Market Challenges And Opportunities

However, lack of photopheresis treatment centers, high cost and product recalls involved in the therapy may restrain the growth of photopheresis products market. For instance, according to report published by American Society of Hematology in 2017, the number of chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) patients increased from 16 in 2009 to 100 in 2016 and ECP use increased from 31.3% in 2009 to 54% in 2016 in the U.S. The total annual cost per patient was US$ 190,148 including US$ 4619 for emergency room visits, and US$ 176,856 for hospitalization during follow up period.

Moreover, on April 5, 2016, photopheresis product, THERAKOS CELLEX, was recalled by the manufacturer Mallinckrodt (Therakos) because the post-marketing monitoring process detected an increasing trend in tubing leaks within the pump tubing organizer.

Photopheresis Products Market Drivers

Rise in prevalence of autoimmune diseases and increase in number of organ transplant cases is expected to lead to growth of the photopheresis products market. Increasing reimbursement policies by governments also expect to boost the photopheresis product market. For instance, in August 2016, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that Switzerland’s Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) approved the reimbursement of ECP treatment for patients in Switzerland.

Furthermore, business strategies such as collaborations by key players in the photopheresis field, helps to improve the understanding of photopheresis’ effect on immune modulations across several severe and critical conditions. For instance, on February 2019, Mallinckrodt plc. announced the research collaboration agreement with Transimmune AG, a company developing novel immunotherapies, for the development of the activation of antigen presenting cells. Both companies intend to explore the next generation Mallinckodt photopheresis system.