in the fight against anorexia nervosa, while the number of sufferers grows. This report was revealed by healthcare market specialists GlobalData. The report states that while a first-in-class medication designed to treat the condition will become available over the next few years, its limited availability will diminish its impact.

At present, there is no approved therapy for the treatment of anorexia nervosa, but a new molecule, SUN11031 (human ghrelin hormone), from Daiichi Sankyo, is set to change that when it hits the Japanese market in 2014.

However, anorexia is an increasingly prominent disorder around the world, and as it will initially only be available in Japan, this treatment is expected to make a modest impact in the anorexia therapeutics market over the next few years.

Other than SUN11031, there are four other molecules in various stages of development. However, SUN11031 is the only one with a novel mechanism of action and only two other molecules exist in the latter development phases, and both of these are generics

As there are no anorexia-specific medications available, the market is made up of drugs used to treat related conditions such as depression, anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Accordingly, the unmet need for the effective treatment of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa is high, and the potential gains for pharmaceutical companies who can respond to this are substantial.

GlobalData cites the high cost of therapy, unsupportive government reimbursement policies, a low treatment rate and the current lack of approved therapies as barriers for market growth.

EP News Bureau – Mumbai