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In the largest, most comprehensive US survey ever in irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS – published in September 1999), nearly
40% of women reported experiencing abdominal pain they described
as intolerable without some kind of relief. Moreover, regardless
of the severity of their abdominal pain, most women in the
survey said that their symptoms forced them to miss days
from work, limit travel, or avoid social outings.
The
results pointed to the need for better management of IBS
and more education. At present there is no satisfactory
treatment for IBS and most of the drugs used are over a
decade old.
However,
salvation is on the horizon, with the pending
launch of two new drugs,
one, Lotronex (alosetron), from Glaxo Wellcome and the other,
Zelmac (tegaserod maleate) from Novartis, with several others
in earlier stages of research.
According
to brokers Lehman Brothers, these new products have the
potential to transform this stagnant market, and drive it
from $500 million in 1998 to an estimated $3 billion by
2007.
IBS
and Absenteeism
Whereas
in the past, approval of a drug guaranteed a profit for
the company concerned, these days, whether a drug will be
prescribed widely depends on whether 'value for money' can
be shown.
Dr
James Niedel, director of science & technology at Glaxo
Wellcome, told IMS HEALTH that in the USA, IBS is the second
leading cause of absenteeism from work. If one then considers
that in the Western countries the prevalence of IBS is 10%,
and that in the USA the cost to the healthcare system is
around $8 billion per annum, the potential market for a
drug that works in IBS is huge. "Lotronex should work
in approximately half those affected," Dr Niedel told
IMS Health.
In
the USA, Glaxo Wellcome is doing studies with some of the
major employers and HMOs to show that in terms of work and
productivity, Lotronex can provide value. Accurate diagnosis
of IBS,
however, is also an issue.
For
for information on Glaxo Wellcome and Novartis, including
further extracts from the interview with Dr Niedel, see
IMS HEALTH's Pharmaceutical
Company Profiles
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