PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS MARKET ANALYSIS

The expiration of patents on major drugs can hamper the global proton pump inhibitors market growth. When blockbuster drugs lose their patent exclusivity, generic manufacturers are able to produce affordable copies of the original drug. This increases competition and puts downward pressure on prices. For example, the patents on Nexium (esomeprazole) expired in Europe and Japan in 2014 and in the U.S. in 2015. Nexium had been one of the top selling drugs globally, with annual sales of over US$ 6 billion. The entry of generic versions of esomeprazole led to an immediate decline in sales for the branded Nexium product. Other major PPIs that have faced generic competition include Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole) and Aciphex (rabeprazole).

Market Opportunities: New research on dual therapy drugs

New research is exploring the potential of dual therapy drugs that can target both gastric acid secretion and gastric epithelial protection. This offers a major opportunity for proton pump inhibitors market globally. Dual therapy drugs have shown promising results in clinical trials at effectively reducing gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms as compared to conventional PPIs alone. By addressing both acid suppression and mucosal defense, dual therapies may provide better symptom relief for patients with acid-related disorders. This novel drug category can help meet some of the current limitations of long-term PPI use, such as reduced effectiveness over time, lack of mucosal healing, and implications for antibiotic resistance with prolonged acid suppression. If approved, dual therapies could capture a sizable portion of the market within 5-10 years. In 2021, according to a report published by United Nations, over 300 million people experience gastroesophageal reflux disease globally each year. The condition severely impacts quality of life and daily activities for many sufferers. Dual therapies may offer improved outcomes for this large patient group where conventional PPIs are unable to fully control acid reflux symptoms. Their increased clinical efficacy could increase patient adherence to treatment regimens. This impacts overall disease management costs imparted by frequent physician visits and delayed symptom resolution with current standard of care options.