Introduction:
Last Updated 14 July 2010Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is
an important causative pathogen of a wide range of hospital-acquired and
community-acquired infections. Steadily increasing prevalence of infections
caused by MRSA and the decreasing susceptibility of this pathogen to current
antibiotics continue to drive the need for novel therapies. The success of two
agents—Pfizer’s linezolid (Zyvox) and Cubist/Novartis’s daptomycin
(Cubicin)—has demonstrated the commercial potential that can be achieved in
this market and has contributed to continued interest in drug development for
novel MRSA therapies. In fact, research in this area has yielded an active
late-stage pipeline of emerging therapies. We forecast that the continued
uptake of current branded products and potential introduction of up to six new
agents within the next ten years will sustain healthy expansion of the MRSA market—a
high-value segment of the overall antibiotics market.
Questions Answered in This Report:
*
Glycopeptides, especially
vancomycin, are the standard of care for hospital-acquired (HA)-MRSA
infections. Despite the launch and steady uptake of three anti-MRSA
therapies—linezolid, daptomycin, and tigecycline (Pfizer’s Tygacil)—within the
last decade, vancomycin has remained the most widely used antibiotic for MRSA
infections. Over the next ten years, we forecast that as many as six new agents
could enter the MRSA market, further diversifying treatment options and
increasing competition.
How will emerging anti-MRSA agents fare against
vancomycin and other current agents? Can any agent unseat vancomycin as the
patient-share leader? What do experts believe will be the leading MRSA products
in the future and why?
*
Linezolid is the current sales leader in the MRSA market due to
its interchangeable intravenous and oral formulations, premium price, and
increasing usage across the major pharmaceutical markets.
Zyvox’s patent
will expire in 2015 and Pfizer will likely encounter competition from generic
linezolid. To what extent will generic erosion affect sales of this
blockbuster drug in the MRSA market? Will emerging therapies be able to recoup
lost sales of this leading brand?
*
Late-stage drug development
for the treatment of MRSA infections continues to focus on drugs from
established drug classes. Emerging therapies include a second generation
oxazolidinone, a first-in-class MRSA quinolone, two first-in-class MRSA cephalosporins,
and a tetracycline-derived aminomethylcycline. These new MRSA agents are
expected to enter the market within the next seven years.
How receptive are
physicians to these agents and how will they incorporate these novel agents
into their medical practice for the treatment of MRSA infections? To what
extent will these new MRSA therapies replace currently marketed therapies? What
is the commercial potential of these novel agents in the MRSA market?
*
Community-acquired (CA)-MRSA has emerged as a key pathogen in
community-acquired infections in the United States and is expected to become a
significant pathogen in the other major markets.
What are experts’
perceptions regarding the need for novel agents to treat CA-MRSA? How will
CA-MRSA infections impact the overall MRSA market? Which emerging therapies, if
any, will find commercial success in the treatment of CA-MRSA infections?Scope:
Markets covered: United States, France, Germany,
Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan.
Primary research: 28 country-specific interviews with
thought leaders.
Epidemiology: Estimation of the diagnosed events of MRSA
infections segmented by hospital-acquired and community-acquired and type of
infection.
Emerging therapies: Phase II: 4 drugs; Phase III: 1
drug; preregistration: 1 drug;
Market forecast features: Bottom-up, patient-based,
annualized sales forecast for hospital-acquired and community-acquired MRSA
infections treated in the hospital. Market includes drug forecasts by
formulation from 2009 to 2019.