Drug Delivery Technologies - Controlled Release

This major strategic analysis provides a detailed insight into the current and future market for controlled-release drug delivery technology.

Additional Information

Controlled-release Delivery

The controlled-release market was worth nearly US$21 billion globally in 2008. The sector is dominated by the launch of oral controlled-release formulations in key therapeutic areas such as the central nervous system, cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory diseases. The growth of controlled-release delivery continues to be fuelled by line extensions helping to offset the impact of generic erosion. We estimate there are around 60 approved controlled-release products which will generate global sales of over US$21.5 billion in 2009, peaking at around US$29.5 billion in 2017 as products mature and face patent expiration leading to a decline in mature product sales to US$28.9 billion by 2018. In addition, we forecast that controlled-release products in development from 17 key companies could generate additional sales of over US$5.1 billion by 2018.

Impact on product lifecycles
Controlled-release technologies, possibly more than any other approved delivery systems, have been an important tool for pharmaceutical companies to protect their branded franchises from the ever increasing and competitive generic market. These formulations play a critical role in establishing a balanced portfolio of solid dosage products and may lead to enhanced efficacy and improved patient compliance. This leads to reductions in patient costs and extending product life-cycle management for both branded and generic pharmaceuticals.

In the past, pharmaceutical companies have tended to develop controlled-release formulations as immediate-release counterparts near patent expiration. This trend is reversing and companies are developing controlled-release formulations earlier in the product life-cycle and often launching multiple formulations (immediate release, controlled release/modified release, and delayed release) in parallel to expand the potential addressable patient population and gain a significant share of competitive market places.

This report answers key questions...

• Who will have launched novel products by 2018 and what technologies could they be using?
• Can market leaders such as ALZA and Elan maintain their status in controlled release in the face of growing competition?
• What obstacles must companies overcome to achieve full market potential?
• What strategies are proving most productive and for which companies?
• What will the product/company landscape look like in 2018? controlled release in the face of growing competition?
• What obstacles must companies overcome to achieve full market potential?
• What strategies are proving most productive and for which companies?
• What will the product/company landscape look like in 2018?