Monoclonal Antibodies Market for Colorectal Cancer to Witness Moderate Growth, as Late-Stage Pipeline Remains Weak

The market value for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in colorectal cancer treatment will experience a moderate increase from $3.7 billion in 2012 to $5.2 billion by 2019, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5%, according to a new report from business intelligence provider GBI Research.

The company’s latest report* states that this moderate growth is a result of the slow rise of the prevalent population and weakness of the late-stage pipeline. Currently, there is only one mAb product in Phase III development for the treatment of colorectal cancer, named IMC-1121B.

Dominic Trewartha, Analyst for GBI Research says: “The efficacy of this drug has not yet been proven in large-scale, placebo-controlled Phase III trials, which creates an element of uncertainty in terms of the outcome of these products. As such, this weak late-stage pipeline is not expected to drive market growth to a significant extent during the forecast period.”

The current metastatic colorectal cancer market is dominated by three mAbs — Avastin, Erbitux and Vectibix — which are far more efficacious than the targeted small-molecule therapies also marketed for this setting. Therefore, GBI Research believes there is a strong opportunity for the entry of new mAbs into the market, as long as they prove superior efficacy when compared with Avastin.

Trewartha says: “A product that can attain first-line status in the treatment of colorectal cancer, or even second-line status by displacing Erbitux and Vectibix, would have access to a considerable patient population and be able to generate a substantial amount of revenue.

“Furthermore, there are currently no approved mAbs in the early-stage setting for colorectal cancer, reflecting an additional opportunity for the development of new products,” the analyst concludes.

*Monoclonal Antibodies Market in Colorectal Cancer to 2019 — Favorable Pricing Policy in the US and Rising Prevalence in Europe and Japan Ensures Market Growth