The immunosuppression market

There are a number of immunosuppressive drugs, such as tacrolimus, sirolimus, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and azathioprine, which are all used to inhibit the immune system and most often in combination therapies. Tacrolimus is one of the most potent in terms of suppression of the immune system.

Because single-agent use of immunosuppressants is generally unable to prevent organ rejection with acceptable toxicity levels, immunosuppressive drugs are usually used in combination therapies.

In 2010, the immunosuppression market for transplant patients in the US, Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain totaled USD 5.0 billion (source: IMS). With sales of approximately USD 2.8 billion, calcineurin inhibitors, the leading class and to which LCP-Tacro™ belongs, accounted for more than half of the total market.

Three products-Prograf®, CellCept®, and Neoral®-represent the cornerstones of modern immunosuppressant regimens. With worldwide sales of approximately USD 2 billion in 2010, tacrolimus (Prograf®/Advagraf®) is currently the market-leading immunosuppressant drug.



Main immunosuppressive drugs