UK Alzheimer’s Therapeutics Market Analysis

UK Alzheimer’s Therapeutics Market Executive Summary

UK alzheimer’s therapeutics market valued at $125 Mn in 2022, projected to reach $216 Mn by 2030 with a 7.1% CAGR.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that affects behavior, memory, and mental health. Usually, it begins gradually, worsens over time, and makes it more difficult for the person to perform 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, which include memantine, rivastigmine, and donepezil, alter particular neurotransmitters in the brain to treat memory and cognitive problems. Additionally, keeping a healthy lifestyle, participating in social and cognitive activities, and creating a supportive environment are examples of non-pharmacological methods that may enhance overall illness management.

Alzheimer's disease accounts for roughly 62% of dementia cases in the United Kingdom, which means that by 2023, 530,000 people will be living with the disease. This is an extremely high incidence of dementia. The country presently has 850,000 people living with dementia. An aging population is expected to drive this number further in the upcoming decades, with 1.2 Mn people in the UK expected to have dementia by 2050, with Alzheimer's disease continuing to be the most common type. The age-specific prevalence, which shows a dramatic rise in Alzheimer's cases with age (from 2-5% for those 65 and older to a startling 15-20% for those 80 years and older), highlights the seriousness of the problem. The implications have a significant impact on families, society, and the healthcare system in addition to personal health. The financial cost of Alzheimer's is enormous, it is estimated that the disease costs $31.51 billion a year. This means that both the formal healthcare systems and informal caregivers, who are primarily family and friends, bear a heavy weight.

The UK approved Eisai and Biogen's medicine lecanemab (Dsuvia) in December 2023, marking a significant milestone. The treatment's promising clinical trial results showed a delay in cognitive deterioration and a reduction in brain amyloid plaques. This approval is historic because it is the first anti-amyloid antibody to be approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the United Kingdom.

Donanemab, the medication being developed by Eli Lilly and Company, is rapidly progressing and soon be approved in the United Kingdom. Showing effectiveness on par with lecanemab in reducing cognitive loss, continued attempts are being made to address worries about possible side effects, highlighting the ever-changing field of Alzheimer's treatment developments.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

Aging Population: The population of the United Kingdom is expected to age quickly, by 2043, there will be 20.9 Mn people over 65. The desire for treatment options is driven by this age group's much higher chance of getting Alzheimer's disease.

Unaddressed Medical Demand and Changing Treatment Scenario: Alzheimer's disease currently has no known cure, and the drugs that are already on the market only treat its symptoms. This lack of available medical remedies creates a sizable market for the creation of innovative and possibly more effective treatments. Anticipations for improved tau-targeting drug development and therapy combinations, along with recent developments utilizing anti-amyloid antibodies like lecanemab, give hope for more potent treatments in the years to come.

Increased Awareness and Improved Diagnosis: Initiatives from organizations like the Alzheimer's Society UK are meant to raise awareness of early indicators of the disease and encourage early detection. Advances in brain imaging and biomarkers allow for quicker and more accurate diagnosis, prompt interventions, and potentially even therapeutic benefits.

Market Restraints

High Costs and Affordability Challenges: The high price of new Alzheimer's drugs like lecanemab raises concerns about patient affordability and puts pressure on healthcare finances, limiting its availability to a wider patient population. Financial limitations within the National Health Service (NHS) may limit coverage for these costly prescription drugs, creating obstacles for individuals seeking access.

Regulatory and Approval Hurdles: The UK's strict regulatory processes for new drug launches may make it difficult for patients to receive them on time, which might hinder market growth and restrict access to potentially beneficial therapies. Market dynamics may become unpredictable as a result of ongoing debates about the efficacy and safety of particular treatments, such lecanemab, which may delay the approval process.

Lack of Awareness and Stigma: Despite the increasing frequency of awareness initiatives, many people are prevented from getting a diagnosis and treatment for dementia and Alzheimer's disease due to the ongoing social stigma around these conditions. This stigma is a major obstacle that keeps the market from reaching a wider range of consumers.

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape

In the UK, multiple agencies were in charge of healthcare policy and therapeutic drug regulation. The primary regulatory body in charge of guaranteeing the efficacy, safety, and quality of medications, especially prescription drugs, in the United Kingdom is the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). A key role in healthcare policy is played by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE assesses the therapies' cost-effectiveness and gives the National Health Service (NHS) recommendations on the usage of different medications, including those taken for therapeutic purposes.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

• Biogen
• Eisai Co
• Janssen Pharmaceuticals
• Novartis
• Pfizer
• Lundbeck
• Merck & Co
• AstraZeneca
• Eli Lilly
• Accord Healthcare