Report says Novo and US Merck will top 2014 metabolism market

Danish diabetes specialist Novo Nordisk will remain the leading company in the metabolism sector in 2014 based on its broad insulin portfolio,  while the USA's Merck & Co will establish itself as one of the top five  metabolism players in the same year as a result of sales of  first-to-market DPP-IV inhibitor Januvia (sitagliptin), according to a  new report from Decision Resources.

The report, entitled Commercial Outlook for Metabolism 2003-2014, also  finds that the withdrawal of French drug major Sanofi-Aventis' Acomplia  (rimonabant) in Europe and the dearth of agents in late-stage  development leave a significant gap in the obesity market. Poor efficacy  and safety profiles of currently-approved agents have combined with an  unfavorable reimbursement climate to limit sales of weight-loss agents  to date, it adds.

"Within the metabolism therapeutic area, the obesity drug market has yet  to realize its potential," said Decision Resources analyst Ben Duncan.  "The few late-stage candidates in development for obesity all belong to  smaller pharmaceutical and biotech companies and, therefore, if they can  demonstrate improved efficacy over currently-available therapies, look  for larger pharmaceutical companies to partner with, or acquire, these  organizations," he added.