Aggressive R & D Enhances New Compounds and Treatments.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 1996--The anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical's market is projected to reach approximately $6.94 billion with an increase of 6.7 percent, and accounts for eight percent of total pharmaceutical sales, says a current report from the market research firm Frost & Sullivan, U.S. PRESCRIPTION ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PHARMACEUTICALS MARKET.

Anti-inflammatories are used for relief of symptoms of inflammation but do not cure the underlying cause. There are approximately 80 million diseases and conditions that are treated with anti-inflammatories.

One of the most significant trends within the anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals is the growth of the generic market. A number of high-volume pharmaceuticals that will soon lose patent protection within the forecast period either are or will be available for generic development. Those products include: Voltaren, manufactured by Ciby-Geigy, Lodin by Wyeth Ayerst, Naprosyn and Anaprox, manufactured by Syntex, and Ansaid, Manufactured by Upjohn.

To counteract the loss of revenues at patent expiration manufacturers are introducing over-the-counter products. Product manufacturers stand to lose more than two-thirds of the sales volume to generic versions after patent expiration.

To deal with this issue, companies are introducing their own generic versions before, or shortly after, the product loses patent protection. Other companies have opted for introducing OTC versions of their products, which opens a significant new source of revenues. Mary Anne Crandall, a medical industry analyst with Frost & Sullivan, said that the most significant advances are rooted in the new product advances in inflammation management. "The new technologies could generate $300 to $600 million a year if they perform in line with expectations," she said, "it is expected that the new technologies will likely account for roughly 20 percent of total annual sales."

The prescription anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical markets enjoy tremendous revenue potential. A direct impact on the anti- inflammatory market is new technologies in development, such as research and development for new products, because they act to modulate or cure the problem not simply relieve the symptoms.

Frost & Sullivan is an international market research and consulting firm. All Frost & Sullivan reports are based on extensive interviews with marketing and technical experts from selected companies in each market segment. Primary research is validated by thorough analysis of available secondary research. Frost & Sullivan is the leading publisher of research reports worldwide medical market.

Report: 5027-52 Publication Date: January 1995

Price: $2495

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