Tuesday February 1, 7:57 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Anti-Obesity Drug Manufacturers Focus on
Long-Term Therapy
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2000--With obesity in the
U.S. reaching epidemic proportions, it is finally being acknowledged as a chronic disease
that requires medical attention.
Consequently, interest in anti-obesity drugs continues to grow. Emphasizing sustained weight management, rather than quick
weight loss, pharmaceutical companies are developing products for longer-term therapy.
According to new strategic research conducted by Frost & Sullivan ( www.frost.com ), ''U.S. Anti-Obesity Prescription Drug
Markets,'' the total anti-obesity prescription drug market grew by 80.6 percent between 1998 and 1999, from $187.5 million
to $338.6 million in revenues. Steady growth is expected to continue over the forecast period.
''The key to success in the anti-obesity prescription drug market is to develop drugs that will improve the obesity-associated
risk factors (such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes), assist in the maintenance of weight loss, and be safe for
long-term treatment,'' says Paul Woo, Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Analyst for the healthcare group at Frost & Sullivan. ''With the
emergence of drugs that can produce tremendous health benefits even beyond weight loss, user attitudes are likely to remain
receptive to anti-obesity pharmaceuticals.''
Functional genomics research programs have yielded valuable information about genes, disease pathways and drug targets. Yet
in the anti-obesity market, current drugs are only palliative.
''A drug that provides an improved efficacy profile or that targets defined populations would be a certain best-seller,'' states
Woo. ''Extensive clinical trials are necessary to inspect more closely the safety of the drugs in long-term therapy.''
Market participants are focusing R&D efforts on genomics studies that will identify genes implicated in obesity. These genes
can then serve as potential targets for drug development. One significant step has been the elucidation of the leptin signaling
pathway which controls appetite via the hypothalamus. Manufacturers are directing their energies to characterizing gene
pathways involved in lipid biosynthesis and energy homeostasis.
Drug companies realize that marketing to obese individuals is necessary for reversing the negative perceptions and mistrust that
pervades the public community. For example, Hoffman-La Roche (Roche) recently launched a national consumer education
campaign using a coalition of professionals and consumer health organizations, physicians, nutritionists, chefs and public health
advocates.
''U.S. Anti-Obesity Prescription Drug Markets'' provides a comprehensive review of major pharmaceutical research programs
in the obesity field. Forecasts of future market revenues, product pricing and unit sales are included along with an examination
of end-user perceptions affecting the anti-obesity drug marketplace. This market research is bolstered by an in-depth
discussion of the market drivers and restraints of the industry, analysis of reimbursement trends and competitive analysis of the
two main market leaders, Hoffman-La Roche and Knoll Pharmaceuticals.
Frost & Sullivan presents 1999 Market Engineering Awards to companies that have worked hard to make a positive
contribution to the anti-obesity prescription drug industry.
The Market Engineering Strategy Award for 1999 is awarded to Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) based on their successful
direct-to-consumer marketing campaign for Xenical. Roche has positioned Xenical as a drug for a serious medical problem and
has targeted their promotion campaign towards primary care physicians, managed-care officials, and women, who would be
the most likely group to take anti-obesity drugs. By introducing a novel drug to treat obesity through an effective marketing
strategy, Roche is poised to increase market penetration in the area of obesity.
Hoffmann-La Roche has also garnered the 1999 Market Engineering Product Differentiation Award. In a market previously
dominated by CNS stimulating agents, Roche's Xenical boasts a unique and non-systemic mechanism of action. The
differentiation of Xenical from other anti-obesity products has allowed Roche to become the market leader in less than one year
on the market.
Frost & Sullivan has awarded Neurocrine Biosciences with the 1999 Merger & Acquisition Strategy Award for acquiring
Northwest Neurologic Inc. in 1998. This acquisition has provided Neurocrine with an accelerated entry into the promising area
of melanocortin receptor technology and augments its drug discovery portfolio in obesity. The addition of the in-process
research and development programs related to melanocortin receptors, as well as the acquisition of patent rights in this area,
enhances the prospects for Neurocrine's obesity program for additional partnership opportunities.
Market participants include Abbott Diagnostics Division; Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Alizyme; Allelix Biopharmaceuticals
Inc.; American Home Products Corp.; Amgen Inc.; Amide Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Amylin Pharmaceuticals; Array Biopharma;
AstraZeneca; Australia Wide Industries Ltd.; Axys Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Bayer Corp.; Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co.; Camall
Co.; Cambridge Antibody Technology Group PLC; Carnrick Laboratories Inc.; Cerebrus PLC; Eli Lilly; Entelos Inc.; Eon
Labs Manufacturing; Ergo Science Corp.; Exelixis Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Garvan Medical Institute of Research; Gate
Pharmaceuticals; Geltex Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Gemini Research Ltd.; Genset Corp.; Glaxo Wellcome Inc.; Hoechst Marion
Roussel; Hoffmann-La Roche; Karo Bio, A.B.; Kings Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Knoll Pharmaceutical Co.; Ligand
Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Medeva Pharmaceuticals; Merck & Co. Inc.; Merck KgaA; Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Ltd.; Millennium
Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Myriad Genetics; Neotherapeutics Inc.; Neurocrine Biosciences Inc.; Neurogen Corp.; Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Corp.; Novo Nordisk of North America Inc.; Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals; Oxford Molecular Group
PLC; Pfizer Inc.; Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc.; Pharmacopeia Inc.; Phytopharm Pharmaceuticals; Procter & Gamble Co.;
Purepac Pharmaceuticals Co.; Rapigene Inc.; Receptron; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Roxane Laboratories Inc.;
Sanofi-Synthelabo; Sepracor Inc.; Shire Richwood Inc.; SmithKline Beecham; Supergen; Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corp.;
Trega Biosciences Inc.; Tularik Inc.; and Warner-Lambert Co.
Frost & Sullivan is an international marketing consulting and training company that monitors the anti-obesity prescription drug
industry for market trends, market measurements and strategies. This ongoing research is included as part of the Frost &
Sullivan Online ''Pharmaceuticals Custom Subscription,'' and is utilized to support market participants with customized
consulting solutions. Free executive summaries are available to the press through our media relations department.
''U.S. Anti-Obesity Prescription Drug Market'' Report: 5785-52 Date: February 2000 Price: $3,450
Contact:
Frost & Sullivan
Nick Mariottini, 530/894-2136
nmariottini@frost.com
frost.com |
