Tauopathies Treatment Market Analysis

Tauopathies is the class of more than 20 neurodegenerative conditions, characterized by tau protein aggregation in the brain. Currently, only a limited number of therapeutics are commercialized for treatment of tauopathies. The increasing number of patients affected by conditions such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TAU) corticobasal degeneration is expected to facilitate market growth to a great extent. PSP is a 4-repeat (4R) tauopathy, composed of a preponderance of four-repeat tau isoforms and a characteristic biochemical profile. According to a report by the National Organization for Rare Disorders, PSP is estimated to affect more than 5 in 100,000 people worldwide.

According to the BioMed Central (BMC) journal, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prominent tauopathy which is a common cause of dementia in the elderly. AD is a progressive, incurable, degenerative disease of the brain that is characterized by the presence of ß- amyloid (Aß) and tau pathology. Currently, there are no disease-modifying drugs available for Alzheimer’s and only symptomatic treatments trying to offset the neurotransmitter disturbance exist. In the last 15 years, no significant novel drug for Alzheimer’s has been approved, despite extensive clinical trials. The drug pipeline has been inundated with more than 400 failed clinical trials since the last symptomatic AD drug was approved.

Factors such as the ongoing research & development activities to develop novel drugs as well as the increasing prevalence of dementia are expected to boost the growth of the global tauopathies treatment market during the forecast period. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 50 million people across the globe had dementia in 2019 and about 10 million novel cases are diagnosed each year.

Global Tauopathies Treatment Market - Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic

The tauopathies treatment market growth has been affected significantly due to the outbreak of COVID-19 all over the world. It is challenging for researchers and key industry players to obtain funding for performing clinical trials and discovering and developing a vaccine for COVID-19.  However, researchers are under the process to understand how this deadly virus affects people with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The all-inclusive version of the report will include the impact of COVID-19 and the probable changes in the future outlook of the industry by taking into account technological, social, political, and economical parameters.

The global tauopathies treatment market is estimated to be valued at US$ 712.7 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.07% during the forecast period (2020-2027).

Figure 1: Global Tauopathies Treatment Market Share (%) Analysis, By Distribution Channel, 2020

Novel drugs & treatment are expected to boost the growth of the global tauopathies treatment market

 The approvals of clinical trials are expected to pr opel the market growth and create lucrative growth opportunities for the market players during the forecast period.

For instance, in November 2017, Cortice Biosciences presented results from a placebo-controlled phase I double-blinded clinical trial assessing ‘TPI 287’. TPI 287 is a brain penetrable novel microtubule-stabilizing agent for the treatment of corticobasal syndrome (CBS), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and Alzheimer’s disease.  All three of these indications are known as ‘tauopathies’ which have no disease-modifying therapies and are associated with constant neurodegeneration and eventually result in patient’s death.

Furthermore, this disease being a capital intensive and risky investment, companies are collaborating to synergize their respective strengths and collaboratively capitalize the opportunity. For instance, in July 2019, REGENXBIO Inc. and Neurimmune AG entered a development and commercialization license agreement to determine and co-develop novel AAV gene therapies by making use of NAV Vectors. The companies aim to deliver human antibodies alongside targets concerned with chronic neurodegenerative diseases which also include tauopathies.

Besides, in February 2020, Oligomerix, Inc. presented efficacy data in two pre-clinical models of tauopathy. The findings were presented by the company at the TAU2020 Global Conference. According to Oligomerix’s findings, their lead compound decreased soluble levels of tau self-association and caused a dose-dependent drop of insoluble as well as phosphorylated insoluble tau aggregates in the tau mice brains, which represents tauopathy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Global Tauopathies Treatment Market - Restraints

However, limited availability of approved drugs for tauopathies is a major factor which is expected to hamper the growth of the global tauopathies treatment market. Delay in diagnosis and deficient understanding of the cellular mechanisms implicated in pathogenic tau-induced dysfunction and neuronal death are expected to majorly restrict the market growth.

Tauopathies Treatment Market Report Coverage

Report Coverage	Details
Base Year:	2019	Market Size in 2019:	US$ 712.7 Mn
Historical Data for:	2016 to 2019	Forecast Period:	2020 to 2027
Forecast Period 2020 to 2027 CAGR:	10.07%	2027 Value Projection:	US$ 1,536.0 Mn
Geographies covered:	North America: U.S. and Canada Latin America: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America Europe: Germany, U.K., Spain, France, Italy, Russia, and Rest of Europe Asia Pacific: China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, ASEAN, and Rest of Asia Pacific Africa: South Africa, North Africa, and Central Africa
Segments covered:	By Disease: Frontotemporal Degeneration, Alzheimer’s Disease, Other Neurodegenerative Diseases. By Distribution Channel: Hospital Pharmacy, Online Sales, Retail Pharmacy.
Companies covered:	Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., AB Science, Cortice Biosciences, REGENXBIO Inc., Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals, Neurimmune, Oligomerix, Inc., Biogen, TauRx, Sellas, Catalent Inc., Selvita S.A, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Chronos Therapeutics Limited, and SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
Growth Drivers:	Ongoing research & development of novel therapies and drugs for tauopathies treatment The growing prevalence of dementia, PSP, and other neurodegenerative diseases
Restraints & Challenges:	Limited availability of drugs for tauopathies treatment

Global Tauopathies Treatment Market – Regional Analysis

North America accounted for the largest share in the tauopathies treatment market in 2019 and is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is mainly attributed to the fact that therapy prices in this region is signficiantly higher than other economies.  

Moreover, in January 2020, Pfizer’s asset of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s was acquired by Biogen for US$ 710 million. The company’s aim behind this acquisition is to develop CNS-penetrate inhibitor of CK1 for patients with neurological and behavioral neurological symptoms in various neurological and psychiatric diseases.

Furthermore, the market in Europe is expected to account for the second-largest market share owing to investments by governments and pharmaceutical companies for development of tauopathies treatment. For instance, in January 2019, Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals received a grant of US$ 750,000 from the Tau Consortium and the Alzheimer’s Association to advance novel therapies for tauopathy diseases. Aquinnah, with this funding, has developed models of neurons that replicate the human tau stress granule pathology. The company is also involved in identifying molecules having the potential to be developed as new drugs.

Figure 2: Global Tauopathies Treatment Market Value (US$ Mn) & Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2017-2027

Global Tauopathies Treatment Market - Competitive Landscape

Key players operating in the global tauopathies treatment market are Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., AB Science, Cortice Biosciences, REGENXBIO Inc., Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals, Neurimmune, Oligomerix, Inc., Biogen, TauRx, Sellas, Catalent Inc., Selvita S.A, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Chronos Therapeutics Limited, and SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.