Anti-Obesity Drug Manufacturers Focus on Long-Term Therapy.Business Editors &Health/Medical Writers 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 according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. new strategic research conducted by Frost &Sullivan ( www.frost.com ), &uot;U.S. Anti-Obesity Prescription Drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, Markets,&uot; 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. &uot;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 coronary heart disease: see coronary artery disease. coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease Progressive reduction of blood supply to the heart muscle due to narrowing or blocking of a coronary artery (see atherosclerosis). , hypertension, diabetes), assist in the maintenance of weight loss, and be safe for long-term treatment,&uot; says Paul Woo, Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Analyst for the healthcare group at Frost &Sullivan. &uot;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.&uot; Functional genomics Noun 1. functional genomics - the branch of genomics that determines the biological function of the genes and their products genomics - the branch of genetics that studies organisms in terms of their genomes (their full DNA sequences) research programs have yielded valuable information about genes, disease pathways and drug targets. Yet in the anti-obesity market, current drugs are only palliative. &uot;A drug that provides an improved efficacy profile or that targets defined populations would be a certain best-seller,&uot; states Woo. &uot;Extensive clinical trials are necessary to inspect more closely the safety of the drugs in long-term therapy.&uot; Market participants are focusing R& efforts on genomics studies that will identify genes implicated im·pli·cate tr.v. im·pli·cat·ed, im·pli·cat·ing, im·pli·cates 1. To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly: evidence that implicates others in the plot. 2. in obesity. These genes can then serve as potential targets for drug development. One significant step has been the elucidation of the leptin Leptin A protein hormone that affects feeding behavior and hunger in humans. At present it is thought that obesity in humans may result in part from insensitivity to leptin. signaling pathway which controls appetite via the hypothalamus hypothalamus (hī'pəthăl`əməs), an important supervisory center in the brain, rich in ganglia, nerve fibers, and synaptic connections. It is composed of several sections called nuclei, each of which controls a specific function. . Manufacturers are directing their energies to characterizing gene pathways involved in lipid biosynthesis Biosynthesis The synthesis of more complex molecules from simpler ones in cells by a series of reactions mediated by enzymes. The overall economy and survival of the cell is governed by the interplay between the energy gained from the breakdown of compounds and energy homeostasis homeostasis Any self-regulating process by which a biological or mechanical system maintains stability while adjusting to changing conditions. Systems in dynamic equilibrium reach a balance in which internal change continuously compensates for external change in a feedback . 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. &uot;U.S. Anti-Obesity Prescription Drug Markets&uot; provides a comprehensive review of major pharmaceutical research programs in the obesity field. Forecasts of future market revenues, product pricing and unit sales unit sales Sales measured in terms of physical units rather than dollars. Unit sales data are often used by financial analysts when evaluating the health of a company. 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 Noun 1. market penetration - the extent to which a product is recognized and bought by customers in a particular market penetration - the act of entering into or through something; "the penetration of upper management by women" in the area of obesity. Hoffmann-La Roche has also garnered the 1999 Market Engineering Product Differentiation Product Differentiation A source of competitive advantage that depends on producing some item that is regarded to have unique and valuable characteristics. Award. In a market previously dominated by CNS See Continuous net settlement. CNS See continuous net settlement (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 Latin, therefore; hence; because. ergo (air-go) conj. Latin for therefore, often used in legal writings. Its most famous use was in "Cogito, ergo sum:" "I think, therefore I am" principle by French philosopher Rene Descartes (1596-1650). 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 KARO Kane Amateur Radio Operators (Kane, PA) 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 pharmacopeia /phar·ma·co·pe·ia/ (-ko-pe´ah) an authoritative treatise on drugs and their preparations. See also USP. pharmacopei´al United States Pharmacopeia see under U. 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 synaptic /syn·ap·tic/ (si-nap´tik) 1. pertaining to or affecting a synapse. 2. pertaining to synapsis. syn·ap·tic adj. Of or relating to synapsis or a synapse. 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 &uot;Pharmaceuticals Custom Subscription,&uot; and is utilized to support market participants with customized consulting solutions. Free executive summaries are available to the press through our media relations department. &uot;U.S. Anti-Obesity Prescription Drug Market&uot; Report: 5785-52 Date: February 2000 Price: $3,450 |
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