Japanese CNS drug market forecast to reach a value of $4.59 billion in 2016

The Japanese market of central nervous system drugs, including the agents for depression, Parkinson's disease and brain disturbances (dementias such as Alzheimer's disease and cerebral vascular disturbances) will expand 23.7% to 475.6 billion yen ($4.59 billion) in 2016 from 384.6 billion yen in 2007, according to a recent survey conducted by Fuji Keizai, a Tokyo-based marketing research company.

This latest study follows the one on drugs in the areas of cardiovascular, infection, antivirals and vaccines (Marketletter May12), and reviews the current situation and prospects in the CNS therapeutic sector.

In 2008, turnover of these agents is expected to rise 1.4% to 388.9 billion yen because the antidepressants and anti-anxiety agents/sleep inducers sectors have recently shrunk and remained almost unchanged, respectively, despite the growth of schizophrenia drugs.