Introduction:
Last Updated 23 June 2010Ovarian cancer (CaO) is the leading cause of gynecological
cancer-related death in the Western world. This poor prognosis can be largely
attributed to the failure of screening strategies to detect CaO in the early
stages of disease. In 2008, almost 60,000 incident CaO cases were diagnosed
throughout the major markets under study (United States, France, Germany,
Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, and Japan), three-quarters of which were
diagnosed with advanced (stage II-IV) disease. Currently available
chemotherapeutic agents have little impact on improving the prognosis of
patients with advanced CaO. This unmet need reflects a considerable opportunity
for drug developers, particularly for those who seek to advance targeted
therapies. Although experts remain pessimistic about the development of an
effective screening program for CaO, they are hopeful about the potential of
late-stage emerging therapies. Growth in the CaO market over our forecast
period will stem from the entrance of premium-priced treatments to the market
and a growing incident population.
Questions Answered in This Report:
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Although paclitaxel/carboplatin regimens will remain the
cornerstone of CaO treatment, the market landscape is set to change strikingly
following the approval of three emerging therapies.
Will physicians use
these novel agents in combination with current chemotherapies, in place of
them, or as follow-on maintenance therapy? For which patient subpopulations
will medical practice trends change most significantly: early or advanced
stage? First line or subsequent line? Platinum-sensitive, platinum-resistant,
or platinum-refractory: specific histological or genetic subtypes?
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Because of the significant need for new treatment options, CaO
is becoming increasingly commercially attractive to developers. However,
research and development in CaO is hampered by the disease’s relatively small
incidence population and heterogeneous nature.
What other development
hurdles face drug developers in CaO? What are the other key therapeutic and
clinical trial design hurdles? What do clinicians view as the most important
clinical trial end points for determining the benefit of emerging drugs?
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Bevacizumab (Roche/Genentech/Chugai Pharmaceutical’s Avastin)
will be the first anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy to
enter the CaO market. Numerous other angiogenesis inhibitors are in development
for CaO, with pazopanib (GlaxoSmithKline’s Votrient/Patorma) among the most
promising of these agents.
What do experts think about the potential of this
class of drugs? How will a new VEGF inhibitor be used? Will any VEGF inhibitors
be approved for the treatment of CaO patients in the maintenance setting? How
will the launch of other emerging therapies affect sales of bevacizumab?
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Polyadenosine 5’-diphosphoribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors
are among the numerous emerging therapies being explored for CaO. Several PARP
inhibitors
are in development in CaO, the most advanced of which is
AstraZeneca’s olaparib.
What do PARP inhibitors offer in terms of efficacy
and safety? How do key opinion leaders perceive these drugs? What is the commercial
potential of PARP inhibitors in the CaO market? Which patients will be eligible
for treatment with this class of agent?
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To date, no therapeutic vaccines have been launched in any of
the major oncology markets, but several drug developers seek to harness the
commercial potential of an effective CaO vaccine. The Menarini Group’s
abagovomab is in Phase III development for CaO.
In light of past failures,
including the discontinuation of ViRexx Medical’s OvaRex (oregovomab), how do
thought leaders view the potential of vaccines in the CaO market? Will such
therapies launch for CaO during the 2008-2018 study period?
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Decision Resources estimates that the CaO market will more than
triple in size over the course of our ten-year forecast period.
What are the
major drivers of market growth? What commercial challenges and opportunities
remain for companies seeking to enter the CaO market?Scope:
Markets covered: United
States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Japan.
Primary research: 16 country-specific interviews
with CaO thought leaders.
Epidemiology: Incidence and prevalence of CaO by stage
(I, II, III, and IV).
Population segments in market forecast:
– Early-stage first-line.
– Advanced-stage first-line.
– Second-line platinum-sensitive.
– Second-line platinum-resistant.
– Third-line.
– Fourth- and subsequent-lines.
Emerging therapies: Phase III: 11 drugs. Phase II: 14
drugs.
Market forecast features: Using a proprietary
patient-flow model incorporating mortality, we forecast population sizes and
drug sales for all patient segments through 2018.