Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a4ffa3/emerging_opportuni) has announced the addition of the "Emerging Opportunities in Controlled-Release Generic Drugs" report to their offering.
This new report identifies 30 controlled-release drugs valued at US$15 billion, many of which will be losing patent protection in the medium term.
From emerging specialist companies to established generic producers, alternative drug delivery technologies are increasingly being seen as a route to a competitive edge in the generics industry.
While controlled-release products have traditionally been developed towards the patent-expiry, companies are now beginning to look at controlled-release delivery earlier in the product life-cycle and, in some cases, are launching immediate- and controlled-release versions of new drugs to address the differing needs of patients.
A number of significant controlled-release drugs some of them blockbusters will lose patent protection in the medium term. This has led to increased interest from a range of companies vying for a share of the controlled-release generics market.
Fewer competitors, higher margins
It's an attractive area: due to the significant technical barriers to the development of controlled-release drugs, they will generally have fewer competitors in the marketplace and, therefore, will attract higher prices and greater revenue opportunities than the highly competitive instant-release formulations.
A US$15 billion sector