Age-Related Macular Degeneration | Unmet Need | US/EU | 2017
Geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the United States and Europe. Degradation of cells in the retinal pigment epithelium under the retina and the related atrophy of macular photoreceptors are characteristic of GA. The primary goal of GA treatment is to stop or slow disease progression to prevent vision loss. With no approved therapies for GA, over-the-counter high-dose antioxidants and minerals (AREDS supplements) are often recommended to GA patients even though they have not been shown to be effective in reducing GA progression specifically. Thus, unmet need is high in this indication, leaving substantial commercial opportunity for novel GA therapies.
The Unmet Need content provides quantitative insight into U.S. and European physician perceptions of key treatment drivers and goals in the treatment of GA and the current level of unmet need associated with the disease. We analyze commercial opportunities in the GA market and discuss how emerging therapies may capitalize on these opportunities.
Questions Answered:
- What are the treatment drivers and goals for GA?
- What attributes are key influencers, which have limited impact, and which are hidden opportunities?
- How do current therapies perform on key treatment drivers and goals for GA?
- What are the prevailing areas of unmet need and opportunity in GA?
- What trade-offs across different clinical attributes and price are acceptable to U.S. and European ophthalmologists for a hypothetical new GA drug?
Markets covered: United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany
Primary research: Survey of 60 U.S. and 32 European ophthalmologists fielded in January 2017
Key companies: Roche/Genentech, Ophthotech, Allergan, Janssen, Apellis Pharmaceuticals
Key drugs: Lampalizumab, Zimura, brimonidine tartrate intravitreal implant, CNTO-2476, APL-2
