FLUOROURACIL (5FU) MARKET ANALYSIS

Fluorouracil is an antimetabolite and pyrimidine chemical compound which is effectively used in treatment of cancer throughout the world. According to the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines, fluorouracil is the most effective and safest drug for treatment of cancer. Fluorouracil is given systemically for treating anal, breast, stomach, and pancreatic cancers and administered topically in the treatment of Bowen’s disease and skin cancer. According to the International Medicinal Product Price Guide, the wholesale cost of fluorouracil in developing countries is between US$ 1.18 to US$ 3.40 per 500 mg vial.

Global Fluorouracil (5FU) Market – Drivers

The rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer is major burden. Fluorouracil is the most potent and effective first line drug treatment for cancer. Thus pharmaceutical companies are investing in research and development activities which is expected to support growth of this market. For instance, in 2016, Shire plc announced that the European Commission has granted approval to ONIVYDE for treatment of metastatic adenocarcinoma of pancreas in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in treatment of adults. Moreover, in 2019, Accord Healthcare announced that they have launched a fluorouracil injection in Australia. These factors are expected to drive the global fluorouracil market growth.

Global Fluorouracil (5FU) Market – Impact of COVID-19

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019, the disease has spread throughout the world and hampered growth of several markets across the globe. The growth of the global fluorouracil market is expected to get hampered, According to National Cancer Institute United States, some cancer treatment such as chemotherapy can lower immune system in cancer patient and may increase risk of COVID-19 in cancer patients. Whereas fluorouracil is first line chemotherapy drug used for treatment of cancer patients. Thus may increase risk for cancer patient of getting infected by COVID-19. Nationwide lockdown in several countries across the globe has led to a reduction in production capacity of pharmaceutical companies due to less manpower. Moreover, the pandemic has directly affected production and demand of products across the global market. Moreover, it has also disrupted the supply chain in the market as a result of lockdowns across the globe.

Global Fluorouracil (5FU) Market – Restraints

Side effects of 5-Fluorouracil include gastrointestinal dysfunction and enteric neurotoxicity in majority of the patients. Moreover, high cost of drugs for treatment of skin cancer is also restraining the market growth. For instance, the cost of 5–fluorouracil topical cream 0.5 is around US$ 1,253 for 30 gm in the U.S. These factors are expected to restrain the global fluorouracil market growth.

Global Fluorouracil (5FU) Market – Regional Analysis

On the basis of region, the global fluorouracil market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. In North America, the burden of cancer and uncommunicable disease is on the rise since the last decade. For instance, according to NIH-National Cancer Institute, in 2018 was estimated that 1,735,350 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in United States. Various initiatives have been taken by governments as well as non-government organizations. For instance, Pan America Health Organization (PAHO) is working in North America to reduce premature deaths caused by cancer to 25% by 2030. Moreover, there has been an increase in research and development in the past decade. For instance, in 2016, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center completed its study on Gemcitabine, Infusional 5–Fluorouracil and Cisplatin for Advanced Pancreatic and Biliary Cancers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2012 cancer accounts for more than 3.7 million new cases and 1.9 million deaths each year in Europe, and therefore cancer is the second leading cause of deaths and morbidity in Europe. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies are focusing on research and development of newer conjugate therapies using fluorouracil. In 2019, at the World Conference on Lung Cancer, Ipsen a pharmaceutical company in France, develops medicines in oncology and rare disease and Servier an international pharmaceutical company in France, announced safety and efficiency data from phase 2 and Resilient study of ONIVYDE in patients with lung cancer, which led the U.S. Food Drug Administration and European Medicine agency to approve ONIVYDE in combination with fluorouracil/leucovorin for treating pancreatic cancer.

Global Fluorouracil (5FU) Market – Competitive analysis

Key players operating in global fluorouracil (5FU) market are Nantong Haier’s Pharmaceutical co. ltd, Jinghua Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, DCS Pharma AG, Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Dabur Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Taj Pharmaceuticals Limited, and Dolder Ltd.

Key Developments–

1. In June 2020, the U.S. Food Drug and Administration approved Keytruda (Merck) with fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin as a first line drug treatment for colorectal cancer.
2. In 2016, the University of Health, Toronto, completed its clinical trial of Abraxane and Cisplatin and 5–fluorouracil as inductory chemotherapy treatment in head and neck cancer.

Global Fluorouracil (5FU) Market – Taxonomy

• By Product Type –
  • Injectable
  • Capsules
  • Tablets
• By Route of Administration –
  • Parental
  • Oral
  • Others
• By Indication –
  • Colon and Rectal Cancer
  • Anal Cancer
  • Breast Cancer
  • Gastro-intestinal Cancer
  • Head and Neck Cancer
  • Thymic Cancer
  • Others
• By Region –
  • North America
  • Latent America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Middle East
  • Africa