Malaysia Alzheimer’s Therapeutics Market Analysis

Malaysia Alzheimer’s Therapeutics Market Executive Summary

Malaysia alzheimer’s therapeutics market valued at $8 Mn in 2022, projected to reach $16 Mn by 2030 with a 9.3% CAGR.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that affects memory, behavior, and mental health. Usually, it begins gradually, worsens over time, and makes it more difficult for the affected individual to do everyday duties. In Alzheimer's disease, aberrant brain changes such as plaque and tangle formation cause nerve cells to die. There is presently no treatment for Alzheimer's disease. On the other hand, some medications can improve quality of life and aid with symptom management. These drugs alter certain neurotransmitters in the brain to treat memory and cognitive problems. Donepezil, rivastigmine, and memantine are a few of these drugs. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, participating in social and cognitive activities, and creating a supportive environment are examples of non-pharmacological strategies that may enhance overall illness management.

Approximately 260,000 people, or 8.5% of the elderly population in Malaysia, suffer from dementia, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common type. Due to Malaysia's rapid demographic aging, where the number of people 65 and older is expected to exceed 5 Mn by 2030, the increased incidence of Alzheimer's disease has become a pressing issue. This shift in the population increases the risk of Alzheimer's because the disease is closely associated with getting older. Though there are still stigmas associated with Alzheimer's, increased accessibility to healthcare facilities and ongoing awareness initiatives are helping to make diagnosis more accurate, which could result in a rise in reported prevalence rates.

PharmaKure and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) are collaborating to improve the speed and accuracy of care by using machine learning and blood tests to predict Alzheimer's disease in its early stages. This novel technique has the potential to establish the foundation for tailored treatment plans.

The well-known Malaysian pharmaceutical company Etermis is working to progress its Phase II clinical trial for EMERG-01, a treatment candidate that aims to stop Tau protein aggregation, a known Alzheimer's disease hallmark. Results from this experiment should be available by late 2024. One noteworthy example of Etermis's dedication to advancing state-of-the-art solutions in the field is its active participation in international clinical trials for promising medications like aducanumab and lecanemab.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

Rising Aging Population: Malaysia's population is aging quickly; by 2030, there will be more than 5 Mn people in the country who are 65 years of age or older. Given that Alzheimer's increases in frequency with age, this immediately correlates to an increased risk of the disease.

Growing Awareness and Diagnosis: Increased reported prevalence and more precise diagnoses are being produced by public awareness initiatives and better access to medical facilities. This may increase consumer demand for available treatment choices.

Emerging Treatment Options: Promising ideas are making their way into late-stage clinical trials in the fast-growing global pipeline of Alzheimer's treatments. Certain medications address different aspects of the illness, providing optimism for enhanced therapeutic alternatives. The Etermis clinical study for EMERG-01, which targets Tau protein aggregation, demonstrates how regional efforts can contribute to the worldwide progress of medical care.

Market Restraints

High Costs: Patients with Alzheimer's disease and their families bear a heavy financial burden due to the high cost of new medications like Leqembi. This problem is made worse by limited insurance coverage for chronic illnesses, which forces many people to choose between expensive medical care and other essentials. This can impede market expansion by denying a sizable section of the populace access to novel treatments.

Lack of Awareness and Stigma: Despite the increasing number of awareness initiatives, many people are unable to receive a diagnosis and treatment for dementia and Alzheimer's disease due to the ongoing cultural stigma around these conditions. This stigma is one of the primary obstacles keeping the market from reaching a wider range of consumers.

Limited Access to Specialists: The majority of neurologists and other experts in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease reside in cities. Due to this, rural communities have less access to appropriate diagnosis, care, and follow-up, which hinders patient benefits and market penetration.

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and its regulatory body, the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), are principally responsible for the regulatory oversight and development of healthcare policy concerning treatment pharmaceuticals in Malaysia. Under the MOH, the NPRA plays a crucial role in regulating the licensing, registration, and post-market surveillance of pharmaceutical goods to guarantee their efficacy, safety, and quality. Pharmaceutical companies that want to sell treatment pharmaceuticals in Malaysia have to go through a rigorous approval process run by NPRA, which requires them to submit extensive data on the quality, safety, and efficacy of the drug. The NPRA regulates clinical trials to protect participant safety and ethical standards. The Pharmacy Practice and Poisons Act (1952) establishes the legislative foundation for drug control and gives the NPRA the authority to impose rules on the production, importation, distribution, and sale of drugs. Pharmaceutical firms are required to comply to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, and NPRA inspections are carried out to verify compliance. Under the MOH, the Pharmaceutical Services Division (PSD) works with NPRA to enable efficient pharmaceutical distribution and regulation in Malaysia.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

• Pfizer
• Novartis
• Johnson & Johnson
• Roche
• Eli Lilly
• Biogen
• AstraZeneca
• Merck & Co.
• AbbVie
• Eisai