Market Challenges And Opportunities

UAE Heart Failure Treatment Drugs Market - Drivers

Increasing research and development activities in heart failure treatment

Increasing research and development activities in heart failure treatment are expected to drive the UAE heart failure treatment drugs market growth over the forecast period. For instance, according to an article published by Journal of Cardiac Failure in August 2022, a study was conducted across different locations including the UAE to assess the clinical integration and safety of the HeartLogic multisensor index and alerts in Heart Failure (HF) care. The multiple cardiac sensors for management of heart failure (MANAGE-HF) study enrolled 200 patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction. Mean age of participants was 67 years. 61% had HF hospitalization in prior 12 months. During follow up, there were 585 alert cases with average 1.76 alert cases per patient year. HF medications were augmented during 74% of the alert cases. HF treatment augmentation within 2 weeks from an initial alert was associated with more rapid recovery of the HeartLogic Index. It was concluded that HeartLogic alert management was safely implemented in HF care and may optimize HF management.

Increasing launch of new treatment methods

Increasing launch of new treatment therapeutics is expected to drive the UAE heart failure treatment drugs market growth. For instance, on May 6, 2020, AstraZeneca, a U.K.-based multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, announced the launch of Farxiga (dapagliflozin) to reduce the risk of Cardiovascular (CV) death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or with and without Type-2 Diabetes (T2D). The approval was based on positive results from the landmark Phase III DAPA-HF trial, which showed Farxiga achieving a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction of CV death or hospitalization for Heart Failure (HF), compared to placebo. Farxiga is the first Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicated to treat patients with HFrEF.

Strict rules and regulations in the UAE

The strict rules and regulations in the UAE are expected to hamper the UAE heart failure treatment drugs market growth. For instance, according to an article published in Handbook of Healthcare in the Arab World on August 11, 2021, pharmaceutical regulations and guidelines are stricter in Middle Eastern countries, such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, and others, compared to other countries across the world. Most Middle Eastern pharmaceutical legislation details are not accessible to the public and private pharmaceutical companies across the globe. Moreover, the legislation is only available in the local language, making comprehension difficult for multinational pharmaceutical companies to launch pharmaceutical projects in Middle Eastern countries.

To counterbalance this restraint, more user friendly guidelines should be introduced.

Limited availability of pharmaceutical products across Middle East countries

Limited availability of pharmaceutical products across Middle East countries is expected to hamper the UAE heart failure treatment drugs market growth. For instance, according to an article published in Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice on December 16, 2021, pharmaceutical players across the globe have registered fewer products in the Middle Eastern countries, such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, and others, which may result in the limited availability of medicinal products in these countries. The number of pharmaceutical companies available in the UAE are only 23. Such slow growth of the pharmaceutical sector can hamper the market growth.

To counterbalance this restrain, more investments in the Middle East countries should be done for the development and availability of pharmaceutical products.

Market- Trends:

Launch of new heart failure medications

The introduction of newer heart failure medications can drive the market growth. On May 30, 2023, Sotagliflozin was launched by Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., U.S. -based biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for human disease. It is once a day pill with brand name Inpefa. The launch is based on the SCORED and SOLOIST-WHF trials, showing reductions in HF hospitalizations in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease and in decompensated HF, respectively, with the benefits emerging after just a few months. Additional analyses confirmed a benefit across ejection fractions, including HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The drug enters a market already dominated by the Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors empagliflozin and dapagliflozin both of which now have labeled indications across the spectrum of LVEF. Of note, sotagliflozin is actually a dual inhibitor of SGLT1, the primary transporter for glucose absorption in the gut, and SGLT2, which reabsorbs glucose in the kidney.