Chronic Disease Treatment Calls For Innovation

India has already become the world capital of diabetes and heart diseases, and is set to acquire the same dubious distinction in other chronic diseases, too. Considering the need for long-term treatment and the higher risks these diseases pose to specific population groups, pharma companies are reworking prevalent treatment methodologies and ushering in innovations. Usha Sharma finds out

- Usha Sharma

According to a report released by the global non-profit organisation Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) last year, over 20 percent of India’s population is suffering from at least one of the chronic diseases. This is estimated to cost India $6.2 trillion during the period 20122030. The report also mentions that four non-communicable diseases—cancer, heart ailments, respiratory diseases and diabetes—are most likely to cause death during the most productive years.

According to Anil Khanna, Partner, Wisdomsmith Advisors, “The total Indian market size for chronic diseases is over ₹ 45,000 crores and is growing significantly. The key categories are cardiac, anti-diabetic and neuro valued at ₹14369 crores, ₹10568 crores and ₹ 7072 crores, respectively. Other therapies, which have a large component of chronic medicines are respiratory (₹8579 crores), pain (₹7886 crores), gynaecological (₹5909 crores) and blood-related disease (₹1438 crores).”

Patient adherence

Most chronic diseases need a long period of treatment making patient compliance a big challenge in India. However, the industry is addressing the issues of disease duration, disease intensity, number of complications, degree of disability and management of symptoms through new drug delivery systems.

Vinod Kumar Arora, Principal Advisor, Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India observes, “Drug delivery systems address treatment related factors, frequency of dosage, and the cost and complexity of treatment. The last decade has seen substantial accretion in industry valuation from adoption of biologics for the control of diabetes, inflammation and cancer. In the long term, we expect substantial growth in nucleic acid drugs built through approaches like microRNA, RNAi, direct mRNA, gene therapy and gene editing.”