Devices and Drugs in Treatment of Obesity Represent a $1.2 Bln Market Growing at Double Digit Rate

Jan. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- The global pandemic of obesity, with particular emphasis in Western economies, is driving the development, marketing and sales of diverse treatment options at an aggressive rate. Over the next ten years, the market will see big shifts as new products -- drugs and devices -- are introduced to the market and take hold in clinical practice. The worldwide market for these products, the competitors and the outlook are forecasted in a new report from MedMarket Diligence.

"Incidence and prevalence rates for obesity are growing at startling rates while the costs of obesity and its co-morbidities (diabetes, heart disease, many others) are becoming increasingly clear," says Patrick Driscoll, President of MedMarket Diligence. "An already dynamic group of manufacturers developing and marketing drugs and devices to target obesity will see its ranks swell as clinical practice and healthcare systems continue to demand improved treatment options."

The market for products in the clinical management of obesity encompasses devices and drugs that variously focus on obesity by reducing the absorption of food, reducing appetite, creating artificial fullness, restricting stomach capacity and other methods. Given the potential appeal of drug therapy to avoid the need to undergo surgery, as is the case with many device-based obesity approaches or surgical techniques (e.g., Roux en-Y), an enormous effort, and funds have been applied to drug development, resulting in a small number of approved drugs and a growing list of drugs that have either failed trials or been withdrawn from the market. However, the demand persists, so drug companies continue to press development and clinical trials that will result in market success during the forecast period. In the interim, and beyond, device alternatives will hold favor and, in some areas, grow dramatically.

The MedMarket Diligence global report on obesity, "Products, Technologies and Markets Worldwide for the Clinical Management of Obesity, 2011-2019", is a detailed market and technology assessment and forecast of the products and technologies in the clinical management of obesity (bariatrics) (See http://www.mediligence.com/rpt/rpt-s835.htm). The report describes the current and projected patient population in obesity, detailing their incidence worldwide, with available incidence by country for the U.S., major European countries, major countries in Asia/Pacific (including Japan, China, India and Australia), the clinical practices in their management to encompass surgical approaches, medical supervised severely restricted diets, drug therapies, OTC treatments, biopharmaceuticals, non-pharmacologic approaches and weight maintenance approaches. The report describes clinical trends in the management of the obese. The report details the products on the market and the status of those in development for bariatric surgery, drug therapy, gastric stimulation devices, brain stimulation devices, combination therapies and genetic therapy and other therapies under development, and will provide current and worldwide market forecasts (2009-2019) separately for pharmaceuticals (with separate segment forecast data for satiety, malabsorption, appetite suppression and combination drugs) and devices (with separate segment forecast data for stomach restriction artificial fullness, malabsorption, gastric emptying and appetite suppression), with current (2009) market shares of the leading competitors in each segment. The report profiles the 45 leading competitors, detailing current and potential position in the market, their products and their market strengths and likelihood of future success.

The clinical management of obesity is undergoing continued change as new device and drug options are being developed and introduced alongside developing surgical options.

1.  Pharmaceutical Treatment of Obesity: Past, Present and Future Drugs
    a.  Promising Drugs That Have Failed
         i.  Phentermine/Fenfluramine Combination
         ii.  Abbott’s Meridia (Sibutramine)
         iii.  Vivus’ Qnexa
         iv.  Arena’s Lorqess
    b.  Prescription Drugs Currently on the Market
         i  Appetite Suppression Drugs
         ii.  Malabsorption Drugs
         iii.  Satiety Drugs
              ·  Amylin’s Byetta Off-Label for Obesity
              ·  Novo Nordisk’s Victoza Off-Label for Obesity
         iv.  Combination Drugs
    c.  Areas of Pharmaceutical Research
         i.  Melanocortin Receptor System
         ii.  Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists
         iii.  GLP-1 Analogs
         iv.  Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP2) Inhibitor
         v.  Appetite Suppression Drugs
              ·  Lorcaserin
              ·  NeuroSearch’s Tesofensine
              ·  Shionogi’s Velneperit
         vi.  Malabsorption Drugs
         vii.  Satiety Drugs
         viii.  Combination Drugs

2.  Non- Pharmaceutical Options for Treating Obesity
    a.  Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery
         i.  Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
         ii.  Roux-en-Y Surgery
         iii.  Sleeve Gastrectomy
         iv.  Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch
         v.  Jejuno-ileal Bypass: An Obsolete Procedure
    b.  Devices to Treat Obesity
         i.  Restrictive Devices
              ·  Adjustable Gastric Banding
              ·  Transoral Gastroplasty (TOGA)
              ·  RESTORe Suturing System™
         ii.  Artificial Fullness Devices
         iii.  Malabsorption Devices
              ·  GI Dynamics’ EndoBarrier
              ·  Gastrx Sleeve-like Device
              ·  ValenTx Sleeve
         iv.  Devices to Control Gastric Emptying
              ·  BAROnova Therapeutics’ TransPyloric Shuttle
              ·  BaroSense’s TERIS (Trans-oral Endoscopic Restrictive Implant System)
              ·  Endoscopic Intragastric Injection of Botulinum Toxin
         v.  Appetite Suppressive Devices
              ·  MetaCure’s Tantalus System
              ·  EnteroMedics’ Maestro System for VBLOC
              ·  Silhouette Medical’s nObese RF Ablation Device
         vi.  Gastric Electrical Stimulation

The MedMarket Diligence Report #S835 on the global market for obesity devices and drugs is described at http://www.mediligence.com/rpt/rpt-s835.htm.  The report may be purchased for immediate download from http://www.mediligence.com/store/page35.html.

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MedMarket Diligence provides data and insight to the medical products, investment and other industries on advanced medical technologies through focused medical technology market and assessment Reports and the Medtech Startups Database.