This is free marketing research on the Neuropathic pain treatment industry and can include information on the background, market structure, definitions, competitors, trends and developments of neuropathic pain treatment and is related to other topics such as drugs and medicine.

EpiCept’s positive trials indicate progress in the growing topical neuropathic pain market.

EpiCept has announced positive results from its recent Phase II trial of its NP-1 ketamine and amitriptyline cream for diabetic neuropathic pain. Such progress added to strong uptake of Endo’s Lidoderm patch, a topical agent, and the launch of several novel pipeline treatments are set to drive growth of the topical neuropathic pain market, which is forecasted to reach $450m in 2016. Preliminary results from the Phase II “Neuracept” trial for NP-1 cream in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathic pain support the commencement of further late stage pivotal clinical trials of NP-1. Pain scores measured trended in favor of the NP-1 treated patients over the placebo group, indicative of an analgesic effect in this type of peripheral neuropathic pain.

NP-1 is a patented topical cream formulation of two FDA approved drugs, 2% ketamine (NMDA antagonist) and 4% amitriptyline (tricyclic antidepressant) in trials for the long term relief of pain from peripheral neuropathies. NP-1 is in trials for diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP), cancer neuropathic pain (CNP) as well as post herpetic neuropathic pain (PHN).

Neuropathic pain is a pain associated with a functional abnormality of the nervous system. Clinical features of neuropathic pain include the presence of an abnormal, unpleasant sensation (dysesthesia) that frequently has a burning or electrical quality with an occasional paroxysmal, brief, shooting, or stabbing quality. In the US, marketing authorization is given for the individual neuropathic pain sub-type, whereas in the EU, drugs are approved for the general neuropathic pain condition.

The neuropathic pain market is forecasted to be worth over $7 billion in 2016, mainly being driven by the sales of Pfizer’s oral Lyrica (pregabalin) and Lilly’s oral Cymbalta (duloxetine) treatments. There is, however, scope in the market for topical agents, driven by the sales of Endo’s Lidoderm patch (lidocaine) which currently holds some 10% of the neuropathic pain market.

New improved topical analgesics have strong potential in the neuropathic pain market. Positioned as adjuncts to the oral medications, topical agents can effectively reduce competition in the market. Two key topical drugs in the late-stages of development include NeurogesX’s Transacin (capsaicin) and EpiCept’s NP-1, which is forecast to capture approximately 30% of the neuropathic pain topical formulation market in 2016 with peak sales of $124m.

Related research:

• Pipeline Insight: Neuropathic Pain - Emerging drugs fail to capitalize in lucrative market

• The Pain Market Outlook to 2011

[edit] Sources

• Datamonitor