Dermatological Therapeutics Market

Market Overview

The global dermatological therapeutics market size is valued at USD 34,309 million in 2019 and is expected to register a CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period, 2020–2029.

Dermatology is the specialization that deals with the treatment of conditions of the hair, skin, and nails. Dermatological therapeutics involves both clinical and surgical aspects. Generally, dermatologists prefer minimally invasive therapeutic procedures for treating skin disorders. Dermatological medicines can be available over-the-counter as well as on prescription, and many of the prescription dermatological medications are used for cosmetic applications. Drugs used to treat acne are the most common form of prescription dermatological drugs and also used for enhancing skin texture and color. Acne is the most prevalent skin condition, which affects around 50 million Americans every year, as per the American Academy of Dermatology.

Market Dynamics

Rising Prevalence of Skin Disorders

Globally, the prevalence of skin conditions and diseases, such as fungal infections, scabies, acne, psoriasis, and atopic eczema, is increasing. As per a study by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), in 2010, fungal skin disease, subcutaneous disease, and acne ranked among the top ten most prevalent dermatological diseases across the world. The growth of pollutants in the environment, the increasing use of cosmetics, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases are all contributing to the rising prevalence of skin conditions, which in turn is accelerating the demand for dermatological therapeutics.

• As per the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the American Hair Loss Association, nearly 50% of men experience some grade of hair fall by the age of 50. And as per the American Hair Loss Association, 95% of the hair loss in men is caused by androgenetic alopecia. The Association also reports that about 800,000 people are undergoing some sort of hair loss treatment around the globe.
• The International Federation of Psoriasis Association estimates about 5.0% of the global population suffers from one or more forms of psoriasis. The disease affects about 7.5 million people in the U.S. alone, accounting for about 2.0% of the country’s population. In addition, about 100,000 new cases of psoriasis are recorded and reported every year.
• As per the U.S. report Global Burden of Disease (GBD), acne Vulgaris affects almost 85% of young adults in the age group of 12–25. The incidence of acne vulgaris is observed to be increasing among adolescents due to various factors such as adolescence, puberty, genetics, race, nationality, socioeconomic status, diet, Western diet, dairy, whey protein, chocolate, glycemic index, drugs, smoking, and nicotine.

Rapid Product Development

Rising awareness about skin diseases and their treatments is a key factor that drives the dermatological therapeutics market. Novel and advanced dermatology drug products, such as Suncros, a highly efficient product for all skin disorders launched by Sun pharmaceutical industries in 2016, have contributed largely to the market growth. Some such recent product developments include,

• The introduction of fast-acting, U.S.FDA-approved JAK inhibitor drugs
• The development of methods to stimulate hair growth by using human pluripotent stem cells
• The development of Platelet Rich Plasma therapy
• The introduction of a new drug SM04554, which stimulates hair growth specifically in men

Hairmax Laser Comb, Follinex Massager Comb, Lifemax Infrared Hair Brush, and Hair Growth Renewing Lasers are some of the advanced-technology products available in the market today. The pipeline of drug products for acne vulgaris has moved from small drug molecule therapeutics to biologics and peptides.

• Allergan plc is in the process of developing ANT-1207, a topical botulinum toxin A, for the treatment of acne vulgaris, which is in the phase II development stage. This therapeutic drug has an anticholinergic effect and is under development for topical route administration in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
• Helix Biomedix, Inc. is in the process of developing peptide-based molecules for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Most of the companies possess specialized technologies for the development of acne vulgaris treatment.

• Sol-Gel Technologies Ltd. introduced a technology known as sol-gel, in which silica forms a microcapsule shells on acne sites and releases drugs at the site of action. The drug substance that is added during the sol-gel reaction is encapsulated by forming a core-shell structure around it.
• In May 2017, Foamix Ltd. announced positive results for a foam-based therapy FMX101 under phase III clinical studies for the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. In May 2019, the company filed a new drug application for this novel therapy.
• AndroScience Corporation has demonstrated a therapeutic effect of ASC-J9 a cream in lowering lesion counts in moderate to severe acne.

