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Pharmaceutical Management of Obesity
Frost & Sullivan, March 2011, Pages: 58
The field of obesity management is seeing a lot of research and product development activities. This research service provides a detailed analysis of the technology developments and industry dynamics for obesity drugs. An evaluation of the adoption of obesity drugs has been discussed (regionwise) and some of the emerging areas of obesity research has also been highlighted. Some of the key industry drivers and challenges along with their market impact have been discussed.
Research Overview
This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Pharmaceutical Management of Obesity provides an analysis of some of the technologies and platforms for obesity drugs, which could spark interest among the research and investor community. The study provides an overview of the general industry scenario, with key drivers and challenges and their impact on the market. The insights provided in the research are likely to help pharmaceutical and biotech companies obtain a wholesome and realistic assessment of the industry.
This analysis is available through our Technical Insights program. With this program, clients receive industry-leading market research along with comprehensive, objective information that allows your company to mitigate risk, identify new opportunities, and drive effective strategies for growth.
Technology Overview
Companies Resort to Multi-pronged Approaches for Pharmaceutical Management of Obesity
The prevalence of obesity has been increasing at an alarming rate over the past few years, not only in the industrialized nations, but also in the developing ones. In tandem with the escalation in the number of obese individuals worldwide, the demand for obesity drugs is increasing exponentially. The focus of government agencies and pharmaceutical companies is on establishing preventive programs and developing anti-obesity agents. Although there have been setbacks with a number of product recalls and failures, a good number of companies are working on obesity drugs based on new targets and acting via peripheral mechanisms. Fat reduction is not just being considered for aesthetic and cosmetic reasons, but for addressing the more serious health hazards that are the fallout of obesity. “Combination therapies, which include two or more pharmacological agents and/or target multiple receptors and pathways, can bring about a reduction in obesity efficaciously and a number of companies are working on this platform,” notes the analyst of this research service. “A rich pipeline with novel targets, formulations, and mechanisms of action promises to fuel patient demand for treatment in a market with high unmet needs.”
Prolific alliances, partnerships, and collaborations between industry and academia for technology transfer as well as between large pharmaceutical companies and small- and medium-sized innovative drug developers have set the stage for further increases in investment and accelerated the rollout of successful new, potent anti-obesity drugs. Such collaborations provide companies and academia the opportunity to leverage each other’s strengths and capabilities, ensuring speedy time to market.
Serious Side Effects Detract from the Positive Effects of Drugs
Participants in this domain are challenged by stiff competition from medical devices and cosmetic procedures. Most existing anti-obesity agents used in the market have modest efficacy. Although some medications have been shown to significantly promote weight loss, their value lies in their ability to inhibit weight regain. Serious cardiovascular and neuro-psychiatric side effects are common with most of the centrally acting drugs and the weight loss caused by them is not significant when compared to the side effects. Heart valve damage, tachycardia and depression, suicidal tendencies are some of the serious side effects, which have limited the potential use of anti-obesity agents. Obesity drugs must have a low risk-benefit ratio to be approved by regulatory agencies. The growth of the obesity drug market has been hindered by constant product withdrawals and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejections. Companies working on alternative strategies and platforms need to conduct effective clinical trials to ensure their products meet with approval by the FDA. Another critical factor affecting obesity drug adoption and market penetration is the poor reimbursement policies for these drugs.
“The focus is intensifying on the development of peripherally acting and targeted drugs,” concludes the analyst. “Well designed clinical trials with carefully selected end points will ensure that only safe and effective drugs are brought into the market.”
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