A new report by GlobalData projects the Alzheimer’s disease market in major global markets to soar from $2.4 billion in 2023 to $19.3 billion by 2033, driven by the entry of costly disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). DMTs like Leqembi and Kisunla are set to dominate, though challenges such as high costs, logistical barriers, and access restrictions remain. New oral treatments are also being explored to ease integration into clinical practice.
The Alzheimer’s disease market is expected to experience significant growth over the next decade, driven by the introduction of expensive, disease-modifying treatments (DMTs), according to a new report from GlobalData. The market in eight key countries—US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, and China—is projected to surge from $2.4 billion in 2023 to $19.3 billion by 2033, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.4%.
This growth will be largely fueled by the arrival of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that are set to change the treatment landscape for Alzheimer’s. These therapies are expected to increase treatment rates as more options become available. Other contributing factors include an aging global population, which is leading to a higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s, and the introduction of novel symptomatic treatments for agitation and psychosis associated with the disease.
By 2033, DMTs are forecasted to make up 73.5% of the global Alzheimer’s market, with a significant portion of this share being attributed to drugs targeting amyloid beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s progression.
Top-Selling Alzheimer’s Drugs on the Horizon Philippa Salter, Managing Neurology Analyst at GlobalData, highlighted that Eisai/Biogen’s Leqembi (lecanemab) and Eli Lilly’s Kisunla (donanemab) are poised to become the top-selling Alzheimer’s drugs, with estimated global sales of $3.6 billion and $3.8 billion, respectively, by 2033.
However, the report notes that the integration of these DMTs into clinical practice may face hurdles. The frequent intravenous administration required for these treatments, along with the need for expensive imaging scans such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), could limit access. Moreover, the new DMTs are significantly more expensive than the current symptomatic treatments, presenting further challenges related to reimbursement and payer restrictions.
Overcoming Barriers and Exploring Alternatives In response to these challenges, drugmakers are exploring alternative methods of drug administration, such as oral therapies. Several promising oral late-stage products are in the pipeline, including Anavex Life Sciences’ ANAVEX2-73 (blarcamesine), TauRx Therapeutics’ LMTX (hydromethylthionine mesylate), and Novo Nordisk’s NN-6535 (semaglutide), which could ease the integration of DMTs into clinical practice.
While the new DMTs are considered moderately effective, the report emphasizes that there is still a significant opportunity for more potent treatments that could not only slow disease progression but potentially halt it altogether. Prevention remains the ultimate goal for the future of Alzheimer’s treatments.
Future Opportunities in Alzheimer’s Treatment Beyond DMTs, there is growing demand for drugs that can improve cognition in the later stages of Alzheimer’s, as well as more effective treatments for secondary symptoms such as agitation and psychosis. These unmet needs represent key opportunities for developers looking to address the full spectrum of challenges posed by Alzheimer’s disease.
The Alzheimer’s treatment market is on the brink of a major transformation, with innovations poised to significantly alter the disease’s management and outcomes in the coming years.
