Value of Colorectal Cancer therapeutics market expected to increase $9.4 billion by 2020

Increased uptake of high-priced drugs to offset the impact of generics, says GBI Research.

Analysis from business intelligence provider GBI Research - Colorectal Cancer Therapeutics in Major Developed Markets to 2020 - states that the Colorectal Cancer (CRC) treatment market value will increase at a moderate Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 1.8%, from $8.3 billion in 2013 to $9.4 billion by 2020.

The marketed CRC products landscape comprises a wide range of treatment options, including targeted therapies, such as Avastin and Zaltrap, and a range of immunotherapies and chemotherapies. However, the lack of awareness and screening programs in developed nations are barriers to improving patient survival rates and reducing treatment costs.

CRC can take 10 to 15 years to develop, and many symptoms do not become apparent until the late stages of tumor development. Furthermore, CRC has a high incidence rate. It is the third most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal tract cancer and the fourth leading cause of mortality among all cancers.

Regionally, CRC incidence is higher in the US and five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) than in Japan due to dietary differences, although incidence is increasing rapidly in Japan due to the westernization of the diet.

Analyst Shreya Brahmbhat: "While multiple new pipeline agents are expected to be launched in the CRC treatment market over the forecast period, none of these drugs will have a dramatic impact on the overall arena. The currently marketed brands will continue to enjoy dominance due to their incorporation in the earlier and more lucrative lines of treatment.

"A number of new agents are likely to enter the CRC therapeutics space by 2020, including anti-angiogenesis inhibitors Cyramza and nintedanib. However, these drugs will enter the competitive second- and later-line metastatic segments."

Key Findings Include:

• With 392 active pipeline molecules, most investigational drug candidates are being evaluated for first- or second-line treatment of advanced-stage CRC
• However, analysis of clinical trials since 2006 identified that CRC drugs have a high attrition rate
• Despite rising CRC incidence and new product approvals, generic sales erosion resulting from patent expirations will hamper market growth during the forecast period.