Alzheimer’s disease treatment market to more than double by 2021, says GBI Research

The Alzheimer’s disease treatment market will more than double from just under $5 billion in 2014 to an estimated $10.4 billion in 2021, according to business intelligence provider GBI Research.

The company’s latest report states that such impressive growth, which will occur across the eight major markets of the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan, will be primarily driven by increased disease prevalence during the forecast period.

Yasser Mushtaq, Senior Analyst for GBI Research, says Alzheimer’s disease is significantly more common in the older population and incidence rates increase rapidly after the age of 65.

Mushtaq comments: “The fact that people are living longer across the globe means more cases of the disease are developing, and this has posed a growing public health crisis, which represents a very serious disease burden for patients and carers alike.

“Despite the urgent need to develop more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, thorough research is being carried out into understanding the disease, as its underlying pathology remains unknown.

“However, these extensive studies have helped to develop the research and development process within this indication, providing hope for the future of Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics.”

Pipeline innovation will help drive market growth

GBI Research also states that although disease prevalence will be the strongest driver of market growth, innovation in the pipeline will also be a factor.

Mushtaq explains: “While many of the later-stage therapies focus on common targets, the earlier stages of the pipeline do not appear to follow this trend, as they contain many first-in-class molecules with novel molecular targets within the context of Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics.

“The primary new approvals for drugs that will drive growth during the forecast period will supplement current market leaders and offer greater therapeutic options. Promising examples include verubecestat, aducanumab and azeliragon, all of which have demonstrated clinical benefit and will be approved during the forecast period.”