As a group, autoimmune diseases remain one of the most refractory and difficult-to-treat segments of healthcare therapeutics. The underlying genetics of the immune response and the complexities they foster among individual patients make this one of the most challenging areas in all of life science. Until recently, autoimmune disease patients were given little hope for effective treatment. But the convergence of improved elucidation of autoimmune disease mechanisms and the ability to design and manufacture recombinant proteins capable of attenuating the immune system cascade has led to systemic treatments that have demonstrated the ability to provide some degree of relief from autoimmune symptoms in a significant number of patients.
Perhaps more than any other disease segment, autoimmune conditions and the companies that market treatments for them are benefiting from the potential for expanded indications. A typical strategy for many drug candidates is to initially target a larger, well-defined segment such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and then pursue secondary indications - for example - Lupus or Psoriasis, once the brand has been launched and established. Such a strategy requires resources and risks that can strain all but the largest players, making alliances highly attractive.
Because of the individual genetic variability underlying the incidence and severity of autoimmune symptoms, regional variations in the market for autoimmune therapeutics can be significant. This variability is compounded by differences in treatment protocols and cultural factors, which combine to make alliance partnerships with regional players of increased importance.
The dynamics of therapeutic intellectual property is another factor fostering alliance activity in the autoimmune sector. Because antibody technology forms the basis for much of the current generation of autoimmune disease treatment technology, mid-to-large pharma companies are increasingly in-licensing therapeutic candidates from smaller specialty laboratories, often at the pre-clinical stage.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/116084.php
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com