Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Key market research findings
- Increasing use of biosimilars over biologics
- Popularity of off-label and traditional treatment options
Technavio has released a new market research report on the global RA market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 3% by 2020. RA is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, which appears slowly, with mild pain around the joints coupled with stiffness and fatigue. Several organizations are taking initiatives to spread awareness about RA, which is expected to boost the sales of RA medications during the forecast period. The popular drugs in the market are Humira, Enbrel, MabThera/Rituxan, Remicade, Celebrex, Orencia, Actemra, Simponi/Simponi Aria, and Xeljanz. The Americas dominate the global RA market owing to increase in the aging population and improvements in disease diagnosis.
Classification of RA based on disease severity
Source: Techmnavio, 2016
“Remicade, Enbrel, and Humira are the major biologics used to treat RA; however, the expiry of their patents has resulted in the emergence of their biosimilars. Biosimilars have identical active pharmaceutical ingredients to their originator biologic compounds. They are less expensive than biologics, hence are more preferable for RA treatment. Some commonly used biosimilars are Inflectra (Remicade), GP2015 (Enbrel), and ABP 501 (Humira),” says Navin Rajendra, Industry Manager, Healthcare & Lifesciences, Technavio Research.
Phototherapy, which uses sunlight, UV-A, and UV-B, along with Psoralen is also gaining popularity as a treatment option. Tanning beds and laser treatments are among the other options available. Some topical treatment options include corticosteroids, anthralin, and synthetic vitamin D3. Ibuprofen, naproxen sodium casaicin topical, acetaminophen, glucosamine, chondroitin, and SAMe are among the over-the-counter (OTC) products used to treat RA.
The leading vendors in the global RA market are AbbVie, Amgen, BMS, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer. The market is extremely competitive because of the presence of small and large vendors. The probability for new players to enter this market is high because it presents numerous growth opportunities, especially for small vendors.
A more detailed analysis is available in the Technavio report, Global RA Market 2016-2020.
We can customize reports by other regions and specific segments upon request.
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