Hepatitis
is defined as the inflammation of the liver due to an infection by a
virus or other causative organism or toxin. Hepatitis C on the other
hand, is primarily as a result of the infection by hepatitis C virus
(HCV). With a cure rate between 50%-80%, and no commercially
available vaccine as of yet, hepatitis C is considered a deadly
disease with a moderate to high infection rate. It is the leading
cause for liver transplantation in the U.K and North America.
The
transmission of this virus in a majority occurs from injectables drug
abuse, as the virus can only be transmitted via blood-to-blood
contact. The secondary transmission factors include tattooing, sexual
contact, healthcare (blood transfusion, organ transplant) mishaps,
and other rare unknown cases. HIV infected individuals and AIDS
patients too are at a higher risk of infection. The diagnosis of
Hepatitis C is also very tricky as there lays a risk of misdiagnosis
as the virus can go undetected in a liver biopsy sample. Liver enzyme
levels may remain normal for an infected person for years, in some
cases an infected person may go as long as 30 years without showing
any symptoms of infection.
PCR
amplification of purified and centrifuged biopsy samples done at
specified time intervals are the best proven method for near accurate
diagnosis.
This
process is done so as to remove any errors caused as a result of
false negatives by antibody immunoassay testing. However since PCR
testing is quite expensive, initial screening is usually done via
immunoassay method, in addition, immunoassay also determines the
viral load and thereby help identify the stage of infection between
acute and chronic. The acute stage of disease can generally be cured
in majority of the cases, in some cases spontaneous curing has also
been observed. Complete cure rate cannot be a possibility as
Hepatitis C virus has various strains and is found to be mutative in
nature. Chronic cases are seen in a majority of infected individuals
and are also curable in some cases, but again among the majority,
liver cirrhosis is observed, which may then require liver
transplantation. Transplantation requires to be done with continuous
medication, as chances of reinfection are very high. Therapy for
Hepatitis C is not definitive but is generally done with a
combination of medicines, namely pegylated-interferon-alpha and
ribavirin, which is an antiviral. Other medications include
boceprevir, ledipasvir, telaprevir, sofosbuvir and the novel
simeprevir and sovaldi. These are either given as an addition to
ribavirin or as a replacement, depending upon the condition,
contraindication, genotype of virus and patient history.
At
present the cost of the antiviral and interferon market remains the
biggest hurdle for the proliferation of Hepatitis C therapeutics
market. The prices vary from few hundred dollars to hundreds of
thousands of dollars for a single dose. Insurances companies
generally do not cover the complete cost of drugs in standard covers,
often individuals who have very high premium are the only ones able
to afford the treatment. The ongoing research into vaccination may
also provide as a restraint in the future, as preventive vaccination
has always shown greater success versus therapeutics.
The
market for Hepatitis C therapeutics remains in billions, with new
combinations being patented every year, and each having their own
market segment. They are at present one of the most sought after
investment segment in the healthcare drugs industry. With entry of
Asian players the prices too are bound to decrease, thereby
potentially increasing therapeutics market. The North American market
is the highest market by volume, followed by Europe, as in these
regions reported cases are high in number, and so is the
affordability of drugs.
The
major cause for Hepatitis C transmission in developed nations is
intravenous narcotic/psychedelic drug abuse, which is common in these
regions. In developing markets of Asia and South America, the leading
cause for transmission is healthcare exposure and their poor
standards. This along with their population size make for a large
market, however unavailability of affordable drugs is often the
reason why markets haven’t been proliferated as of yet. However the
recent growth of market in Asia Pacific is a positive sign for
potential manufacturers. The rest of the world also follows a similar
pattern.
This
research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market
segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies
analyzed under this research report include
- North America
- Asia Pacific
- Europe
- Rest of the World
This
report provides comprehensive analysis of
- Market growth drivers
- Factors limiting market growth
- Current market trends
- Market structure
- Market projections for upcoming years
This
report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry
growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for
the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in
technology, Porter’s five force model analysis and detailed
profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review
of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players
and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.
More
Reports on Pharmaceutical Market:
http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pharmaceutical-market-reports-1.html
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