Androgens are male sex hormones responsible for masculine characteristics such ad muscular build, deeper voice, and facial hair. Most of the androgens are produced in testes and their two most common types are dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone. Along with normal functions, androgens also contribute to prostate cancer cell growth, especially during early stages of the cancer. Androgen deprivation therapy, also called androgen suppression therapy, is used either to reduce the production of androgens in the patient’s body or to modulate the way androgens work, thus ultimately inhibiting growth of prostate cancer cells.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) Market Drivers

Key players in the market are focusing on research to develop new drugs and broaden the indication label of current drugs for treatment of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which is expected to boost the global androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) market growth over the forecast period.

For instance, in February 2018, Janssen Pharmaceutica, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson received approval for its drug ERLEADA (apalutamide) in treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). ERLEADA is a next-generation androgen receptor inhibitor, which belongs to the class of drugs anti-androgens and blocks the effect of testosterone to slow down the process of tumor growth and metastasis. It is the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for the treatment of patients with non-metastatic CRPC.

Similarly, in July 2018, Pfizer Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. received approval from the U.S. FDA for XTANDI (enzalutamide) that is indicated for the treatment of non-metastatic CRPC along with its existing indication for CRPC. XTANDI is an androgen receptor inhibitor and works by inhibiting the effects of testosterone, thereby slowing tumor growth and metastasis. These factors are expected to have a positive impact on the global androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) market growth over the forecast period.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) Market Regional Analysis

Approval for new drugs is expected to boost the global androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in November 2017, European Commission (EC) granted approval to Janssen-Cilag International NV (Janssen) for broadening the existing marketing authorization for its drug Zytiga (abiraterone acetate). The approval enables the company to include the drug in treatment of metastatic prostate cancer’s early stages along with ADT. Such new drug approvals are expected to propel Europe androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) market growth over the forecast period.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) Market Restraints

According to American Cancer Society (ASC), several prostate cancers, which are treated with ADT develop resistance to the treatment over a period of time (few months or years). Hormone therapy is not useful in treating hormone refractory prostate cancer i.e. cancer, which is no longer responding to hormone therapy. According to National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with prostate, androgens also contribute to functions of other organs. Therefore, hormone deprivation therapy is associated with side effects such as hot flashes, loss of bone density, erectile dysfunction, lowered libido, loss of muscular strength mass, insulin resistance, and change in blood lipids, fatigue, mood swings, weight gain and gynecomastia. These factors are expected to restrain the global androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) market growth over the forecast period.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) Market Key Players

Some of the major players operating in the androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) market include, Pfizer Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Novartis International AG, Veru Inc., Sanofi S.A., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Bayer AG, Orion Corporation, and AstraZeneca Plc.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) Market Taxonomy

The global androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) market is segmented on the basis of drug class, route of administration, distribution channel, and regions.

By Drug Class

Antiandrogens
- Flutamide
- Bicalutamide
- Nilutamide
- Enzalutamide
Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists
- Leuprolide
- Goserelin
- Triptorelin
- Histrelin
LHRH antagonist
- Degarelix
- Abiraterone
Others