Research and Markets: Women's Health Therapeutics Market to 2018

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/44k7cc/womens_health) has announced the addition of the "Women's Health Therapeutics Market to 2018 - Unmet Need for Safe and Effective Treatments due to Unfavorable Risk/Benefit Profile Associated with Hormone Replacement Therapy" report to their offering.

Demand Grows for Alternative to Hormone Therapy in Menopausal Women:

There is room for improvement in the female health disorders market, and this is fuelling pharmaceutical companies to invest in R&D programs, stated a new report by healthcare experts GBI Research.

The new report* states that increased focus is being shown in therapy areas such as menopause, female sexual dysfunction and infertility, as large target markets and unsatisfactory existing treatments make patients a willing target for new treatments.

The ageing population is driving the menopause therapeutics market, as menopausal symptoms often emerge after the age of 50, with indications such as hot flashes affecting up to 85% of menopausal women. As the population grows older, the number of postmenopausal women will increase.

The menopause therapeutics market is currently dominated by hormone therapies with highly questionable safety profiles. Patients as well as physicians are often reluctant to try hormone therapy as the first line treatment for menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis, as a result of studies such as the WHI Memory Study (WHIMS), the Estrogen Replacement and Atherosclerosis (ERA) study, and the Million Women Study, which have all raised concerns over the safety profile of hormone treatment (HT). Results suggested that hormone treatment (HT) was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, venous thromboembolism and stroke. The availability of alternative options such as lifestyle and diet changes, exercise and home remedies has also damaged the hormone therapy market, as despite the severity of postmenopausal symptoms, a majority of postmenopausal women tend to opt for home remedies and lifestyle changes rather than using hormone therapy.

Aprela is a progesterone-free treatment for menopausal symptoms which combines conjugated estrogens and bazedoxifene. The drug is currently under review by the US FDA for approval, and is predicted to restore the HT market with peak sales of approximately $1 billion after its expected approval next year. Aprela has shown favorable results in initial studies in comparison to other HT therapeutics, with studies suggesting that Aprela may pose fewer risks and milder side effects than Prempro and Premarin, and no evidence of breast tenderness and pain or increased breast cancer rates as compared to Evista.

Companies Mentioned:

- Warner Chilcott

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Research and Markets: Women's Health Therapeutics Market to 2018