US pharmaceutical chemicals demand to reach $ 47 bn in 2019

The US demand for pharmaceutical chemicals is expected to increase from $ 34.2 billion in 2014 to $46.9 billion in 2019 – an annual increase of 6.5 percent, according to a new Freedonia Group report.
 
Gains will accelerate from the average pace of the 2009-2014 period, led by the introduction of new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, heart failure, and healthcare-associated infections. The value of pharmaceutical chemicals demand will remain fairly evenly divided between the merchant market and the captive and contract production segment.
 
The merchant segment will see favourable growth based on drug patent expirations and the increasing availability of many first-time generic medicines. “The value of captive and contract production output will benefit from new product introductions, especially breakthrough therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and other presently incurable conditions,” said Bill Martineau, analyst, Freedonia Group.
 
Active ingredients of central nervous system (CNS) agents will remain the largest therapeutic group served by pharmaceutical chemicals based on value and will post above average revenue growth. Demand in this therapeutic group will benefit from the introduction of new high value-added compounds for Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis; the penetration into the marketplace of new generic drugs for arthritic pain control, epilepsy, glaucoma, and schizophrenia; and the expanding use of over-the-counter pain relievers and ophthalmic solutions by self-treating consumers.
 
“Led by active ingredients of anticancer, antidiabetic, and hormone replacement formulations, hormones and related agents will post the fastest growth in value among all pharmaceutical chemicals. Based on the introduction of new antithrombolytic and heart failure therapies, cardiovascular compounds will reverse a recent downturn and expand moderately in demand value. The development of new antibiotics under the FDA’s Qualified Infectious Disease Product program, coupled with an increasing patient volume for new hepatitis C treatments, will keep revenues of anti-infective chemicals rising steadily,” said Freedonia in a press release.