CMPD.24...the info below indicates just how large the drug mkt for osteoporosis will be...CMPD has established distribution for their Osteogram in China...which has a huge osteo problem...with 17m shares out and price here at .24 downside risk probably minimal...:
B: CompuMed Ships First DICOM OsteoGram(R) System Chinese Distrib
B: CompuMed Ships First DICOM OsteoGram(R) System Chinese Distributor Makes Init
LOS ANGELES, Apr 22, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- CompuMed, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: CMPD) -- a medical informatics company serving the
healthcare community with diagnostic software solutions -- today announced that
it has begun shipping its DICOM OsteoGram system to international distributors.
The first system was shipped to Shanghai Sanchang Import & Export Co., LTD
(SSIE), CompuMed's DICOM distributor in the People's Republic of China.
Distribution by SSIE augments existing sales in China of the film-based
OsteoGram system by Golden Xi Tong in Tianjin.
SSIE sold its first DICOM OsteoGram system to a prominent hospital in Zhejiang
Province for integration with a major manufacturer's computed radiography (CR)
platform. Implementation is slated for early May and will represent CompuMed's
entry into the rapidly growing Chinese market for digital x-ray equipment. The
incidence of osteoporosis is high among the Chinese population, and the
government has identified the disease as one of its most important long-term
health concerns.
"We are delighted to announce delivery of our first DICOM OsteoGram system to
the burgeoning Chinese market," said Jerry McLaughlin, CompuMed's CEO. "We're
also encouraged by how the system will be implemented. The hospital's plan
reflects CompuMed's DICOM strategy, which stresses workstation consolidation.
The goal is to enable clinicians to utilize software applications integrated
into digital imaging platforms. This helps reduce the need for additional
dedicated equipment, redundant computer workstations and specially trained
staff."
The DICOM OsteoGram represents the latest advancement to CompuMed's popular
software-based imaging system for screening, diagnosing and monitoring
osteoporosis. It uses a digital image derived from filmless x-ray equipment to
enable clinicians to perform accurate and precise osteoporosis testing. DICOM
(Digital Communications and Imaging in Medicine) is the information standard
that allows the new generation of medical imaging equipment to interconnect.
DICOM-based systems, such as filmless x-ray platforms and PACS network servers,
have become a high growth segment of the medical imaging market.
(COMTEX) B: DATAMONITOR: Osteoporosis pipeline`s market value forecast to
each $10.4 billion by 2011 as innovations in dosing r
B: DATAMONITOR: Osteoporosis pipeline`s market value forecast to reach $10.4 bil
ion by 2011 as innovations in dosing regimens and indications drive growth ( M2
RESSWIRE )
London, Apr 25, 2004 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- A new report from independent
market analyst Datamonitor (DTM.L), reveals how key R&D trends in the
osteoporosis market are focusing on novel dosing regimens and expanding
indications, and forecasts strong growth driven by new market entrants. The
late-stage osteoporosis pipeline will soon provide a boost to the number of
available treatments, with a flurry of launch activity expected between 2004-8.
Six key products should reach the market in this time, including; Roche`s
Boniva, Novartis`s Zometa, Pfizer`s lasofoxifene, Wyeth`s bazedoxifene, NPS`s
Preos and Servier`s Protos. It is clear that antiresorptives will continue to
dominate therapy. With market sales forecast to reach $10.4 billion by 2011,
from approximately $5.0 billion in 2003 (excluding HRT sales), Datamonitor`s
report analyses the products and trends driving growth.
Four new antiresorptives challenge established brands
Antiresorptive agents, drugs that slow down or halt the rapid loss of bone
characteristic in osteoporosis, dominate current treatment. Key marketed
products with this kind of activity include the bisphosphonates, such as the
market-leader Fosamax (alendronate, Merck) and second-in-class Actonel
(risedronate, P&G/Aventis), as well as another top selling drug, Lilly`s Evista
(raloxifene), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM).
The pipeline holds two new drugs in each of these classes with the potential to
oust established brands from their market position. New bisphosphonates Boniva
(ibandronate) and Zometa (zoledronate) could offer benefits over older drugs
such as Fosamax and Actonel, although therapeutic efficacy is not expected to
differ greatly between these products. The primary benefits of the new
bisphosphonates are their longer dosing intervals; whereby monthly, quarterly
and yearly doses are in development, versus the weekly regimens currently
available. These novel regimens could offer patients greater convenience by
lowering the number of tablets or doses they have to take, and help improve poor
compliance rates by reducing the likelihood of missed or inaccurately
administered doses. Datamonitor believes Zometa`s yearly dose, currently in
Phase III trials, could garner blockbuster sales by 2011, while positive trial
results for monthly or quarterly Boniva could drive sales of up to $800 million
over the same period.
