Market Overview:
Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic diseases that causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. The treatment aims to manage the symptoms which includes physical therapy, orthopedic bracing, and assistive devices to preserve mobility and function.
The Muscular Dystrophy Treatment Market is estimated for 2023 for the forecast period 2023-2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
Market Dynamics:
Rising public awareness about muscular dystrophies and availability of various nonprofit organizations providing support are fueling the market growth. The governments of various countries are also supporting muscle disease research through funding. For instance, the Muscular Dystrophy Association received over $45 million funding from the U.S. government for research in 2021. Additionally, increasing research activities for developing new treatment options is another major factor driving the muscular dystrophy treatment market. Various drugs are under clinical trials which could provide radical treatment if approved. For example, SRP-9001 by Sarepta Therapeutics is an investigational gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy currently in phase 3 clinical trial.
Increased government initiatives for muscular dystrophy treatment
Many governments across the globe have launched funding programs and initiatives aimed at funding research for developing new treatments for muscular dystrophy. For example, the US government launched a $100 million program in 2016 called MD CARE Act to accelerate the development of new treatments. The program funds multi-disciplinary research centers focused on advancing treatments. Similarly, the government of UK launched a £50 million initiative in 2018 to support research into rare diseases including muscular dystrophy. Such large scale funding programs have attracted increased private investments into the field as companies seek to develop new drugs and treatments that can benefit from these public funds. The increased governmental focus on treatment development is expected to significantly drive growth in the muscular dystrophy treatment market in the coming years.
Growing popularity of gene therapy approaches
Recent advancements in gene therapy techniques are opening up new treatment possibilities for muscular dystrophy that were not feasible before. Gene therapy aims to introduce a healthy copy of the faulty gene into the patient’s cells to compensate for the effects of the mutated gene. Several ongoing clinical trials are evaluating gene therapies for different types of muscular dystrophy. For example, phase 1/2 trials are ongoing for an experimental therapy developed by Sarepta Therapeutics to treat Duchenne MD. Promising data from ongoing studies are showing benefits of gene therapies in halting muscle deterioration and improving functions. The unprecedented clinical potential of gene therapies is attracting significant investments from pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms into this class of treatment. As these new therapies receive regulatory approvals, they are expected to transform the market dynamics in coming years.
High treatment costs act as a market restrain
Treating muscular dystrophy poses substantial costs related to regular medical management, therapies, and long-term care needs of patients. Currently available treatment options like corticosteroids can slow progression but have limited benefits and are also quite expensive. For example, the annual cost for Emflaza, a corticosteroid approved for Duchenne MD in 2017, is over $89,000 in the US. Newer advanced treatment options coming into the market are expected to have even higher price tags. Many patients may not have adequate health insurance coverage or public healthcare benefits to afford such high priced therapies. Moreover, countries with constrained healthcare budgets may not be able to provide widespread coverage for costly new treatment regimens approved for MD. The high costs involved can restrain broader market uptake and expansion for new treatment options in both developed and developing world.
Get more insights on this topic: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/muscular-dystrophy-treatment-market-914
Potential of stem cell therapies
Stem cell therapies hold promise as a curative treatment approach for various types of muscular dystrophy and have been investigated widely in preclinical research settings. Unlike other symptomatic treatments, stem cell therapies aim to regenerate lost muscle fibers and repair the cellular pathology driving muscle damage. Initial clinical trials evaluating stem cell therapies have reported some benefits in stabilizing muscle mass and functions after local intramuscular injections. While in early stages of development, continued research is likely to help optimize methods for isolating suitable stem cells, large scale production, and effective delivery approaches. As stem cell manipulation technologies progress rapidly, they may enable development of scalable, truly regenerative treatments capable of slowing or reversing disease progression offering a definite cure. This potential of stem cell-based therapies to transform MD treatments entirely presents a major long-term opportunity for the market.
Increasing adoption of new treatment paradigms
Advancements in understanding disease mechanisms of different muscular dystrophies have opened up new treatment paradigms that target specific molecular pathways driving the pathology. Instead of general immune-modulation, newer therapies are focusing on precision approaches like antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) that can specifically block production of mutated proteins. For example, two drugs – Exondys 51 and Vyondys 53 developed using AOs have been approved for specific subtypes of Duchenne MD offering targeted treatment benefits. Similarly, other therapies leveraging novel mechanisms like utrophin modulation, stop codon read-through, glycosylation inhibitors are in development for various MD types. As more therapies operating through such innovative pathways gain approvals and enter the market, it can drive major shifts from existing models to new personalized treatment paradigms. This evolving landscape is expected to boost the size and complexity of MD treatment markets appreciably.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemicals and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc.