Innovation in Drug Delivery - Part Two: Therapy area trends for injectables

By Yifei Chen and Yasemin Bettina Karanis, IQVIA

In this article we’ll explore the individual market dynamics a little further. Let us begin with the highest-value self-administered segments – autoimmune and diabetes. Diabetes is an area where we see some of the most innovative injectable delivery systems. This is due to the insulin market having matured over the many past decades. The treatment area, chronic in nature, has long demanded patients to have the freedom to self-administer. Hence, the injectable diabetes market is nearly completely saturated with self-administered products, and further innovation aims to be more patient centric by looking beyond formulation, into digital and connective devices.

Figure 1. The split in self-administered injectables market into top therapy areas

The development of the injectable autoimmune market, however, is more novel and has a higher growth rate in the trend to create better patient experiences by delivering self-administered options. Humira (and emerging biosimilars such as Amgevita) and Stelara, two top sellers, are conceived with the goal of serving patients through prefilled syringes. These two products alone grew in over $20bn in sales from 2015 to 2020, with the latter growing with a 30% CAGR in its prefilled syringe subsegment, quadrupling in value.

According to Figure 2, the segments that lag in growth are oncology and multiple sclerosis. While the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) segment saw the launch of blockbuster hospital-administered monoclonal antibody Ocrevus in 2017, which dominates the MS injectable share at nearly 30%, other drugs have not picked up pace in innovation toward self-administration. This is likely due to the anxiety associated with self-injection for patients with MS. The industry needs to dissuade patient fear in conjunction with developing formulations with learnings from high-growth segments such as autoimmune. This is already taking place, with the FDA approving Novartis’ Kesimpta for home-treatment in August 2020.

Figure 2. A view of potential growth for top therapy areas

In oncology, treatments are typically administered at the hospital via infusion. However, outside pressure for change is growing stronger than ever, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the decline of face-to-face visits, it is harder for patients to initiate or switch treatment options. Healthcare systems, like the NHS have pushed for interim cancer treatment recommendations that prioritise at-home-treatments for patients. As a result, the industry is already responding. Figure 3 shows innovations in dosing regimen and new formulations that aims to reduce hospital visits or time spent for drug administration. (1)

Figure 3. Innovations in formulation and dosing regimen in pandemic times

Overall, self-administered products lead growth in market share across multiple segments. With patients increasingly demanding more convenience for administration for chronic diseases, and with regulators pushing for less patient exposure to high-risk clinical settings during the pandemic, it seems the shift to self-administered drugs is inevitable. To future-proof against further waves of the pandemic, and to adapt to the potential collapse in the dynamic market, pharmaceutical companies need to ensure that better drug delivery systems and formulations is at the fore of their product development agenda.

For more information on trends in packaging and devices, please email me at [email protected]

References:

1. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng161/resources/interim-treatment-change-options-during-the-covid19-pandemic-endorsed-by-nhs-england-pdf-8715724381