Boston, MA 05/16/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS) reported that Signifor LAR achieved a positive result in its Phase III study to treat acromegaly patients.
Signifor study
The study proved that the patients having Signifor LAR have superior efficacy than the available standard therapy (Somatostatin analogues). Based on the results, Novartis will proceed to launch Signifor LAR for the treatment of patients suffering from acromegaly. It will help to support the patent expiry of Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS)’s Sandostatin LAR that will lose its US patents in 2014.
The disease
Acromegaly usually happens in middle age men and women that gradually develop the symptoms as the disease progresses. It creates highly associated risks such as colon cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and arthritis. Heart disease is primarily contributes ~60% of deaths among acromegaly patients. According to an estimate, the global prevalence for the disease is around 115-295 people per million with incidence of 3-4 people per million.
Treatment market
The treatment of acromegaly and growth hormone deficiency drive the demand in the endocrinology market. But, the market experiences slow growth due to the patent expiry of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)’s Genotropin, Eli Lilly’s Humatrope and Roche’s Nutropin. In addition, the patent of Novartis’s Sandostatin LAR and Novo Nordisk’s Norditropin will support the market till 2015.
However, the market is one of the competitive segments with strong growth potential to address the unmet medical needs. Factors like the increased use of the available drugs, launch of new medicines and combined application to improve the efficiency of the standard therapies (Somatostatin analogue) will contribute growth of the treatment market. Therefore, GBI Research estimates that the global endocrinology market will grow a CAGR of 8% during the period 2010-2018 to reach $11.2 billion by 2018.
Final take
Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS) believe that a positive result will retain its position in the endocrine segment. Signifor also approved in Europe and the U.S. to treat patients with Cushing’s disease where pituitary surgery does not make any impacts. It will further strengthen the therapeutic segment.
