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Opportunities in the Pharmacotherapy of Addiction
Decision Resources, Inc, April 2005, Pages: 15
In 2003, almost 18 million people in the United States abused or were dependent on alcohol, and almost 20 million were illicit drug users. Many people abuse both alcohol and drugs. But the single most common avoidable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, resulting in more than 440,000 deaths and more than $75 billion in direct medical costs each year, is smoking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates that 46.2 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes and that 70% of those smokers have a desire to quit, representing a large potential market for smoking cessation products.
In this report, we provide an overview of substance abuse and dependency and review current and emerging therapies for the treatment of addiction to alcohol, illicit drugs, and nicotine. In conclusion, we forecast changes in the market that will increase opportunities for companies that develop pharmacotherapeutic treatments for addiction.
Business Implications
- Although addiction to alcohol and illicit drugs is a significant problem that costs society hundreds of billions of dollars each year, only a limited number of treatments are available to address this problem. Until 2004, only two drugs (disulfiram [Odyssey Pharmaceuticals’ Antabuse] and naltrexone [Barr Pharmaceuticals’ ReVia, generics]) were approved in the United States for treatment of alcohol dependence, and until 2002, only three drugs (methadone [Roxane Laboratories’ Dolophine, generics], naltrexone, and levomethadyl [Roxane Laboratories’ Orlaam]) were approved for treatment of opioid dependence; levomethadyl has since been pulled from the market.
- The 2004 approval and 2005 market introduction of acamprosate calcium (Forest Laboratories Campral) for treatment of alcohol dependence and the 2002 introduction of buprenorphine and buprenorphone/naloxone (Reckitt Benckisers Subutex and Suboxone, respectively) for treatment of opioid dependence are representative of changes occurring in the market for drug and alcohol addiction. We expect that the market will continue to grow but anticipate that expansion will be slow owing to several societal factors.
- An estimated 46 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes, and smoking claims more than 440,000 lives each year. Several products for smoking cessation are already available, including many over-the-counter and prescription products for nicotine replacement therapy and the antidepressant bupropion (GlaxoSmithKlines Zyban).
- We forecast that the U.S. market for smoking cessation will continue to grow, fueled by the large percentage of smokers who have expressed a desire to quit. Significant need and market opportunity exist for a highly effective treatment, and additional non-nicotine products for smoking cessation have reached Phase III clinical trials, with more in earlier stages of development.
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