AORTIC STENOSIS MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Challenges And Opportunities

• Aging Population: Aortic stenosis is more common among elderly individuals. With the global population aging, there is an increased prevalence of the condition, leading to a higher demand for treatment options. For instance, according to data published in January 2023, the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050. The number of people aged 80 years or older is growing even faster.
• Technological Advancements: Advances in medical technology, such as minimally invasive procedures, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and other innovative treatment techniques, have expanded the treatment options available to patients. These advancements drive the growth of the aortic stenosis market.
• Increasing Awareness: Awareness campaigns and educational initiatives by healthcare organizations and advocacy groups help in early detection and diagnosis of aortic stenosis. Improved awareness results in earlier treatment and better patient outcomes.
• Rising Healthcare Expenditure: As economies grow, healthcare spending tends to increase. This enables better access to advanced treatments and therapies for aortic stenosis patients.

• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Expansion: TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat aortic stenosis. As the technology and procedural techniques continue to advance, there is an opportunity for TAVR to become the preferred treatment option over traditional open-heart surgery. Expansion of TAVR to a broader patient population, including low-risk patients, can significantly increase its market potential.
• Increasing Research and Development Activities: Increasing research and development efforts may lead to the discovery of new treatment approaches for aortic stenosis. For instance, in March 2022, Cardiawave SA, a deeptech medical device company that has developed VALVOSOFT a revolutionary non-invasive medical device to treat aortic stenosis, the most prevalent heart valve disease in adults, announced the success of its First-In-Human I (FIH I) safety and feasibility clinical trial.
• Development of Bio-Prosthetic Heart Valves: The development of bio-prosthetic heart valves is a major innovation that can drive significant growth in the Aortic stenosis market. Current surgical options for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis include mechanical heart valves or tissue valves derived from animal tissues. However, mechanical valves require lifelong blood thinning medications which can cause bleeding risks, and tissue valves have durability issues as they wear out over time. Bio-prosthetic heart valves address some of the key limitations of existing valve replacement options. These novel valves are engineered from biomaterials to mimic the natural human tissue valve more closely while also being more durable than current tissue valves. Some bio-prosthetic valves in development are designed for viability exceeding 20 years, removing the reoperation risk that plagued previous generation tissue valves.

• High Cost of Treatment: The high costs associated with valve replacement surgeries pose a significant restraint on the growth of the aortic stenosis market. Aortic stenosis surgery is an invasive and complex procedure that depends heavily on advanced medical technologies and highly skilled surgeons. The average cost of surgical aortic valve replacement in the U.S. ranges from US$ 150,000 to US$ 250,000 based on the hospital and location. For many patients and health insurance providers, these costs make valve replacement prohibitive.
• Availability and Awareness Barriers: In certain regions or healthcare settings, access to advanced treatments for aortic stenosis may be limited due to a lack of specialized facilities, skilled healthcare professionals, or patient awareness about available treatment options.
• Post-Surgery Complications: One of the major factors restraining the growth of Global Aortic Stenosis Market is the risk of post-surgery complications associated with the treatment procedures. The risk of complications has also increased the focus on developing minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. While TAVR reduces the risks associated with open-heart surgery, it also comes with its own set of risks such as paravalvular leak, pacemaker implantation, stroke, and bleeding.