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Sales of insulin
syringes are set to drop over the next six years, making way for
reusable pens and insulin pumps to take over the market as they
capture new insulin users. Manufacturers of all three devices will
also be looking closely at developments in the needleless technology
sector.
A new study by
Frost & Sullivan shows the growing trend towards reusable pens
and insulin pumps will be prevalent throughout Europe. The
healthcare analysts (pharma.frost.com) valued the European Diabetes
Drug Delivery Market at $438.9 million. The study found reusable
pens are likely to take over the top spot in the drug delivery
market in the UK, France, Italy and Spain. This is partly due to
manufacturers attempting to lock all new patients into usage by
giving away free pens.
"The pens are
much more sophisticated than syringes, with the capabilities of
altering dosage and providing a much better delivery
interface," says Jason Dabek, European industry manager for
Frost & Sullivan’s Global Diabetes Subscription Services.
"The
advantages of capturing new insulin users is that companies stand to
lock in patients over the long term. This will be a significant
driver to segment growth, especially in light of the ever increasing
number of diabetes patients that are expected to emerge."
The study found the
German insulin delivery device market varies from the more common
European model, with the insulin pumps segment proving to be the
biggest impact segment. The German market is perhaps best known for
its prioritisation of a product’s benefits over its costs. This is
a positive factor to growth in the insulin pumps segment because
pumps are viewed as a superior device to syringes and pens.
There is also
expected to be a group of patients in Germany who remain loyal is
using insulin syringes. These patients have used syringes for such a
significant length of time that a strong loyalty has been built up
over the years. In a market that is facing very significant threats,
this group of loyalty users will allow a baseline level of sales for
insulin syringes over the forecast period.
Frost &
Sullivan believes the major driver will be the increase in number of
diabetes sufferers. Current World Health Organisation figures
estimate the number of diagnosed diabetic sufferers at 175 million
worldwide. As disease incidence rise and diagnosis improves, these
figures are set up top 239 million in 2010.
The type 2 market
represents 87 percent of these diabetes cases and this market is
expected to grow. This is due to a combination of factors common to
most western markets, such as increases in the over 50s age group,
increases in obesity and increases in rates of diagnosis. There are
approximately 200,000 type 1 sufferers. This figure is expected to
remain stable.
However, it is not
all good news for the market. Frost & Sullivan expects
manufacturers of all three devices will be concerned about the
future arrival of a needleless device.
"The types of
needleless technologies most likely to impact markets such as
diabetes include inhalation methods." Dabek explains. "If
such a delivery device is developed, it will be a relief to the many
insulin users, resulting in the eradication of the emotional and
physical trauma of daily injections carried out by up to 50 million
global insulin users."
"But, it will
also be drastic to device companies with an interest in the syringe
and pen delivery segments. Insulin pumps manufacturers will also
have to consider the threat of such new technologies. We await
further developments."
The European
Diabetes Drug Delivery report is part of the Global Diabetes Online
Subscription. Reports on the US and Asian diabetes drug delivery
markets will be released later this year.
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