New therapies under development promise improved relief for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer patients

Technical Insights’ Genetic Technology Alert

Biotech companies and researchers across the world are focusing on the development of new therapies for the treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) cancer, a lethal and malignant disease that is spreading at an alarming rate.

“About 300,000 people in the United States are affected by NHL and it causes about 23,000 deaths each year in the U.S. alone,” says Technical Insights Analyst Al Hester. “This has created a greater need for advanced NHL therapies.”

Rituxan (rituximab), from the California-based IDEC Pharmaceuticals, was the first monoclonal antibody approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a particular form of NHL. It has found widespread market acceptance and its sales surpassed the $1 billion per year mark.

The efficaciousness of the drug challenges developers of new therapies to discover treatment with some distinct advantages to differentiate their products and provide better relief for patients.

“The need for improved lymphoma treatments has by no means disappeared and a large market awaits developers of successful new products,” says Hester.

Sensing the potential, many biotech firms have joined the global race for developing new NHL therapies despite being confronted by high production costs.

“Most of the new lymphoma therapies under development are monoclonal antibodies,” says Hester. “These antibodies are high-priced proteins and, therefore, they are expensive to manufacture and also inconvenient to administer to the patients.”

However, they can be generated to target specific therapeutic molecules. Biotech firms, betting on monoclonals for developing advanced lymphoma therapeutics, are targeting CD20 antigen that may be found on normal, as well as abnormal B cells. In addition, other antigens such as CD4, CD22, and CD30 are being targeted.

Some biotech firms are also trying gene therapy and vaccines to treat patients. These treatment methods could be advantageous as they avoid some of the side effects often associated with monoclonal antibodies, as well as the difficulties in gaining FDA approval.

The studies conducted by Genetic Technology Alert has revealed that the therapies market is capable of generating revenues worth more than $5 billion per year, as there is a steady increase in patient base.

New analysis by Technical Insights, a business unit of Frost & Sullivan (http://www.Technical-Insights.frost.com), featured in the Genetic Technology Alert, presents a critical insight of various therapies that are under research and different phases of clinical trials. The research also discusses the different approaches to treatment and highlights the prime qualities of these potential drugs. This is likely to provide a bird’s eye view of the emerging market opportunities.

Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and reports.

This analysis is part of the Genetic Technology Alert, which includes market insights on new developments in genetic technologies for the industry. Copies of the alert and interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, an international growth consultancy, has been supporting clients’ expansion for more than four decades. Our market expertise covers a broad spectrum of industries, while our portfolio of advisory competencies include custom strategic consulting, market intelligence and management training. Our mission is to forge partnerships with our clients’ management teams to deliver market insights and to create value and drive growth through innovative approaches. Frost & Sullivan’s network of consultants, industry experts, corporate trainers and support staff, spans the globe with offices in every major country.

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