Similarly, the pipeline for psoriasis treatment drugs is undergoing more than ten head-to-head clinical trials, which have given a competitive advantage and clinical differentiation to the dermatological therapeutics market.

Regional Analysis

Geographically, the dermatological therapeutics market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America Leads the Global Market, Primarily Due to High Awareness of Skin Diseases and Dermatological Therapeutics

North America is expected to lead the global dermatological therapeutics market. Growing expenditure on healthcare and cosmetics, rising awareness about skin diseases, and the strong presence of pharmaceutical companies are expected to drive the regional market. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) reported that one in three Americans visit dermatologists, and one in every four is affected by some or other skin disease every year. Therefore, there is a growing need for the treatment of skin disorders, which is driving the demand for dermatological therapeutics. Similarly, around 7,800 Canadians were estimated to be diagnosed with melanoma, and about 1,300 Canadians were estimated to die due to melanoma.

The increasing number of FDA approvals and new product launches also drive the market. For instance, in December 2016, Pfizer Inc. received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the dermatological product EUCRISATM (crisaborole) ointment 2%, which is a novel non-steroidal topical phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor used for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD).

Asia-Pacific Pegged to be Fastest Growth Regional Market, with Rapid Drug Development and Approval Driving Growth

Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest growth during the forecast period owing to the increasing incidents of skin disorders and the approval and launch of new medications in developing countries, such as India and China. For instance, in October 2017, the Drug Controller General of India approved an oral medication Otezla for the treatment of psoriasis launched by the Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., after conducting clinical trials on psoriasis patients for 16 weeks. Similarly, in China, in February 2019, Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. received an exclusive license and distribution agreement for the topical formulation for Onychomycosis, a fungal infection of nails, in the People’s Republic of China. As per the agreement, Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was provided exclusive rights for the development and commercialization of the product in China.

Segmental Analysis

High Incidence of Infectious Skin Disorders Leading the Growth of the Anti-Infective Drugs Segment

By drug class, the anti-infective drugs segment holds a significant market share globally, primarily due to the increasing incidence of infectious skin disorders. The WHO, in its 2018 report, estimated that over 900 million people can get affected by skin diseases at any time.. Anti-infective drugs are widely prescribed along with other dermatological products, such as retinoids and corticosteroids, and such combination therapies are found to be more effective in many skin diseases.

Rising Demand for Dermatological Therapeutics for Psoriasis and Acne

By application, the psoriasis segment holds a significant market share while the acne vulgaris segment is expected to record fast growth. The rising prevalence of psoriasis and the subsequent development of therapeutics for treatment drive the demand for dermatological therapeutics for psoriasis. On the other hand, the rising prevalence of acne, coupled with the increasing inclination to visit dermatological clinics for acne treatment, drive the demand for dermatological therapeutics for acne vulgaris. As per the WHO, acne is the eighth most prevalent skin disease across the world. Growing awareness about acne treatment and the availability of over-the-counter cosmetic medications for acne treatment are also contributing to the growth of this segment.

Impact of covid-19

Dermatological product supply chains are struggling on a global scale due to the COVID-19 healthcare crisis. Disruptions caused due to the pandemic have increased the strain on dermatological products’ availability in the market. Unless restrictions are relaxed, manufacturing operations in key dermatological companies are expected to face a shortage of resources, which will negatively impact manufacturing as well as product sale in the dermatological therapeutics market.

Recent Developments

• In February 2019, Mayne Pharma Group launched the drug LEXETTE (halobetasol propionate) foam 0.05% in the U.S., which is indicated for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adult patients. The U.S. FDA approval of the drug for three years of marketing will generate significant revenue in the psoriasis segment and drive the scope of the dermatological therapeutics market in the future.
• In October 2019, Galderma Laboratories, L.P. received FDA approval for the product Aklief (trifarotene) Cream, which is used for the topical treatment of acne. AKLIEF Cream is supported by data from the two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials.