2012-09-30 07:24:24 - Recently published research from Datamonitor, "Drug Discovery in Rare Diseases", is now available at Fast Market Research

In comparison with major diseases, the targeting of rare diseases poses many different challenges, necessitating consideration of bespoke R&D strategies for drug discovery efforts to be successful. This report examines the role that low disease prevalence plays in determining the most suitable R&D path.

Scope
* Understand the growing interest in developing new treatments for rare diseases, and why low patient numbers do not preclude commercial viability.
* Review the regulatory environment governing the development of orphan drugs in different countries.
* Identify the key challenges that are presented by low patient prevalences.
* Assess how the research strategy chosen can be influenced by the disease prevalence.
* Compare the scenarios in which repurposing of existing drugs offers advantages over the

development of novel drugs, and vice versa.

Highlights

Approximately 7,000 rare diseases have been identified, but only a very small proportion of these are currently well treated. Orphans represent a greater proportion of all new BLAs than they do of NMEs submitted as NDAs. Most orphan approvals are not first approvals of new drugs but are new orphan indications for previously approved drugs.


Full Report Details at
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It is possible to obtain orphan drug designation for conditions with a total prevalence greater than that defined by legislation, but only if medically justifiable subsets can be defined with a lower (overall) prevalence. Pediatric subsets are most commonly used.

In the development of new treatments for rare diseases it is less critical to seek to optimize the pharmacokinetic properties of candidates than is the case for common chronic diseases, with parenteral delivery or frequent oral dosing being much more acceptable provided that efficacy is achieved.

Reasons to Get this Report
* What impact on R&D strategy does disease prevalence have on moving from rare through very rare to ultra rare diseases?
* Can more than one drug be a commercial success for treating rare indications, and how do drug regulators view the question of drug similarity?
* What are the best ways of identifying patients for recruitment into clinical trials for drugs designed to treat rare diseases?
* What are the requirements for a clinical candidate to treat a rare disease?
* What factors determine whether a small-molecule or biologic strategy is most suitable when targeting a rare disease?

Partial Table of Contents:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

* Key findings

The growing interest in rare diseases

* Summary
* Introduction
* What is a rare disease?
* Why target rare diseases?

Characterization of rare diseases

* Summary
* Overview
* Rare diseases
* Very rare diseases
* Ultra rare diseases
* Useful resources

Orphan drug status

* Summary
* Introduction
* Legislative distinctions

* US
* Europe
* Japan
* Other markets

* Tax benefits
* Patient population subsetting
* Similarity
* Summary of key considerations

Choosing rare diseases to target

* Summary
* Introduction
* Key issues
* Commercial potential

* Prevalence
* Geographic distribution
* Disease understanding
* Available experts
* Current treatments
* What is similar?

* Conclusion

Preclinical development

* Summary
* Introduction
* Screen or repurpose?

* Repurposed
* Directed approaches
* Taking advantage of orphan drug status

* Other issues

* Small molecule or biological?
* Biological test models
* Requirements of a clinical candidate

* Conclusions

Clinical issues

* Summary
* Introduction
* Clinical trial design
* Access to patients

* Geographic distribution
* Identifying patients

* Conclusions

Commercial considerations

* Summary
* Introduction
* Identifying commercially promising opportunities

* Prevalence
* Current treatments
* Competitive position

* Case studies

* (Untitled sub-section)
* Gaucher disease

* Conclusions

Conclusions

* Summary
* Introduction
* Checklist to consider
* Corporate strategies
* Conclusions

Appendix

* Scope
* Methodology
* Glossary/abbreviations
* Bibliography/references

TABLES

* Table: Timeline of international orphan drug legislation, 1983-2008
* Table: Comparison of orphan drug legislation in the US, Europe, and Japan
* Table: The FDA's definitions of similarity

FIGURES

* Figure: US FDA orphan approvals, 2001-11 (part 1)
* Figure: US FDA orphan approvals, 2001-11 (part 2)
* Figure: Rare diseases, medical need, and disease prevalence
* Figure: Distribution of US orphan drug approvals by disease prevalence (to 2010)
* Figure: European orphan drug approvals by disease prevalence (to 2010)
* Figure: Exploiting knowledge resources for rare disease research
* Figure: The organizational relationships within the EMA pertaining to orphan drugs
* Figure: Schematic relationship between rare disease prevalence and commercial returns
* Figure: Identifying suitable patients for clinical studies
* Figure: The influence of prevalence on research strategy
* Figure: Current exploitation of rare disease space
* Figure: "Similar" approved BCR-ABL inhibitors with orphan drug status
* Figure: Similar approved endothelin receptor antagonists with orphan drug status
*

Full Table of Contents is available at:
-- www.fastmr.com/catalog/product.aspx?productid=464865&dt=t

About Datamonitor

The Datamonitor Group is a world-leading provider of premium global business information, delivering independent data, analysis and opinion across the Automotive, Consumer Markets, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Logistics & Express, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Retail, Technology and Telecoms industries. Datamonitor's market intelligence products and services ensure that you will achieve your desired commercial goals by giving you the insight you need to best respond to your competitive environment. View more research from Datamonitor at www.fastmr.com/catalog/publishers.aspx?pubid=1002

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