TNF blocker pills, creams? Yes!

Remicade in a pill? Oral Enbrel? Humira as a cream? TNF alpha blocker eye drops to stop Behcet's? Yes, all of that is coming. As soon as the FDA gets out of the way and lets it happen.


Research and Markets: TNF Antagonists: Most Successful with Plenty of Competition in the Pipeline
DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Feb 24, 2009 - Research and Markets

(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6015b3/competitor_analysi) has announced the addition of the "Competitor Analysis: TNF Antagonists & Agonists" report to their offering.
The present Competitive Intelligence Report about Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) and TNF receptor antagonists and agonists used to treat TNF-mediated inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or to treat cancer, respectively, provides a competitor evaluation in the field of R&D projects with TNF Antagonists & Agonists as of February 2009.

TNF blockers are the commercially most successful single-target group of biologic therapies. 2008 sales of the four approved brands were US$16.35 bln with double digit growth rates due to indication expansion and new market entrants. Abbott's fully human antibody Humira recorded 2008 sales growth of 48% over the previous year which may explain why competitors with the established brands Enbrel and Remicade also have fully human anti-TNF antibodies in their pipeline. Forthcoming patent expiries also may have encouraged to develop next generation anti-TNF antibodies. Clinical indications approved for therapy with TNF blockers include rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile RA, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis in adults and in children, Crohn's disease and pediatric Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

As in other cases, a clinically validated target with commercial success attracts companies to exploit and leverage their new technologies. Next generations of TNF blockers may bring orally bioavailable versions, locally applied TNF blockers, antagonists with higher binding affinities or better tissue penetration due to smaller size. At least 15 clinical stage and 19 preclinical stage are under evaluation in various indications including ophthalmic use, osteoarthritis, Behcet's disease, organ transplantation, cutaneous sarcoidosis, oral mucositis, atopical dermatitis and sepsis.

The report includes a compilation of marketed products and their sales in 2008 and current active projects in research and development of TNF antagonists and agonists. In addition, the report lists company-specific product portfolios and R&D pipelines of TNF antagonists and agonists.

Competitor projects are listed in a tabular format providing information on:

Drug Codes,
Target / Mechanism of Action,
Class of Compound,
Company,
Product Category/Therapeutic Area,
Indication,
R&D Stage and
additional comments with a hyperlink leading to the source of information.
Competitor Analysis: TNF Antagonists & Agonists
Sales of TNF Antagonists in 2008