U.S. Therapeutic Apheresis Markets

A growing body of conclusive scientific evidence supporting the value of photopheresis for off-label indications such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and solid organ transplant rejection is increasing its use in such indications. Encouraged by these diseases' positive response to photopheresis, physicians are increasingly referring patients for this treatment, which also helps hospitals secure reimbursement more easily. Over the long-term, photopheresis may find application in indications such as leukemia, non-Hodgkin's disease, HIV infection, and inflammatory bowel disease.

This Frost & Sullivan research is a detailed overview of the various therapeutic apheresis procedures and the indications they are being used in. This report provides demand analysis, revenue forecasts, and profiles of major market participants. It discusses key market and technology trends, market drivers, restraints, challenges and strategies, as well as future potential of therapeutic apheresis.

Vendors Must Devote Greater Resources to Developing the Market

Since therapeutic apheresis constitutes a small part of apheresis vendors' overall business, they hesitate to plow resources into developing this market, either by funding clinical studies in potentially new indications or by expanding their sales force to increase awareness among physicians. Vendors tend to rely on word-of-mouth to spread the potential of therapeutic apheresis in off-label indications among the medical community. Lack of clinical documentation is a major concern for prescribing physicians, who need good scientific evidence to pressure health insurers to cover this therapy in off-label indications and to encourage hospitals to continue offering this service.

The key to overcoming this challenge lies in optimizing the value of existing clinical data, generated by the medical community, on the clinical benefits of therapeutic apheresis in numerous diseases. "Vendors need to lead efforts to establish an organization that can collate and review available clinical data from all apheresis centers," says the analyst. In addition, dedicating more resources to the education of physicians may contribute greatly to the realization of new growth opportunities for vendors.

Revenue Growth Dependent on Vendors Developing New Applications

Revenue growth in the therapeutic apheresis market is also reliant on the identification of new indications. "Vendors should look beyond the existing restraints of the market and assume more responsibility in developing new applications for therapeutic apheresis," says the analyst. For a relatively small investment, vendors can sponsor studies in new diseases under the direction of opinion leaders in the field. These efforts may result in attractive growth opportunities in off-label indications and establish the particular vendor as a proactive and committed player in the market.