Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma drug market set to double to $8.4 billion by 2019

Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, driven by the launches of premium-priced therapies, the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma drug market will more than double over the next decade, increasing from approximately $4 billion in 2009 to $8.4 billion in 2019 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan.

“In an attempt to reduce the negative impact of biosimilar erosion on branded rituximab, Roche has developed a novel anti-CD20 antibody—GA-101—and a subcutaneous formulation of rituximab that should help soften the anticipated drop in sales of branded, intravenously delivered rituximab.”

The findings from the Pharmacor topic entitled Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma also reveal that market growth will be tempered by the entry of biosimilar versions of rituximab (Roche/Genentech/Chugai Seiyaku/Zenyaku Kogyo’s Rituxan/MabThera) in 2013 in Europe and in 2015 in the United States. Biosimilar rituximab will be priced lower than branded rituximab and—as a result of the widespread uptake of rituximab across all non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma populations—the entry of biosimilars will cause a significant drop in the sales of branded rituximab.

“Despite the entrance of biosimilars, rituximab will maintain its dominance as the market-leading agent through 2019,” said Decision Resources Director Andrew Merron, Ph.D. “In an attempt to reduce the negative impact of biosimilar erosion on branded rituximab, Roche has developed a novel anti-CD20 antibody—GA-101—and a subcutaneous formulation of rituximab that should help soften the anticipated drop in sales of branded, intravenously delivered rituximab.”

Although little new commercial opportunity remains for rituximab in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, its sales will increase through 2014 as its uptake continues to grow in the first-line maintenance setting for follicular lymphoma and as a single agent for newly diagnosed asymptomatic follicular lymphoma. Sales of GlaxoSmithKline/Genmab’s Arzerra will also increase as a result of greater use in the wider non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient population.

The findings also reveal that Celgene’s Revlimid (an agent already widely used in multiple myeloma) and two novel kinase inhibitors, Pharmacyclics’ PCI-32765 and Calistoga Pharmaceuticals’ CAL-101 are generating excitement amongst key opinion leaders and together will contribute to significant sales growth in the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma drug market, following their expected launches beginning in 2014.