Awareness and Understanding of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Key to Promote New Drugs.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 2004

While an estimated 15 percent of the U.S. population suffers from IBS, only a fraction seeks medical help since it is not a life-threatening emergency but rather an inconvenience.

Promoting greater understanding of IBS among patients and physicians is a compelling need to ensure proper treatment of this disorder and evoke interest in newly launched IBS drugs.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.healthcare.frost.com), U.S. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Therapeutics Markets, reveals that revenues in this market totaled $353.7 million in 2003 and is projected to reach $1.03 billion by 2010.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end-users and other industry participants an overview of the latest analysis of the U.S. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Therapeutics Markets -- then send an email to Danielle White -- Healthcare Media Relations Executive at [e-mail] with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number, and email. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you via e-mail.

"Market penetration of novel therapeutics, such as 5-HT modulators, is dependent on removing the social stigma associated with IBS so that patients are more willing to consult doctors and on getting physicians to better manage IBS patients," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Patrick Rajan.

To ensure this, gastroenterological organizations are promoting patient education as part of IBS therapy. Effective, multipronged campaigns targeting both physician and patient, such as direct-to-customer advertising and Web sites can promote greater understanding, proper diagnosis, and improvement in treatment methods.

Diagnosis usually involves a long period during which all possible physical, structural, and infectious abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract are ruled out, and various drugs are tried. This often results in patient discomfort and sub-optimal treatment ultimately leading to patient dropout.

The latest Rome II criteria aim at simplifying diagnosis. However, these are still error-prone since they rely on patient reports rather than physician interpretations. Recreating patient history over the required period of one year from memory is also liable to be subjective and inaccurate.

A vague understanding of the cause of IBS and contradictory symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation in different patients adds to the already complicated diagnosing standards. They also impede research and development of new drugs.

"Pharma companies need to have a greater understanding of IBS etiology and pathophysiology to address the complexities involved in diagnosis and treatment," says Rajan. "Greater interaction with external academic researchers is likely to assist them in overcoming such challenges and eventually lead to the development of more efficient drugs."

The challenge for pharmaceutical companies that manufacture IBS drugs lies in encouraging market penetration, which is significantly lower than prevalence rates. This is likely to guarantee future market expansion.

The U.S. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Therapeutics Markets, part of the Pharmaceuticals Monitor Service subscription, examines the following product segments: anticholinergics, antidiarrheals, laxatives, antidepressants, and 5-HT modulators. The key drivers and restraints are analyzed along with challenges faced by this market's participants and strategies are provided to overcome them. Interviews are available to the press

Frost & Sullivan, an international growth consultancy, has been supporting clients' expansion for more than four decades. Our market expertise covers a broad spectrum of industries, while our portfolio of advisory competencies includes custom strategic consulting, market intelligence, and management training. Our mission is to forge partnerships with our clients' management teams to deliver market insights and to create value and drive growth through innovative approaches. Frost & Sullivan's network of consultants, industry experts, corporate trainers, and support staff spans the globe with offices in every major country around the world.

U.S. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Therapeutics Markets

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The following is a key list of industry participants: Alizyme, Amarin Corp., Axcan Pharma Inc., Bradley Pharmaceuticals Inc., First Horizon, GlaxoSmithKline, InKine Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Schwarz Pharma AG, Solvay S.A., Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl.

Keywords in this release: irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, U.S., gastroenterology, gastrointestinal tract, Rome II criteria