Prostate Cancer Treatment Costs to Spike by 2023

Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in tissues of the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder.

Prostate cancer usually occurs in older men (older than 50). It is the second most common cancer globally accounting for 15% of cancers in men. Prostate cancer presents a burden on the healthcare system because of its high rate of incidence. Men diagnosed with early-stage, localized prostate cancer have a good chance of cure and recovery while men diagnosed with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) have little chances of cure.//

Since 90% of all prostate cancers are detected in the local and regional areas at an early stage, almost 100% of men diagnosed at this stage will remain cancer-free after five years. Prostate cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

Market Forecast for Global Treatment Value by GlobalData

Owing to the high incidence of prostate cancer among men, the global market size and value for its treatment is high.

Prostate Cancer | Cancer of Prostate - Incidence, Prevention, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
This cancer affects men over the age of 50 years and screening with rectal examination and PSA can help both in early detection and effective treatment

According to a report released in April 2015 by GlobalData (a research and consulting firm), the addition of new therapies and pipelined drugs for the treatment of CRPC will increase the size of the prostate cancer market by three-fold in nine major pharmaceutical markets (9MM): USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, Brazil and Canada.

The latest report published by GlobalData on 30 April 2015 indicates that the prostate cancer treatment market value will treble by $8.2 billion by 2023. The global treatment market value was $2.6 billion in 2013. This increase is expected across the 9MM.

The expected increase in market value is driven by a rapidly aging population, the anticipated introduction of nine, new, strategically priced therapies by 2023 and the anticipated label extensions for Zytiga and Xtandi in the treatment of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Zytiga (Abiraterone Acetate) is made by Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc. and received FDA approval in December 2012. Zytiga is approved for use with prednisone for metastatic CRPC before beginning chemotherapy. Xtandi (Enzalutamide), made by Medivation, is an anti-androgen used to treat men whose prostate cancer no longer responds to surgery or other treatment that lowers testosterone.

Prostate Cancer Screening
PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test and Digital Rectal Examination are two tests that allow detection of prostate cancer at early stages.

According to Raksha Mudbhary, PhD, GlobalData’s Senior Analyst covering oncology, Japan and Brazil will record the most impressive growth in the forecast period due to high incidence of prostate cancer and introduction of several branded drugs for treating CRPC. However, the analyst believes that the primary driver of market growth in the 9MM will be due to the label extension of Xtandi.

Mudbhary says that Key Opinion Leaders on the prostate cancer treatment market have been favourably impressed with Xtandi’s safety and efficacy and it is believed that this drug will be the market leader in this line by 2016.

Prostate Cancer: Treatment Options - Surgery, Radiation Therapy, Hormone Therapy
Treatment options of prostate cancer includes waiting, surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, cryosurgery or biologic therapy.

GlobalData forecasts that Xtandi sales will increase to $3.8 billion by 2023. This amounts to an impressive 46% of the total branded drug sales in the prostate cancer treatment space.

Despite the overall positive outlook in growth forecast, some factors may limit growth like the probable loss of patent protection for Zytiga, which was the leading prostate cancer drug in 2013.

Mudbhary explains, “Zytiga is anticipated to lose key US patent protection in December 2016. Although there is some uncertainty regarding the timing of Zytiga generics entering the US market, the resulting loss of branded sales will restrict growth during the latter part of the forecast period.”