Individuals suffering from Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) can look forward to the appearance of many new drug options over the next few years, and place hope in a cure through future stem cell therapies, according to a new report by business intelligence expert GlobalData.
The new report* shows that dissatisfaction with limited CHF therapies, alongside the fast expanding patient population, assures sky-high revenue for pharmaceutical companies willing to develop superior treatments. As a result, numerous molecules are being developed for CHF patients, and stem cell treatment may even offer a cure by transforming the tissue of the heart.
The number of patients seeking treatment for CHF is expected to grow, due to greater health awareness among the general public, increased life expectancy and, consequently, an aging global population, which will be naturally more susceptible to Acute Heart Failure (AHF).
Currently, the only treatment choices for CHF patients are generic drugs, which do not treat the underlying cause of the disease. Drugs such as beta-blockers and diuretics can manage the symptoms of CHF by improving cardiac function, but none can provide disease-modifying mechanisms.
As a result, demand is growing for new treatment options that can present improved safety and efficacy and unique new molecules that can restore or regenerate impaired cardiac muscle cells.
Various pipeline molecules are expected to enter the market within the next few years to provide improved options for CHF patients. GlobalData's analysis shows that there are 41 molecules under development in the CHF therapeutics pipeline, of which 78% are First-in-Class (FIC) and 25% are in Phase III.
Several molecules are currently being clinically tested for safety and efficacy in improving cardiac function, and many upcoming drugs include novel mechanisms that could well take over as the standard first-in-line therapy for the treatment and management of CHF.
Stem cell therapy is also capable of improving the CHF treatment pattern. Stem cell therapies currently in development hold the potential to restore cardiac muscle function by regenerating and strengthening heart muscle cells. This will transform patient quality of life and fulfill the market need by providing curative therapy.
The global CHF therapeutics market grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4% from $3,171.3m in 2006 to $3,849.9m in 2011. GlobalData analysis suggests that market will grow at a CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period, to reach $4,918.4m by 2019.
