Market Challenges And Opportunities

Global Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitor Drugs Market Drivers

Leading manufacturers are engaged in the development and manufacture of new products as well as biosimilars in the global tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor drugs market over the forecast period. This factor is expected to aid in growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, Eticovo, a second biosimilar of Enbrel, manufactured by Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd, was approved by the U.S. FDA in May 2019 and the cost of Eticovo is US$ 1,500 less than the branded medicine (Enbrel costs around US$ 5,000 for per month supply).

Moreover, the first biosimilar of Enbrel i.e. Erelzi, manufactured by Novartis AG, is available in the form of a sensoready pen with an inbuilt autoinjector, which is beneficial for patients suffering from arthritis and cannot work properly with their limbs. Renflexis (biosimilar of infliximab) was introduced in the U.S market by Merck & Co. in July 2018, at a list price of US$ 753.39 which represents a 35% discount to the current list price of Remicade, its reference product.

Increasing prevalence of autoimmune diseases around the globe is expected to foster the market growth of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors drugs. For instance, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2017, around 54.4 million people in the U.S. are suffering from some form of arthritis during (2013 – 2015).

Global Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitor Drugs Market Restraints

According to National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 2019, it has been observed that 50% of the population suffering from autoimmune diseases worldwide, discontinue the use of TNF inhibitors after one year of use as only 5-10% of the population showed positive response to TNF inhibitors while the remaining people show disease activity or severe side effects even after the treatment with TNF inhibitors. Moreover, availability of alternatives drugs that belong to a different class available in the market is also expected to hinder the market growth. For instance, Pfizer Inc. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2017, for Xeljanz (tofacitinib), a Janus kinase inhibitor which is a small molecular drug for rheumatoid arthritis.

Some side effects caused by TNF inhibitors have been reported in the population, which include, increase in the risk of infections of the skin, soft tissues, and joints, and also increase in risk of cancer (non-melanoma skin cancers). These may also result in some other serious side effects, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, sepsis, osteomyelitis, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The above factors are expected to restrain the global tumor necrosis factor inhibitors drugs market growth over the forecast period.