Market Trends of Gastrointestinal Therapeutics Industry
Crohn's Disease Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
Crohn's disease, a chronic immune-mediated disorder, remains a significant challenge for both patients and healthcare providers, with its hallmark inflammation primarily affecting the digestive tract. In the medical management of Crohn's disease, various drugs are used to induce and maintain remission. For instance, infliximab and adalimumab are used to target proteins to decrease inflammation in the intestines.
The growing burden of Crohn’s disease across the world is expected to create the demand for effective treatment, thereby boosting the segment growth. For instance, according to an article published in MedLine.Gov in January 2023, Crohn's disease is most common in Western Europe and North America, where it has a prevalence of 100 to 300 per 100,000 people. More than half a million Americans are currently affected by this disorder. Crohn's disease occurs more often in people of northern European ancestry and those of eastern and central European (Ashkenazi) Jewish descent than among people of other ethnic backgrounds. For reasons that are not clear, the prevalence of Crohn's disease has been increasing in the United States and some other parts of the world. Thus, the rising new and emerging treatments are expected to increase the availability of effective and safe drugs in the market, boosting segment growth.
Furthermore, the increasing drug approval by regulatory bodies is expected to increase the availability of novel therapeutics for treating Crohn’s disease patients. It is anticipated to fuel the market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in October 2023, Eli Lilly and Company revealed positive results from its Phase 3 study evaluating minkizumab, an investigational interleukin-23p19 antagonist, for treating adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. The study, known as VIVID-1, demonstrated that minkizumab met both co-primary and major secondary endpoints compared to placebo, underscoring its potential as a promising therapeutic agent for this patient population. Crohn's disease, characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss, can lead to serious complications, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatments like minkizumab.
Therefore, owing to the factors above, such as the growing burden of Crohn's Disease and product approvals, the studied segment is expected to grow over the forecast period.
North America is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Over the Forecast Period
North America is expected to hold a significant market share over the forecast period owing to factors such as the increasing burden of gastrointestinal diseases, rising product launches, and growing company initiatives.
The increasing burden of gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and others among the population is the key factor driving the market growth. For instance, in December 2023, an article from US Pharm highlighted that approximately 1.6 million individuals in the United States are afflicted with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions are characterized by gastrointestinal tract inflammation and may manifest symptoms, including persistent diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and hematochezia.
Additionally, an article released by NBC Universal in February 2023 underscored the prevalence of Norovirus, also known as Norovirus or stomach flu, which accounted for 19 to 21 million incidents of vomiting and diarrhea in the United States during the year 2023. This resulted in 465,000 emergency room admissions and 109,000 hospitalizations. Notably, during the winter season in 2023, there was a notable increase in cases and outbreaks, peaking in March 2023, with elevated norovirus activity persisting well into late spring.
Furthermore, the rising government funding for gastrointestinal diseases research and development is expected to increase the company's focus on developing novel treatment drugs, propelling market growth. For instance, according to the data published by NIH, in May 2022, the government-funded an estimated USD 352 million for the research and development of colorectal cancer disease in the United States in 2022, compared to USD 335 million in 2021. In addition, as per the same source, an estimated USD 92 million was funded by the government for research and development of Crohn's disease in 2022, compared to USD 88 million in 2021.
Moreover, the rising drug launches and approvals in the region and an increasing company focus on adopting key strategies such as collaboration, partnerships, and others are also contributing to the market growth. For instance, in October 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved mirikizumab, a novel and highly efficacious therapy, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), presenting a promising therapeutic avenue for individuals grappling with this chronic and incapacitating inflammatory bowel ailment. Similarly, in August 2023, an international phase 3 clinical trial conducted in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian revealed that zolbetuximab, a newly developed targeted intervention, when administered alongside conventional chemotherapy, prolonged survival rates among patients afflicted with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer, demonstrating overexpression of a specific biomarker.
Therefore, owing to factors such as an increase in GI drug launches, high prevalence of GI diseases, rise in funding, and other strategic activities by the key players, the studied segment is expected to grow over the forecast period.