The value of medication developed for the treatment of conditions relating to the immune system is expected to double by 2011, new findings suggest.
A report from life science consultants Greystone Associates states that the ongoing study and growing medical interest in the influence of the immune system on health and disease, has resulted in a recent increase in the number of drugs being used to help patients manage incurable immunity-related conditions.
According to the report, sales of Enbrel, Remicade, and Humira, used for the treatment of inflammatory autoimmune diseases, Herceptin for oncology, and Avonex and Betaseron for multiple sclerosis, reached over US$1 billion in 2007.
Last year, the value of "immune factor drugs" was more than US$18 billion worldwide.
Greystone Associates claims that over 36 different pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms are currently developing drugs based on immune medicine in the sector, working on "targeted therapeutic applications for pipeline immune factor drug candidates" of hereditary, metabolic and infectious diseases in addition to autoimmune and oncology conditions.
