Drug Delivery Biopharmaceuticals

 News Release - October 30, 2007

New Therapies Emerging to Challenge Pain Management for Transdermal Patch Growth

Greystone Associates Analyzes Therapeutic Sectors and Growth Prospects

Amherst, NH, Oct 30, 2007--(HSMN NewsFeed)--For more than a decade, transdermal patches have relied on a handful of therapeutic segments that include smoking cessation, hormone replacement and cardiovascular medicine for growth. But the star in the transdermal patch portfolio has been pain management. With $1 billion in 2006 patch sales, fentanyl remains the single largest therapeutic transdermal product area in spite of lower unit pricing compared to previous years due to increased competition from generic patch products. But as transdermal delivery spreads to other therapeutic segments, the pain management patch share of total patch prescriptions is falling.

New patch products for existing and emerging indications are creating opportunities for growth. While formulations for existing drug categories are focused on improving dosing consistency and reducing side effects, recently introduced patch products for indications that include ADHD and OAB are introducing a new patient population segments to transdermal drug delivery. Transdermal methylphenidate patch products, which represented 1% of all transdermal patch prescriptions in 2006 will account for about 20% by 2010.

Demand for transdermal drug delivery will benefit from several converging market forces. The shifting population demographics in developed societies will drive increasing demand for palliative treatments associated with an aging patient base. Continuing efforts to control rising healthcare costs in many western countries will place a greater emphasis on home health care and self-administration of drug therapies for chronic conditions. More information is available at: http://salesandmarketingnetwork.com/reports.php?ID=2225

Source: Greystone Associates

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