ORGAN TRANSPLANT IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT DRUGS MARKET ANALYSIS

Global organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs market is estimated to be valued at US$ 5.17 billion in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Analysts’ Views on Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market:

Due to the ageing population and rising rates of organ failure, the demand for organ transplants is rising globally. Patients with last-stage organ disorders frequently have no other alternative but to undergo organ transplant procedures. Organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs are in demand for the said reasons, and their demand has steadily increasing over the years.

Figure 1. Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market Share (%), By Drug Class, 2023

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market - Drivers

• Increasing incidences of chronic diseases: Increasing incidences of chronic diseases is expected to propel the growth of the global organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs market over the forecast period. For instance, according to World Health Organization (WHO) report published in September 2022, chronic diseases account for 41 million annual fatalities, or 74% of all fatalities worldwide. The majority of chronic diseases or non- communicable diseases (NCDs), with 17.9 million fatalities each year, which are caused by cardiovascular illnesses, followed by malignancies like cancer and tumor (9.3 million), chronic respiratory conditions (4.1 million), and diabetes (2.0 million, including deaths from renal disease brought on by diabetes).
• Increasing geriatric population: Ageing is associated with a higher risk of organ failure, as many organs naturally decline in function with age. Common age-related organ failures include kidney, heart, liver, and lung diseases. As people age, they are more likely to require organ transplants to extend their lives, thus increasing the demand for immunosuppressant drugs. For instance, according to World Health Organization report published in October 2022,  in 2020, there will be more persons over 60 than under five-year-olds. The percentage of people over 60 in the world will nearly treble from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050.

Figure 2. Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market Share(%), By Region, 2023

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market- Regional Analysis

Among regions, North America is estimated to hold a dominant position in the global organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs market over the forecast period. Major pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms in North America are actively involved in the production and distribution of immunosuppressant drugs. These companies invest heavily in research and development to create more effective and safer drugs. For instance, in September 2021, Sanofi, a global healthcare company and Kadmon Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and offers revolutionary treatments for disease areas with high unmet medical needs, have signed a final merger agreement. RezurockTM (belumosudil) will be added right away to Sanofi's transplant portfolio as part of the acquisition, which complements the company's ambition to expand its core General Medicines assets.

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market - Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease spread to over 100 countries across the globe, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency on January 30, 2020.

The pandemic disrupted global supply chains, affecting the availability of pharmaceutical raw materials and finished products. This led to potential shortages of immunosuppressant drugs, which could have affected transplant patients. Many hospitals and healthcare facilities postponed or scaled back non-essential medical procedures, including organ transplant surgeries, to allocate resources for COVID-19 patients. This had an immediate impact on the demand for immunosuppressant drugs.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant worldwide influence on solid organ transplantation (SOT). According to National Center for Biotechnology Information report published in July 2022, in 2020, there was an approximate 16% decrease in transplant procedures globally, with kidney transplants and living donor programs being the most severely affected. Moreover, an analysis study published in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) article, solid organ transplantation (SOT) rates in 22 countries in 2019 and 2020 predicted a 16% global decline in transplant activity, with the biggest drop occurring in the first three months of the pandemic.

According to Lancet report 2020, at all phases of the donation procedure, there have been decreases in transplant activity, with the majority of data coming from the beginning of the epidemic. First, it was reported that in 2020, donor referrals decreased by 12% to 39%.

Additionally, many hospitals and healthcare facilities postponed or scaled back non-essential medical procedures, including organ transplant surgeries, to allocate resources for COVID-19 patients. This had an immediate impact on the demand for immunosuppressant drugs. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs market. It disrupted supply chains, delayed transplant procedures, raised concerns among transplant recipients, prompted research, and led to regulatory changes.

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market Segmentation:

The global organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs market is segmented into drug class, transplant type, distribution channel, and region.

• By drug class, the market is segmented into calcineurin inhibitors, antiproliferative agents, mtor inhibitor, steroids and antibodies. Antibodies are the leading segment which can play a dual role in organ transplantation. First, they are a crucial part of the immune system's defense against foreign substances, including transplanted organs, and can potentially lead to rejection of the transplant. Secondly, immunosuppressive antibodies can be used as a therapy to prevent rejection and promote the success of organ transplantation.
• By transplant type, the market is segmented into kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas and others. Among the transplant type segment, kidney segment is expected for the highest market share over the forecasted period. Immunosuppressants are a crucial component of the medical regimen used in kidney transplantation. In order to stop the recipient's immune system from fighting and rejecting the transplanted kidney, these drugs are provided. Immunosuppressive therapy must be administered for a long time to kidney transplant patients in order to guarantee the transplant's effectiveness and survival.
• By distribution channel, the market is segmented into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies and online pharmacies. Retail pharmacies are easily accessible to the general public, with many locations in neighborhoods and shopping centers. This accessibility makes it convenient for individuals to pick up prescriptions and over-the-counter medications without needing to plan ahead or wait for delivery.

