Patent expiries threaten $22B of CNS drug sales, says URCH

Just three of the 13 patented drugs that dominated the global market for central nervous system treatments in 2005 will be free from generic competition in 2010, concludes a new report on the CNS pharmaceutical market from URCH Publishing.

In 2005, there were 13 CNS blockbuster drugs, ie, with sales of more than $1.0 billion a year each; by the end of 2010, sales of all but three of these therapies will be struggling against generic rivals, says the report, titled "CNS Market Trends 2007 to 2010 - Key market forecasts and growth opportunities."

In all, drugs accounting for 39.8% of total CNS sales in 2005 will lose patent protection by the end of 2010, followed by brands accounting for a further 19.5% of 2005 turnover losing patent protection by the end of 2015. Hardest hit by patent expiries over the next four years are the CNS portfolios of Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline, which will each face generic competition for three of their leading products in this sector.