https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/24/05/21/11930/
According to a market survey by ISQIA,”anti-tumor drugs” ranked first at 1,959.4 billion yen. The market is overwhelmingly large and continues to grow strongly, approaching 2 trillion yen. Its share of the total market was 17.2%. IQVIA said that in addition to Imfinzi, the anti-CD79b monoclonal antibody conjugated to a microtubule inhibitor, Polivee (polatuzumab vedotin, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), contributed to growth in this area with sales increasing 81.4% year-on-year. IQVIA predicts that growth will continue, centered on new drugs, and that it will exceed 2 trillion yen in 2024.
The second-largest “diabetes treatment” market increased by 7.1% compared to the previous year, and growth accelerated. “Sales of SGLT-2 inhibitors increased due to the addition of an indication for chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as GLP-1 receptor agonists Ozempic (semaglutide, Novo Nordisk) and Libersus ( Significant growth in sales of semaglutide (MSD) also contributed.” (IQVIA)
In third place was the immunosuppressant market, with rheumatoid arthritis treatment drug Rinvoc (upadacitinib, AbbVie) increasing 71.2% year-on-year, and atopic dermatitis treatment drug Dupixent (dupilumab, Sanofi) increasing by 71.2% compared to the previous year. This was a significant increase of 37.6%. “Dupixent’s expanded use in children contributed to its growth” (IQVIA).
Due to the transition of COVID-19 to a Class 5 infectious disease in May 2023, sales of diagnostic test reagents decreased significantly by 20.8% compared to the previous year, dropping two ranks to 6th place. On the other hand, systemic antiviral drugs, which include therapeutic drugs, rose from 6th place in the previous year to 4th place. Due to the expansion of the market for COVID-19 treatment drugs and growth in influenza treatment drugs, sales recorded high growth of 48.6% year on year. Additionally, renin-angiotensin system agonists, which had always been ranked within the top 10 since the top-line announcement began in 2005, finally dropped out of the rankings this quarter.
Chugai Pharmaceutical tops corporate sales ranking for third consecutive year. Sales were 539.9 billion yen, an increase of 1.4% from the previous year. Growth in Polibee and strong sales of the main product Hemlibra (emicizumab), a treatment for hemophilia A, contributed. AstraZeneca, which ranked third in the previous year, emerged in second place, with sales of 513.2 billion yen, an increase of 12.6% compared to the previous year. In addition to Imfinzi, the diabetes drug Farxiga (dapagliflozin) grew. Sales of Farxiga continue to grow due to expanded indications for chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Third place was MSD, with sales of 497.2 billion yen, an increase of 30.2% from the previous year, showing the highest growth rate among the top 20 companies. In addition to the aforementioned Lagebryo and Keytruda, the HPV vaccine Sylgard 9 (recombinant precipitated 9-valent human papillomavirus-like particle vaccine [yeast-derived]) contributed to growth.
IQVIA Japan classifies the domestic medical drug market into three markets: “hospitals,” “practitioners,” and “pharmacies and others.” In fiscal 2023, sales in the hospital market will increase by 4.6% from the previous year to 5,330.6 billion yen, in the private practice market by 2.0% to 2,114.9 billion yen, and in pharmacies and other sales by 3.3% to 3,925.2 billion yen. became.
