Women's Health Review and Outlook 2011

The global women's health market, valued at $20 billion in 2009, is dominated by the United States. Hormonal contraceptives is one of the leading categories within the market. Bayer's Yaz, Yasmin, and Yasminelle were the top selling drugs in that category for 2009 with combined sales of $1.78 billion. The women's health-care market segment has a strong demand for novel therapeutics and improved diagnostics. Therapeutic categories gaining increased attention within this market include breast cancer, oral contraceptives, hormone therapy for menopause, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and gynecologic infections including STD's and osteoporosis. Diagnostic imaging applications with increasing market potential include bone densitometry, breast biopsy and imaging, OB/GYN ultrasound imaging, and fetal & neonatal monitoring - these represent almost half of the women's health market segment in terms of cost.

Promising treatments in late-stage clinical development include Aprela, in development by Pfizer Inc., and Menerba, in development by Bionovo Inc. Both are designed to treat the vasomotor syptoms associated with menopause. Aprela is intended as an alternative to combination estrogen and progestin therapies. Menerba has a targeted mechanism of action that activates only the estrogen receptor beta pathway, which is associated with hot flashes. Unlike hormone therapy, Menerba does not activate the estrogen receptor alpha (ERá) pathway, known to be implicated in both breast and uterine cancer formation. Pfizer Inc.'s acquisition of Wyeth in 2009 added a wide range of female-health products to its portfolio, including the blockbuster Premarin and Prempro family as well as products in the near-term pipeline for osteoporosis. Premarin family sales for 2009 topped $1 billion and are forecasted to grow over the next couple of years. Several smaller pharmaceutical companies, including Duramed Pharmaceuticals, have developed a generic version of Premarin. However, the last remaining Premarin patent does not expire until 2012. Vaccines are predicted to have the most value and experience the most growth throughout the next decade. Gardasil and Cervarix are among vaccines that have proven effective. There are many other vaccines in clinical trials for breast and ovarian cancer.