Introduction:
China has one of the most
rapidly growing pharmaceutical markets in the world and a vast, swiftly
expanding prevalent population of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The RA
market in China is entering a new era, driven by the introduction
of
biological agents into a market formerly dominated by palliative agents, such
as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids, and by
conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). High-priced
biologics will contribute significantly to market growth, even though
relatively few patients will benefit from them. In addition, our primary
research with Chinese thought leaders and rheumatologists suggests that the
diagnosed and drug-treated population will increase in the next five years.
Consequently, the Chinese RA market will experience dramatic growth from 2008 to 2013, and sales of RA drugs will more than
double—from $138 million in 2008 to $385 million in 2013.
Questions Answered in This Report:
*
China is the most populous country in the world, with more than
1.3 billion residents in 2008. As a result of urbanization and the aging
population, China has a large prevalent RA population.
How will the
prevalence of RA in China change between 2008 and 2018? What impact will
increased public awareness of RA have on future diagnosis and drug-treatment
rates in urban and rural regions of China?
*
Like the prescribing
patterns of U.S. and European physicians, the prescribing patterns of Chinese
physicians are most influenced by a drug’s efficacy and safety profiles.
What
other factors drive Chinese physicians’ prescribing habits? How do physicians
choose between a Western branded drug and a Chinese-manufactured equivalent for
the treatment of RA?
*
The Chinese RA market is growing rapidly, boasting strong,
annual, double-digit growth in sales for all drug classes. Our Chinese RA
market analysis includes a comprehensive breakdown of the 2008 base year and a
forecast of patient share and sales in 2013.
Which agents, current and
emerging, will be the key drivers of market growth during the forecast period?
How are Western branded drugs expected to fare against Chinese competitors
during the forecast period? Which drugs will dominate the market in 2013?Scope:
Market covered: China
Primary research: 90 physician surveys in Beijing,
Shanghai, and Guangzhou; separate, in-depth interviews with 6 medical experts.
Epidemiology: Prevalence of RA in urban and rural China;
ten-year epidemiology forecast, 2008-2018.
Market forecast features: Our analysis includes a
detailed breakdown of agents by class and molecule. A detailed forecast
describes market drivers and constraints by drug class and leading brands
during the period 2008-2013, using a combination of historical trend analysis
and an epidemiology-based, bottom-up market model.