New Therapies to Spur Growth of the Acute Myeloid Leukemia Market, but Breakthrough Drug Still Awaited

Driven by a boost in new therapies entering the market, as well as an increasing number of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) cases among elderly patients, the AML market will grow significantly between 2012 and 2017, although lackluster results from clinical studies and cost-consciousness may continue to plague drug development, predicts research and consulting firm GlobalData.

According to the company’s new report*, revenue for the AML  market across the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK will increase from $151 million in 2012 to $430.7 million in 2017, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23.3%.

In 2012, the majority of the AML therapies sales were generated in the US, which enjoyed a market share of $108.8 million, while sales in the 5EU countries were estimated to be approximately $42 million. By 2017, the AML market in the US and the 5EU countries is expected to reach $324.4 million and $106.3 million in sales, respectively.

The increase in the AML market size, particularly in the US, will be primarily due to the launch of new therapies for patients with high unmet needs, states the report. Such therapies include Sunesis’ vosaroxin for relapsed and refractory AML, Novartis’ midostaurin for patients with FLT3 mutations and Cyclacel’s sapacitabine for newly-diagnosed elderly patients.

Cheryl S. Gradziel, PhD, GlobalData’s Analyst covering Oncology, says: “Although AML is a rare disease, the high levels of unmet needs create ample opportunities for players with effective therapies. However, drug development in this area has been very challenging, as products have shown promise in the early phase, but failed in larger, randomized studies. Further barriers to the discovery of effective therapies have also included a general lack of understanding of the biology that drives the disease.”

According to the report, other limitations for the development of new therapies include the pressure for cost-consciousness, which will restrict the reimbursement of new market entrants, and the lack of breakthrough efficacy of pipeline drugs, which has failed to impress clinicians.

*OpportunityAnalyzer: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) - Opportunity Analysis and Forecasts to 2017