Tripled Sales of Herceptin and Growth of Breast Cancer Market Segments

Decision Resources, Inc., a leading research and advisory firm, predicts that sales of Genentech/Roche/Chugai's Herceptin (trastuzumab) will nearly triple, reaching $3.3 billion in 2015. This forecast is based on positive data from several phase 3 clinical trials demonstrating improved disease-free survival of breast cancer patients. The growth of the breast cancer market will be driven by the expansion of established agents, particularly Herceptin and Novartis's Femara (letrozole), from the metastatic into the adjuvant setting.

Key Takeaways:

• Herceptin sales are expected to reach $3.3 billion in 2015, a nearly tripled amount from previous sales.
• The growth of the breast cancer market will be driven by the expansion of established agents, such as Herceptin and Femara, into the adjuvant setting.
• The chemotherapy market in major economies, including the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Japan, will be bolstered by the use of new drugs, including GlaxoSmithKline's Tykerb (lapatinib).
• The value of the adjuvant market is higher than that of the metastatic market because the patient pool is larger and the duration of therapy is longer.
• The launch of new agents, such as Tykerb and Genentech/Roche/Chugai's Avastin (bevacizumab), will help bolster the market during the 2010 to 2015 time frame.

Statistics:

• $3.3 billion: The predicted sales of Herceptin in 2015.
• 2015: The year in which Herceptin sales are expected to triple.
• 2 million: The approximate number of prevalent breast cancer cases in major markets.
• 2007: The year in which GlaxoSmithKline's targeted agent Tykerb (lapatinib) is expected to launch.
• 2010-2015: The time frame during which new agents, such as Tykerb and Avastin, will help bolster the breast cancer market.

Sources:

• Decision Resources, Inc.
• Market Analysis
• Biotech Business Week
• NewsRx.com