Novel SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) are taking a different tack
in the R&D stakes. In this class, Pfizer`s lasofoxifene is in trials
investigating potential beneficial effects on breast cancer prevention and heart
disease, as well as osteoporosis. Positive results in these areas would make the
drug very attractive to patients at-risk for those conditions and postmenopausal
bone loss, vastly extending the drug`s patient potential. Wyeth` s approach to
their SERM bazedoxifene targets the range of menopause symptoms.
The drug is in trials with Premarin as a potential new hormone therapy product.
However, with the aftermath of the WHI still negatively affecting HRT sales, the
clinical data on this combination product will likely undergo close scrutiny and
commercialisation could be difficult.
New anabolics on the market by 2005, but will they challenge Lilly`s Forteo?
Osteoporosis is a progressive bone deterioration disease and novel bone-forming
drugs are one of the most promising approaches to improving bone density and
preventing fractures. Lilly`s PTH drug, Forteo (teriparatide), launched in
December 2002, is currently the only drug on the market capable of building new
bone. However, new anabolic agents are set to hit the market by 2005, opening it
up to direct competition and widening the treatment choices.
Key anabolic agents in the pipeline are NPS Pharmaceutical`s Preos, a full
length recombinant version of the PTH hormone from which Forteo is also derived,
and Servier`s Protos (strontium ranelate), a salt reported to have both an
anti-resorptive and anabolic effect on bone. Both these drugs have recently
reported results from their pivotal Phase III trials detailing fracture
reduction efficacy, and are expected to file for approval later in 2004. Preos
in particular could achieve sales of over $430 million by 2011, and is expected
to drive class sales growth by over 40%. The drug will be Forteo`s first direct
competitor, but will be at a disadvantage both in terms of NPS`s marketing
power, currently without a commercial partner for the drug, and Lilly`s three
years detailing experience with their product by the time Preos is launched.
Price will be an important factor in positioning Preos, particularly as the cost
of PTH therapy is currently the most expensive of osteoporosis treatments at
around $20 per day. This is an area where Protos could find its niche. More
likely to compete against the bisphosphonates and SERMs, as a salt, Protos`
comparatively low manufacturing costs could be reflected in its price. Canny
positioning as an inexpensive, effective and easy to use agent to prevent
fractures is likely to appeal across the board in the face of escalating
pressure on healthcare budgets.
What does the early stage pipeline have to offer?
The early stage pipeline (Phase II or lower) is bursting with potential
candidates for osteoporosis drugs. The focus on innovation is clear among these
drugs, an approach distinct from products in the later stage pipeline where the
candidates are second-third to market, or me-too drugs. Successful development
of the early pipeline could see the introduction of five entirely new
therapeutic classes to the market. Three of these classes hold significant
potential in osteoporosis: cathepsin K inhibitors, osteoprotegerin and
calcilytics.
Cathepsin K inhibitors are receiving the most R&D attention, with compounds
investigated by Novartis (Phase II), GSK (Phase I) and Merck (preclinical).
Like Protos, these drugs could have both anti-resorptive and anabolic
properties. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), under development by Amgen, is one of the
first genomic derived drug candidates in osteoporosis. While OPG represents a
scientifically innovative approach to slowing bone loss, as an antiresorptive it
will still face strong competition from the bisphosphonates. Calcilytics,
currently being developed in a joint program by NPS and GSK, represent some of
the few truly anabolic agents in the pipeline. As such, calcilytics have huge
potential in the osteoporosis market, where further advantages of the compounds
include oral delivery and relatively low costs comparied to PTH products.
Victoria Williams, Women`s Health analyst at Datamonitor comments: "The
impending launch of six new osteoporosis drugs over the next four years will
shake up the market and offer patients and physicians an unprecedented choice of
treatment options. Crucial to the success of pipeline drugs will be clinical
equivalence or improvements in vertebral and non-vertebral fracture reduction
compared to established products, as well as clear benefits in side effects,
delivery, dosing and cost-effectiveness. However, the patent expiry of
market-leader Fosamax in 2008, and entry of generic equivalents, could limit the
sales potential of some of the newer anti-resorptives."
Editor`s Notes
Victoria Williams is available for comment
Related Research: "Pipeline Insight Osteoporosis"
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