HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Treatment Market Analysis

HIV-associated lipodystrophy also known as lipodystrophy is a syndrome that occurs in HIV-infected patients. It is characterized by loss of subcutaneous fat from face, buttocks, arms and legs. Although the exact cause of HIV-associated lipodystrophy is not fully elucidated, some research evidence reported that it occurs in HIV-infected patients who are under antiretroviral medications. According to an article published in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in 2014, prevalence of lipodystrophy in people infected with HIV varies between 10% and 80%.

Increasing prevalence of HIV is expected to drive growth of the HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market

According to an article published in Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research in 2014, prevalence of lipodystrophy in patients suffering from HIV varies significantly and was estimated between 32.4% and 88.6%. According to World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017, more than 35 million people are suffering from HIV worldwide and an estimated 1.0 million people died from HIV in 2016. Increasing prevalence of HIV is expected to drive growth of the HIV-associated lipodystrophy market as most (32.4-88.6%) of the people suffering from HIV also suffer from HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Approval of novel drugs in key regions such as North America is expected to drive the growth of HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Market. For instance, in 2014, Theratechnologies Inc. received approval from Health Canada for its EGRIFTA. It is a growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) for the treatment of HIV-associated lipodystrophy. EGRIFTA had also received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2010. Such approval of new drugs in the key region is expected to drive growth of the HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market.

Global HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Treatment Market Taxonomy

The global HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market is segmented on the basis of lipodystrophy type, therapeutic class, and distribution channel.

On the basis of lipodystrophy type, the global HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market is segmented into:

• Lipoatrophy
• Lipoaccumulation

On the basis of therapeutic class, the global HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market is segmented into:

• Anabolism modulators
• Growth hormones
• Anabolic steroids
• Insulin resistance modulators
• Metformins
• Thiazolidinediones
• Others
• Mitochondrial antioxidants (l-carnitine)
• Other miscellaneous metabolic agents

On the basis of the distribution channel, the global HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market is segmented into:

• Hospital pharmacies
• Retail pharmacies
• Online pharmacies

North America is expected to hold a dominant position in HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market, owing to favorable insurance policy mandating insurance companies to cover HIV-related lipodystrophy

North America is expected to hold a dominant position in HIV-related lipodystrophy treatment market, owing to favorable insurance policy. In 2016, The Massachusetts House and Senate approved a bill mandating insurance coverage to treat HIV drug side-effects such as HIV-related lipodystrophy. The approval of such insurance policy is expected to create a lucrative environment for HIV-related lipodystrophy market. Europe is expected to be the second largest market in HIV-related lipodystrophy market due to high prevalence of HIV in Europe. For instance, according to an article published in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in 2014, approximately 860,000 adults were living with HIV in Europe and the highest prevalence of HIV were found in France (17.7 %), Spain (13.1 %), Greece (12.7 %) and Germany (11.5 %). 

According to The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), about 36.7 million were living with HIV globally, and 30% of these people were unaware about their condition in 2016. Out of this 36.7 million people, 19.4 million were living in East and Southern Africa. The higher prevalence of HIV in region such as Africa which has limited access to drugs for disease such as HIV-associated lipodystrophy is expected to be major restraining factor in this market.

Major market players of HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market

Key players operating in global HIV-associated lipodystrophy treatment market include Theratechnologies Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Novelion Therapeutics Inc., AstraZeneca plc, AbbVie Inc., and Bristol-Myers Squibb.