China's Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Market Will More than Doub...( WALTHAM Mass. July 13 /- ...),Health

WALTHAM, Mass., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug market will more than double by 2013, growing from $138 million in 2008 to $385 million in 2013. This growth will be fueled by a growing drug-treated population, increasing patient access to healthcare insurance, greater patient spending power and increased use of biological agents in RA treatment.

"A principal driver of growth in the Chinese RA market is the expanding patient population. We expect the number of patients eligible for drug therapy to increase 52 percent by 2013. During the same 2008-2013 time period, the drug-treated population will grow approximately 80 percent," stated Jing Wu, M.S., MBA.

The new Emerging Markets report entitled Rheumatoid Arthritis in China also finds that Western branded drug sales will command 54 percent of the market by 2013. The key drivers of this growth will be the increased uptake of currently available Western branded biologics and the launch of new biologics. The best opportunities for Western drug companies are in the launch and marketing of new biological agents that are easily administered and have novel mechanisms of action that achieve quicker onset of disease-modifying activity.

"We expect less competition from Chinese generic versions of new Western branded biologics than for small-molecule drugs for two reasons: biologics are harder to imitate than small chemical molecules and it is difficult to convince physicians that biosimilars have the same activity as the original brands," added Ms. Wu.

The report contains primary research of physicians and epidemiology study in key pharmaceu
'/>"/>