DES market expected to grow about $4 billion in 10 years

London-As dry eye syndrome (DES) affects more and more patients over the next 10 years, pharmaceutical companies are expecting to expand their clinical products globally to treat the condition, thus tripling the market’s global revenue over the next decade.

According to analysis report, conducted by London-based research and consulting firm GlobalData, the DES market will benefit from the launch of novel pipeline drugs and the regional expansion of existing products, as manufacturers battle it out for more market share.

Current DES treatments utilize drop applications, multiple times daily. However, the DES development pipeline contains various novel delivery technologies and innovative mechanisms of action, which many hope will improve drug efficacy and patient treatment compliance in the future.

DES drug sales in the United States currently account for a 63% share of the global market in 2012, and the United States is anticipated to remain the most lucrative DES market in the near future, reported GlobalData.

However, the patent expiration of cyclosporine (Restasis, Allergan) in the United States and its concomitant approval in Europe will be key drivers for DES sales dropping in the United States to a 47% global market share in 2022, whereas the European Union market shares will grow from 19% in 2012 to 41% in 2022.

GlobalData reports that cyclosporine is already the top-selling ophthalmic product in the United States, with sales of almost $1 billion in 2012. Allergan is also developing an improved higher-concentration formulation for the drug (Restasis X), now in phase II clinical trials.

GlobalData predicts DES therapeutic sales across the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan, China, and India to grow from about $1.6 billion in 2012 to $5.5 billion in 2022.

Among other DES therapies, diquafosol tetrasodium (Diquas, Santen Pharmaceuticals) is currently available in Japan and Korea. The drug is expected to launch in China later this year. Despite trials in the United States being halted, the drug is expected to have potential in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

In addition, rebamipide (Mucosta, Otsuka Pharmaceutical), which was launched in Japan in 2012, is being co-developed by Acucela and Otsuka in the United States, where it is currently in phase III trials with an expectant approval and launch in 2014.

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