Substance Dependence - Part I: Nicotine

The high prevalence of nicotine dependence, strong uptake of Pfizer's Chantix (varenicline), and the launch of new innovative therapies will cause the nicotine dependence prescription drug market to grow to $4.6 billion across the seven major markets by 2016. Innovative therapies are set to offer patients a convenient dosing regimen and thereby carrying the potential for improved compliance.

Nicotine vaccines are the most prevalent drug class in the late-stage pipeline. This represents a move away from nicotine replacement and nicotine agonist therapies, which have historically dominated the market. Datamonitor predicts nicotine vaccine companies will be important players in the market by 2016, led by Novartis's NIC-002.

Nicotine vaccines are designed to prevent nicotine from entering the brain and thus reduce the pleasurable effect of smoking. The utility of vaccines in nicotine dependence lies in the long-term protection they provide along with minimal patient compliance and carry the potential for prophylactic use.

With two compounds in late-stage development for the treatment of nicotine dependence, it is evident that Sanofi-Aventis is keen to penetrate this market. Although possessing a similar mechanism of action to Chantix, Datamonitor believes that the drug's shorter treatment course than the market leader represents a strong competitive advantage.

Read more...

• Transdermal Delivery Systems (01/08/2008)
• Transdermal nicotine delivery controlled by consumer (04/06/2008)
• Oral nicotine formulation with immediate fast release (04/06/2008)

• Orphan Diseases in CNS - Part I (16/05/2008)
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• Prostate Cancer (16/05/2008)
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• Substance Dependence - Part II (16/05/2008)
• Orphan Diseases in CNS - Part II (16/05/2008)

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