Idenix Pharmaceuticals (IDIX)

[gofishmarko]

Re : China

Some exerpts from a more recent (12/05) Datamonitor report TOC :


Datamonitor insight into the Chinese Hepatitis B & C market

China is undergoing an economic boom, generating 12% of global economic trade, and it is currently the leading recipient of foreign investment. Since 34% of the world's chronic hepatitis B patients and 24% of the world's chronic hepatitis C patients live in China, the Chinese hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) markets have historically represented a significant growth opportunity, with a realistic current valuation of $1.0 billion (HBV) and $0.9 billion (HCV). However, the Chinese healthcare system has been ranked 144th out of 191 by the WHO, prompting it to be denounced as one of the most unfair systems in the world. These problems, together with the inability of many patients to afford these drugs and concerns over their efficacy in Asian patients, are retarding Western pharmaceutical penetration.

Chinese physicians indicated that HBV incidence is decreasing and is set to continue to fall. In contrast to the seven major markets, where most patients acquire HBV sexually, the dominant route of HBV transmission in China is perinatal transmission, which increases the likelihood of becoming immune tolerant and impacts on HBV disease progression and the effectiveness of drug therapy. In China, physicians do not consider any of the currently available therapies a gold-standard, although lamivudine is the most prescribed first-line therapy, while adefovir is the most prescribed second-line therapy.

Chinese physicians indicated that HCV incidence may be increasing. Blood transfusion is thought to be the dominant HCV transmission route in China, while in the seven major markets, HCV is mainly acquired through intravenous drug use. The Chinese HCV treatment market is highly fragmented, with treatment differing significantly between regions. For example, in Hong Kong, all HCV patients receive pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination therapy, currently considered the global standard of care. However, across mainland China, unmodified interferons are more commonly prescribed than pegylated interferons, and interferon monotherapy is more frequently used than interferon/ribavirin combination therapy.
Due to the high cost of pharmaceuticals and the cost-conscious nature of the Chinese healthcare system, the hepatitis market faces a number of threats, including TCMs, generic drugs and counterfeit drugs.

Similar to the seven major markets, efficacy is the most important factor driving HBV and HCV pharmaceutical prescription in China, with cost and reimbursement in second place. Interestingly, the side-effect profile ranked third in China, while this factor ranked second in the seven major markets.

http://www.the-infoshop.com/study/dc35273-hepatitis-china_toc.html