Market Trends of Global Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents Market according to our research experts:
Cancer Application Expected to Dominate the Market Over the Forecast Period
Anemia is observed among the majority of patients undergoing cancer treatment, which is expected to drive this segment's growth over the forecast period. The severity of the disease among patients depends on the type of chemotherapy used, type and stage of neoplasia, and patient characteristics. Severe anemia, particularly among children and the elderly, can lead to fatigue, weakness, and depression, which severely reduce the quality of life for cancer patients.
Besides, anemia impairs the efficacy of cancer therapies. Several research studies and clinical trials have revealed that treating anemia that is associated with various cancers with erythropoietin can improve the clinical outcome of these patients. Erythropoietin acts against two main causes of anemia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, i.e., against myelosuppression and endogenous erythropoietin deficiency. Patients diagnosed with anemia associated with cancer are most likely to be prescribed with erythropoietin in the form of epoetin alfa and epoetin beta. The most prescribed products include Procrit, Epogen, and NeoRecormon.
As per a research article published in the Lancet, 2020, there was no direct co-relation found to state that the cancer patients on cytotoxic chemotherapy or other anticancer treatment possess higher chances of mortality from COVID-19 as compared with those not on active treatment. Hence, COVID-19 is expected to not impact the mortality rate of cancer patients on chemotherapy, which in turn may not impair the segment growth during the pandemic. However, due to the temporary postponement of elective surgeries during COVID-19, cancer treatments are reduced to some extent.
As per Globocan 2020, the incidence of new cancer cases was estimated to be 19,292,789 in 2020, with nearly 9,958,133 deaths due to cancers globally. Additionally, the new cancer incidence is estimated to reach 30.2 million by 2040 as per International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) worldwide. As the rapidly dividing cancer cells consume a large amount of iron for their DNA replication, growth, and metastatic process, cancer patients are always diagnosed with severe anemia. Hence, with the increase in the number of cancer patients and chemotherapy procedures, the erythropoietin stimulating agents market is expected to grow during the forecast period.
North America is Expected to Hold the Largest Market Share over the Forecast Period
The market for erythropoietin stimulating agents in North America is estimated to hold the largest share on account of the high occurrence of various disorders that eventually cause anemia in the region.
According to the American Society of Hematology, 2020, patients receiving active treatment for aplastic anemia may experience immunosuppression, which increases the risk of infection from COVID-19 and associated complications during the pandemic. Additionally, hospitalization of patients for anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) administration for aplastic anemia treatment may be problematic given the lack of bed availability and risk of exposure to COVID-19 patients. Hence, the pandemic situation is expected to impact the treatment procedures for anemia, which in turn affects this regional market's growth.
ESAs have been effectively used in the treatments for various chronic diseases, like chronic kidney disease (CKD), cancer, neural, and HIV infections. Adults with diabetes or high blood pressure are prone to CKD. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC), the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020, 34.2 million people of all ages, accounting for 10.5% of the American population, had diabetes in 2018. Hence with the increasing number of people at high risk for CKD, the market for ESAs is expected to witness substantial growth in this region.
In the North American region, the United States holds the largest market share. According to the GLOBOCON 2020, the new cancer cases diagnosed were 2,281,658 in the United States in 2020, with 612,390 deaths. Among all cancers, breast cancer had the highest incidence rate with 253,465 cases, followed by lung (227,875), prostate (209,512), and colon (101,809), in 2020 in the United States. The high incidence of cancers leads to the demand for ESAs, to minimize anemic conditions in target patients, which in turn is expected to boost the market growth in the region over the forecast period.
