Alzheimer’s Disease Therapeutics & Diagnostics Market: Drug Development Trends

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurological condition leading to the death of brain cells and causing cognitive decline and memory loss. While the global market is racing to find an optimum cure for Alzheimer’s disease, many pipeline drugs like Razadyne, Exelon, and Aricept show significant potential, which is expected to positively affect the global Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics & diagnostics market growth. As per the Inkwood Research, the market, valued at 6840.31 million in 2021, is set to surge with a 6.61% CAGR during the forecast period, 2022-2030. Moreover, the increasing demand for drugs is attributed to the surging geriatric population.

Scientists continue to unravel the progression of the disease and complex changes in the brain involved with its onset using various diagnostics, including biomarkers. The biomarkers help test bodily fluids like blood or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging scans like PET and MRI. Various private firms and governments worldwide are investing heavily in researching and developing biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Alzheimer’s Disease Drugs Development: Evolving Modern Drugs

According to a 2021 report by Alzheimer’s Association, 82.5% of the drug trials globally target the underlying biological causes of AD for disease modification. Modern marketed generic drugs like cholinesterase inhibitors and acetylcholinesterase aim to increase communication between the nerve cells and prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine to diminish AD symptoms. Even though the growth rate of generic ingredients is considerably high worldwide, the branded segment continues to hold the highest market share with respect to revenue. The branded therapeutics segment is expected to generate $7565.59 million during the forecast period, 2022-2030.

Further, various branded market drugs like Namenda XR, which scientists claim to have the potential to cure AD, are getting approval in the United States, Canada, and other North American countries. As per Inkwood Research, the North America Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics and diagnostics market by marketed therapeutics is predicted to hold the highest market share of 34.72% by 2030.

The market growth is accredited to the government’s initiatives to find an optimum drug to cure Alzheimer’s disease. In 2021, it affected approximately 5.8 million people in the United States, as per Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Approvals: The Progress So Far

Although the number of people with AD is estimated to sharply increase in the next few years, only a few drug approvals have taken place over a decade. Besides, the added value of these drugs is questionable in the clinical setting as many physicians prescribe the generic versions. Moreover, the Alzheimer’s disease market for drugs had been described as a graveyard in the past, with a significantly high failure rate.

However, the competition to develop disease-modifying drugs for AD among the market players is fierce. The pipeline of AD drugs consists of many novel diagnostic technologies like sFIDA (surface-based fluorescence intensity distribution analysis), making it a dynamic market undergoing rapid changes. Given the advancing diagnostic capabilities, growing public awareness, and global aging population, there is strong sales potential in the market, which drive pharmaceutical manufacturers to pursue finding new therapeutics & diagnostics for AD.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accelerated the approval of Aduhelm (aducanumab) in June 2021. Aduhelm, one of the key drugs from Biogen Inc, claimed to significantly reduce amyloid-beta plaque in the brain, which is a hallmark of AD. On the other hand, Biogen’s competitor, Eisai, formed a strategic alliance with BioArctic, to develop Lecanemab, an investigational monoclonal antibody for AD. Additionally, in October 2020, the Alzheimer’s Association funded ImmunoBrain Checkpoint Inc with $1 million to aid IBC-Ab002’s Phase 1 clinical trial, which is expected to accelerate its launch and boost the Alzheimer’s drugs market growth.

Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment: Precision Medicine to offer Respite?

Many medicines are continually being tested in clinical studies to treat Alzheimer’s disease. However, personalized or precision therapies seem to be the discernible cure at this point, while various other drugs are under scrutiny and await approval. The concept of precision medicine in clinical approaches has been introduced in contrast to the one size fits all approach to optimize the effectiveness of disease prevention and minimize side effects for a person who is less likely to respond to a particular therapeutic.

Precision drugs consider the individual’s phenotypic & psychosocial characteristics, biomarkers, and specific genetics, allowing a more accurate diagnosis and more effective disease prevention and treatment strategies personalized to the individual. An integral part of the modern approach to Alzheimer’s drugs, precision medicines are expected to create lucrative prospects for the global Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics & diagnostics market.

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