Abstract
The incidence of multiple sclerosis varies throughout the world, although
there is a significantly higher incidence of the disease found in the Northern
Hemisphere. Find out more in this chapter of CNS Drug Discoveries.
It is estimated that over 350,000 Americans (approximately 1 in 1,000 aged
over 30 years) live with multiple sclerosis (MS) and approximately 3 million
live with it worldwide. However, the prevalence may be higher because of the
uncertainty in diagnosing the condition. Women are twice as susceptible as men
and it is more common in people in northern latitudes over the age of 18
years. In addition, siblings of an individual with multiple sclerosis have a
higher chance of developing the disease.
The incidence of multiple sclerosis varies throughout the world, although
there is a significantly higher incidence of the disease found in the northern
hemisphere. Multiple sclerosis is the most common cause of neurological
disability in young adults in the UK. It is variable in presentation and
progression. Although there is no cure, there are many symptomatic treatments
available. However, many patients do not respond to currently available
products (30%) and the more chronic forms (secondary-progressive MS) are
poorly treated with existing therapies.
Global multiple sclerosis market
The MS market is estimated to be worth US$4.9 billion in 2006 with a growth
rate of 8.9% year-on-year. It is the fifth largest segment of the CNS market
and has attracted considerable R&D investment from big pharma, biotechnology
companies and specialty pharma. The market is currently driven by the use of
six disease-modifying agents: Avonex (Biogen Idec), Betaseron/Betaferon
(Schering AG), Copaxone (Teva), Novatrone (Schering AG), Rebif (Serono/Pfizer)
and Tysabri (Biogen Idec/Elan).
Sales growth will be driven by current drugs gaining broader indications, MS
medicine being prescribed earlier in treatment in clinically-defined multiple
sclerosis patients and the longer-term use of combination therapies as more
classes of drug become available.
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