The first line of treatment in pain management usually involves the
use of pharmaceuticals from various therapeutic classes such as
antidepressants, opioids, NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, anesthetics, and
other non-narcotic analgesics. Anticonvulsants, also known as
antiepileptic drugs, were developed primarily for the treatment of
epileptic seizures. However, leading anticonvulsant drugs such as Lyrica
(pregabalin) and Neurontin (gabapentin) have also been approved for the
management of various pain indications including fibromyalgia, migraine
and neuropathic pain. These approvals are responsible for the
increasing importance of anticonvulsants in the management of various
pain indications. The overall market for anticonvulsants is highly
genericized; however, the market for anticonvulsants for pain management
application is dominated by Lyrica, the only branded pharmaceutical
among the currently marketed drugs.
Of the major anticonvulsant drugs currently marketed, Lyrica
(pregabalin), Neurontin (gabapentin), Topamax (topiramate), Depakote
(divalproex), and Carbatrol/Tegretol (carbamazepine) are indicated for
management of various types of pain. In 2012, Lyrica registered sales of
US$ 5,111 Mn, of which 74% constituted revenue from its pain management
indication. Since all the other molecules are generic and have
negligible contribution in the pain management application, the market
will be driven and dominated by the sales of existing blockbuster drug
Lyrica, which constituted 73.4% share of the total market in 2011. The
drug was initially set to lose its patent exclusivity in 2015, which
would have negatively impacted the market rendering it completely
generic. However, Pfizer has obtained market exclusivity for the drug
and its use in pain management through to 2018, and is therefore
expected to maintain its leadership position.
Rising prevalence of epilepsy is the key driver of the
anticonsultants drug market. Anticonvulsants drug is not only consumed
in case of epileptic seizures, but also for pain management in migraine,
and fibromyalgia. This boosts the anticonvulsants drug market.
Availability of alternative options for pain management acts as a major
restraint of the market. Other pain management methods include the use
of medical devices such as analgesic pumps and minimally invasive
procedures such as denervation or rhizotomy. Pain management implants
and devices such as neuromodulators are gaining market acceptance among
medical professionals, while acupuncture and acupressure are
world-renowned pain relief techniques along with physiotherapy that
people adopt. Other devices included in pain relief are transcutaneous
electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) that delivers mild shocks to nerves
in order to block pain messages to the brain. Hence, competition in the
market from other improved pain management methods, devices, and other
drugs can also hamper the anticonvulsants drug market. The
anticonvulsants drug market has been segmented based on therapeutic
class, disease indication, formulation, distribution channel, and
region.
In terms of region, the anticonvulsants drug market has been classified into Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, North America, and Latin America. Key players in the anticonvulsant drug market are Abbott Laboratories, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Sanofi, UCB, Shire plc., and Astrazeneca plc.
In terms of region, the anticonvulsants drug market has been classified into Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, North America, and Latin America. Key players in the anticonvulsant drug market are Abbott Laboratories, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Sanofi, UCB, Shire plc., and Astrazeneca plc.
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