Breast cancer market set to reach $2.9B in 2013, but still no cure

The greatest unmet need of all breast cancer patients is a cure. A variety of drugs are used to treat breast cancer in stages III and IV. However, they only act to control the progression of the disease and can be associated with side effects that can cause significant disruption to patients' quality of life. In those who respond, the tumor can be controlled for many years. However, in most cases, survival is not greatly extended, says a new report from Frost & Sullivan. This situation is creating a real and immediate need for effective, targeted therapeutics. The new analysis from F&S (www.pharma.frost.com), European Markets for Breast Cancer Therapeutics, finds that the market earned revenues of $1.72 billion in 2006 and estimates this to reach $2.9 billion in 2013.

"15% of breast cancer cases are detected at a metastatic stage and approximately 50% of those detected at an early stage will progress to stages III and IV," states F&S research analyst Sriram V. "In the advanced stages of the disease, the chances of being cured with the current therapies are bleak, opening up opportunities for improved diagnostic techniques and development of breast cancer therapeutics with a good safety profile," he adds.

Potential for biologics