MRG: Radioembolization is expected to grow from $50M in sales in 2011 to $128M in 2015

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, embolization particles will show the most significant growth, both in procedure volume and in revenue, among all devices in the transcatheter embolization and occlusion (TEO) market. Radioembolization is expected to grow from $50 million in sales in 2011 to $128 million in 2015, while drug-eluting beads will grow from $11 million to $28 million over the same period.

“Adoption of these devices has been robust and the outlook for incorporating these devices in existing treatment algorithms for liver cancer looks promising as clinical trial data continues to demonstrate the benefits of these techniques”

Drug-eluting beads (DEBs) and radioembolization procedures are applicable in the treatment of primary and metastatic liver cancer among patients who do not qualify for surgical resection of the tumor. The treatment of liver cancer has evolved over the years to include options such as ablation, conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) and targeted therapeutics such as Sorafenib where resection and transplantation is not an option. DEB-TACE is an advance over cTACE procedures, providing superior efficacy and safety. Radioembolization treatments offer physicians and patients the benefit of localized radiation therapy that has demonstrated effectiveness in extending time-to-progression in more advanced liver cancer stages.

"Adoption of these devices has been robust and the outlook for incorporating these devices in existing treatment algorithms for liver cancer looks promising as clinical trial data continues to demonstrate the benefits of these techniques," said MRG Analyst Prabjot Bal. "While DEBs and Y-90 devices command a premium average selling price, increasing demand for these devices is driven by clinical research documenting their benefits in cancer treatment. Although radioembolization and DEB embolic particles will account for approximately 10 percent of all embolic particle procedures, their high price means they will command significant market value."

Radioembolization spheres are glass microspheres containing the isotope Yttrium-90 that emit radiation for approximately 10 days and are able to penetrate approximately 10 mm into the surrounding tissue after being delivered to the liver. As of 2011, only Sirtex Medical and Nordion offer radioembolization spheres in the United States, Nordion as TheraSphere and Sirtex as SIR-Sphere, but MRG expects rapid adoption of these devices, due to their specific benefits.

Drug-eluting beads are similar to radioembolization spheres in that both devices allow for more targeted treatments delivered to the site of the tumor itself than systemic chemotherapy. While not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the beads can be acquired and loaded with drugs at the pharmacy at physician request, leading to an increasing amount of off-label use. FDA approval is anticipated before 2015.

Millennium Research Group's US Markets for Transcatheter Embolization and Occlusion Devices 2011 includes a breakdown of unit volumes, average selling prices, procedures, and market values for embolization coils, PV plugs, INR coiling-assist devices, embolization particles, liquid embolics, and TEO accessory devices.