Novel Drug and Biosimilar Launches to Transform Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Market Dynamics by 2023

The global Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) treatment market value will witness steady growth, from $15.6 billion in 2013 to $19.3 billion in 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.1%, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData.

The company’s latest report* states that of the 10 major pharmaceutical markets (the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, Australia, China, and India), the US boasts the largest RA treatment space, with a 67% share in 2013. The country will maintain its leading position by the end of 2023, despite its share declining slightly to 65%.

GlobalData believes that the RA treatment market expansion over the coming decade will be driven by increased RA prevalence, as well as the anticipated launches of novel drugs. These products include three interleukin-6 inhibitors, four biologics novel to the RA market, four Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and numerous biosimilars.

Heather Leach, GlobalData’s Analyst covering Immunology, says: “Drugs with novel mechanisms of action, including biologics and small molecules, are welcome additions to the RA therapeutics market. However, this arena will become increasingly crowded over the next decade.

“RA is an attractive therapy area for pharmaceutical companies as it is dominated by expensive biologics, and oral JAK inhibitors entering the market are expected to be priced only at a slight discount. Perhaps the most anticipated event in the RA space is the addition of biosimilars, which are assumed to be priced at a 30% discount to the reference product.”

However, Leach adds that while the launch of biosimilars will provide a less expensive therapy option for patients, their lack of regulatory guidelines will delay their availability in a number of regions.

“Furthermore, these alternative products are expected to steal significant patient share and cut into the profits of major RA treatment brands, such as Amgen/Pfizer/Takeda’s Enbrel, AbbVie’s Humira, and Bristol Myers Squibb/Ono’s Orencia. This will impact negatively on future revenue growth for this treatment area,” the analyst concludes.

*PharmaPoint: Rheumatoid Arthritis – Global Drug Forecast and Market Analysis to 2023