March 3, 2018

Healthcare: In 2016, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) sales were expected to be $19.1 billion across the seven major markets (7MM*) in 2016. This continues to grow to $25.3 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 2.9%. Multiple Sclerosis’ states that this growth will be driven by an increase in treatment rates and the introduction of numerous pipeline products offsetting the generic erosion of key brands.

The market has been dominated by four players – Biogen, Merck Serono, Teva, and Bayer HealthCare – through the commercialization of their first-line injectable DMTs. The current MS market is becoming increasingly competitive, with a large number of drugs that offer relatively good safety but only moderate efficacy.

Reliance on these platforms injectable is expected to wane over the forecast period due to the continued uptake of oral DMTs and efficacious pipeline products.  “Various R&D and corporate strategies have been employed by players in order to compete effectively in the increasingly competitive MS market. The research further identifies 17 late-stage drug products that are anticipated to enter the MS market during the 10-year forecast period and collectively, these pipeline products are anticipated to claim a 29.6% share of the global MS market by 2026, generating combined sales of $7.5 billion.

These strategies include the development of products that target key clinical unmet needs or progressive types of MS, thereby expanding the coverage of marketed products, as well as strategic partnerships between companies. Despite the increasingly competitive nature of the MS market, lucrative opportunities remain for products that target unmet needs.

Targeting progressive MS will be an ongoing opportunity, as competition for market share in this segment.