Diabetes industry
Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose, which leads over time to serious micro and macrovascular complications affecting the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
The most common is type 2 diabetes occurring, usually in adults, when the body doesn’t produce or utilizes insulin properly. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the pancreas does not produces insulin by itself. This disease is more commonly diagnosed in young people, although it can develop in adulthood.
About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.6 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. The number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past years.
According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Diabetes Therapeutics Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023," the global diabetes therapeutics market was valued at $66,993 million in 2016, and is estimated to reach $186,842 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 16.0% from 2017 to 2023.
About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries.
The last 15 years a significant progress has been observed in the field of diabetes related industry, resulting in the development of a large number of new medication and technology devices.
Type 2 diabetes management has been enriched by the development of new oral and injectable medication. New medication categories for type 2 diabetes including DPP4 inhibitors, GLP1 analogues and SGLT2 inhibitors. These medications are utilizing new therapeutic pathways providing a significant glucose reduction effect without causing hypoglycaemia. Furthermore, according to the recent cardiovascular outcome trials, most of the SGLT2 inhibitors (Empagliflozin by Boehringer Ingelheim , Canagliflozin by Janssen , Dapagliflozin by Astra Zeneca) and GLP1 analogues (Liraglutide by Novo Nordisk, Dulaglutide by Elli Lilly, Semaglutide by Novo Nordisk, Albiglutide by GlaxoSmithKline) provide additional cardiovascular and renal benefit, reducing the risk of a major CV event or reducing the diabetes related renal disease. It is also noteworthy that the GLP1 analogue, liraglutide (by Novo Nordisk) has been also approved for the treatment of obesity.
Insulin has been the golden standard for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, while insulin is also used for the treatment of long-standing type 2 diabetes. The last decade a few new types on insulin have been developed for use in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes presenting an improved action and safety profile. Long acting (basal) insulins include ins degludec by Novo Nordisk) and in glargine U-300 by Sanofi Aventis), while new short acting insulins include ins fast aspart by Novo Nordisk and ins lispro-aabc by Elli Lilly.
The last 15 years a significant progress has been observed in the field of diabetes related industry, resulting in the development of a large number of new medication and technology devices.
The technology evolution of our days has been also significantly contributed to the management of diabetes. New devices including glucose pumps and sensors, enable patients to achieve better glucose control reducing also the risk for hypoglycaemia which is a major concern especially in patients with type 1 diabetes. The most popular insulin pumps are “augmented’ with a glucose sensor making this integration the current golden standard for the management of type 1 diabetes. Everyday insulin decision-making process in type 1 diabetes is also facilitated by insulin “wizards” included in insulin pumps’ software. These innovative products have proven to provide a significant improvement of the the life quality of the patients.
Leading companies in insulin pumps are Medtronic, Insulet Corporation, Roche and Tandem, while the leading companies in glucose sensors are Dexcom, Abbott, and Medtronic.
We are expecting even more impressive developments in the field of diabetes industry in the years to come. New medication for type 2 diabetes such once a month GLP1 analogue, or dual GLP1 GIP agonists are under development, while once weekly basal insulin for both type1 and type 2 diabetes is in phase III trials. It is also interesting that, clinical trials on BCG vaccine are showing impressive and promising results for the use of BCG vaccine for the treatment or even for the primary prevention of type 1 diabetes. Finally, studies with improved, and “smarter” glucose sensors and pumps are showing that we may be close to succeeding the development of the “artificial pancreas” in the near future.
