The 65-and-Older Population is Rapidly Growing and is a Disproportionately Large User of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
Dublin (PRWEB) March 31, 2006
Research and Markets (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c32295 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c32295)) has announced the addition of Opportunities and Challenges in Emerging U. S. Geriatric Drug Markets to their offering.
On January 1, 2006, millions of senior citizens in the United States will become eligible for Medicare Part D drug benefits under the provisions of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (Medicare Modernization Act [MMA]). This enormous redirection of funds into the health care system has the potential to disrupt the status quo within the pharmaceutical industry, creating new winners and losers. Success in the geriatric drug arena will require a detailed mastery of the new rules, a nimble approach to partnering, and the ability to respond rapidly to inevitable changes in the regulations.
This Decision Resources report focuses on the geriatric population and its prescription drug use, outlines several emerging geriatric disorders, and discusses current and emerging therapies for their treatment either through development of new molecules or through application of life-extension strategies to existing products. Finally, we discuss some of the challenges associated with developing and marketing a therapy to this population segment.
Business Implications
The 65-and-older population is rapidly growing and is a disproportionately large user of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. By 2020, the population aged 65 or older in the United States is projected to reach 55 million (16.3% of the overall U. S. population). Several indications are well established as primarily geriatric diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Emerging geriatric indications range from less well-understood geriatric anemia syndromes and cachexia to mild cognitive impairment and the rapidly growing age-related macular degeneration market. These emerging indications represent underserved markets in geriatric care. Although a patient’s age may itself alter the basic pharmacology of a molecule, patient age-related changes in drug profiles are more often the effect of comorbidities (particularly those that affect metabolic pathways such as liver and heart failure), drug-drug interactions, or changes in protein binding. Even what appear to be straightforward patient age-related changes in pharmacology often prove far more complex on careful analysis. An important consideration in marketing to geriatric segments is identifying the key influencers. Although patients and families still play important roles in determining diagnosis and treatment, additional stakeholders wield considerable influence over specific drug use in geriatric patients. These stakeholders include physicians and, within the nursing home setting, include Medicare, the nurse, and the consultant pharmacist.
Contents Include:
Introduction The Geriatric Population The Aging of the Population Prescription Drug Use by Seniors Financial Constraints on the Elderly Emerging Geriatric Disorders Age-Related Macular Degeneration Mild Cognitive Impairment Geriatric Weight Loss Syndromes Geriatric Anemia Drug Development Issues in Geriatric Medicine Influence of Age on Pharmacology Regulatory Issues Barriers to Clinical Trial Recruitment Marketing to Long-Term Care The Role of Physicians in Geriatric Care Geriatric Care in the Nursing Home Setting Outlook
Companies Mentioned:
Astrazeneca, Generics Bristol-Myers Squibb Merck Pfizer TAP Pharmaceuticals & Abbott
For more information visit http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c32295 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c32295)
Decision Resources
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Research and Markets
Fax: +353 1 4100 980
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