Concerns over Side Effects of ERT Drugs Affect U.S. Market for Hormone Replacement Therapy.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- The market for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs has been growing, but ambiguous information about safety relating to use of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) products has been restricting its popularity among end users.

"Prescribed traditionally to treat symptoms associated with menopause, ERT drugs are now emerging as more of a necessity rather than a choice for many women," explains Frost & Sullivan Senior Analyst Dhiraj Ajmani. "However, this is mitigated by the growing health concerns and publicized data indicating links between oral forms of ERT and breast cancer."

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.healthcare.frost.com), U.S. Market for Hormone Replacement Therapy, reveals that this market generated revenue of $4,113 million in 2004 and is projected to reach $4,845 million in 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. Market for Hormone Replacement Therapy - then send an email to Danielle White - Corporate Communications 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.

Though the risk of breast cancer applies only to oral forms of estrogen, the demand for transdermal patches has also fallen. The low level of awareness among physicians further compounds this setback. Many practitioners have been advising patients to avoid Rx estrogen replacement therapy or to try non-prescription products such as herbal and other remedies.

To overcome this hindrance, participants have increased promotional and educational activity to differentiate transdermal patches from other forms of oral ERT medication. Participants have also focused on educating the public and physicians regarding ERT drugs to overcome this ambiguity.

Most general practitioners are unaware of the potential benefits of hormone therapy. For instance, a large number of doctors prescribe a mood-altering drug rather than testing for underlying factors that may include low levels of thyroid hormones. As a result, demand for thyroid hormone replacement therapy (THRT) products suffers a setback due to physicians not testing patients for low thyroid levels on a regular basis.

"Although the usage and sale of new drugs is growing, the prospective market for these products is considerably larger due to the large numbers of potential patients and latent demand resulting from inappropriate diagnosis and treatment of hormone deficiencies," says Ajmani.

Grass root level campaigns have helped enhance the levels of awareness amongst the public and medical fraternity about thyroid disorders. This has increased not only the number of doctors checking hormone levels but ultimately, the end users.

While lack of awareness challenges ERT and THRT markets, the growth of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) products is challenged by the fact that they require to be injected regularly. This has significantly limited their usage, especially among pediatric patients since children often have trouble complying with the regimen of taking injections on a daily basis.

"Increasingly, the industry is recognizing the need for innovative technologies for administering HGHs that can decrease the need for daily injection," says Ajmani. "For instance, Serono's new product Saizen can be administered with needle-free injection devices, and this has played a major role in enabling the drug to rapidly increase sales since its introduction in 2001."

U.S. Market for Hormone Replacement Therapy, a part of the Pharmaceutical subscription, provides in-depth information on the total HRT market. The analysis also offers information on the competitive landscape, revenue and patient forecasts, market and technology trends, and industry challenges. It provides an overview on the ERT, THRT, and the HGH markets. Interviews are available to the press.

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U.S. Market for Hormone Replacement Therapy A953-52

Keywords in this release: hormone replacement therapy, HRT, estrogen replacement therapy, ERT, transdermal patches, thyroid hormone replacement therapy, THRT, hormone deficiencies, human growth hormone, HGH, research, information, market, trends, technology, service, forecast