Type-2 diabetes drug market set to double by 2021

The diabetes drug market is looking robust thanks to a large pipeline of new products and an ever-increasing patient population.

The market for drugs designed to treat type-2 diabetes will almost double over the next ten years, experts have predicted.

Last year, the market in the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan was valued at around $26 billion, but research and advisory firm Decision Resources expects this figure to rise to nearly $50 billion in 2021.

This is due to the rising number of people who need treatment for the lifestyle-related condition, as well as the large pipeline of products that are expected to enter the market during the period.

One of the most exciting classes of drugs in this field is SGLT-2 inhibitors, such as dapagliflozin (AstraZeneca/Bristol-Myers Squibb) - which is expected to launch in Europe later this year - and canagliflozin (Johnson & Johnson).

Dr Donny Wong, Decision Resources' therapeutic area director, revealed: "Interviewed thought leaders consider the SGLT-2 inhibitors the most interesting agents that will emerge during the forecast period based on their weight-loss efficacy, versatility and low risk of hypoglycaemia."

Strong growth should also continue in the DPP-IV inhibitor drug class, which Decision Resources claims will enjoy a 28 per cent share of the market by 2012.