The drug class segment is anticipated to be the dominant factor in the market during the forecast period. Owing to the reason that the antibodies play a multifaceted role in organ transplantation. They can contribute to rejection when targeted against the transplant, but they also serve as valuable tools to prevent rejection when included in immunosuppressive treatments.

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market - Cross Sectional Analysis:

Key players are making organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs with advanced technology emerging nations is also expected to boost demand for organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs market in North America region. For instance, in July 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new use for Prograf (tacrolimus) based on a non-interventional (observational) study providing real-world evidence (RWE) of effectiveness. FDA approved Prograf for use in combination with other immunosuppressant drugs to prevent organ rejection in adult and pediatric patients receiving lung transplantation.

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market: Key Developments

• In November 2021, the U.S. FDA approved Takeda Pharma’s, Livtencity, or maribavir, for patients 12 years of age or older with post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection which is subsidiaries to one of four existing drugs.
• In January 2020, The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2019 (HR 5534) extended medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplants past the 36-month cut-off currently in place to cover the medications for the life of the patients going through transplant.
• In January 2020, National Kidney Foundation (NKF) applauded the new legislation recently introduced to extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients which will not only save lives but save taxpayers money.

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market: Key Trends

Development of targeted therapies: Pharmaceutical companies have been working on developing more targeted immunosuppressant drugs. These drugs aim to suppress the immune response more selectively, reducing the risk of infection and other side effects associated with broader immunosuppression.

Moreover, advances in genomics and pharmacogenomics have paved the way for personalized immunosuppression regimens. Tailoring drug choices and dosages to an individual's genetic profile can improve drug efficacy and reduce the risk of rejection. For instance, according to an article by National Library of Medicine article published in August 2021, many studies show potential applications of precision medicine in aiding physicians to assess the immune status of patients and then to individualize immunosuppression.

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market: Restraint

High cost of procedure : Organ transplant surgeries require highly skilled surgical teams, including transplant surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses, who have specialized training and experience in the procedure. These medical professionals command high salaries, contributing to the overall cost. This poses a limiting factor to the overall growth of the organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs market.

Moreover, the cost of immunosuppressant drugs can place a substantial financial burden on transplant recipients and their families. These medications are often required for the lifetime of the transplant, and the cumulative cost over time can be significant.

Lack of donor organs: The scarcity of donor organs hampers the organ transplant immunosuppressant drug market by limiting transplantation opportunities. Fewer available organs result in fewer transplant procedures, reducing the demand for post-transplant immunosuppressive medications. This shortage not only curtails market growth but also impacts patient access to life-saving transplants, potentially prolonging suffering and medical costs. Increased efforts to address organ scarcity through improved organ procurement, public awareness, and alternative transplant sources are vital for expanding the market and enhancing patient care. For instance, according to statistics by Health Resources & Services Administration organdonor.gov, there are 104,234 people on the national transplant waiting list in U.S.

Due to the limited supply of organs, transplant centers must be selective in choosing recipients. Patients with the most urgent medical needs or the best chances of successful transplantation often receive priority. This selectivity can reduce the overall pool of transplant recipients who require immunosuppressant drugs.

Counterbalance: In order to increase the number of donors for the organs, programs should be promoted to increase donor awareness among the population. More media coverage should be done to increase public awareness and reduce misconceptions about the organ tranplants. Most importantly, public education needs to be carried out in the said respect.

Global Organ Transplant Immunosuppressant Drugs Market - Key Players

The major players operating in the global organ transplant immunosuppressant drugs market include Astellas Pharma, Genzyme Corporation, Accord Healthcare Ltd., Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis AG, Mylan Laboratories, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Belcher Pharmaceuticals LLC, Leo Pharma As, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., TFF Pharmaceuticals, Inc., TolerogenixX GmbH, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Panacea Biotec Ltd., Strides Pharma Global Pte Ltd., and Hoffman La Roche.

Definition: Immunosuppressant drugs, also known as anti-rejection medications, are medications prescribed to organ transplant recipients to prevent their immune system from attacking and rejecting the transplanted organ. These drugs are crucial for ensuring the success of organ transplantation.