Head and Neck Cancer Drugs/Therapeutics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Therapeutic Class (PD Inhibitors, EGFR Inhibitors, Microtubule Inhibitors), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2016 - 2022

Industry Insights

The global head and neck cancer drugs/therapeutics market size was valued at USD 752.5 million in 2016 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period.The current standard of care for head and neck cancer includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Immunotherapies have gained traction as a precision medicine initiative for managing such solid malignancies based on promising clinical results. Key side effects caused due to head and neck cancer treatment include anemia, neutropenia, nausea and vomiting, pain, and bone metastasis.

According to estimates from the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), 550,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer and 300,000 deaths are recorded every year. Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer by incidence in 2016 and accounts for about 5.0% of all cancers worldwide. About 90.0% of all head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). The condition affects men remarkably more than women, with a ratio ranging from 2:1 to 4:1.

China, India, and Brazil are emerging as an opportunity for market expansion. Factors such as growing uptake of biosimilars, beneficial healthcare reforms, and low-cost base are major driving factors for market expansion in these countries.

Current trends indicate that rising geriatric population worldwide, growing cases of target diseases, and availability of improved healthcare services due to government and private organization initiatives will drive the overall market. Increase in immunotherapy adoption in several countries across the world is an opportunity for players to capitalize on and expand further in other regions. PD inhibitors are likely to capture a signifant market share and help expand overall franchise revenue.

Currently more than 43 products are undergoing clinical trials in the head and neck cancer therapeutics market. While early-diagnosed cancers are curable, treatment varies according to type, location, and extent of the disease. Latest advances in surgical techniques and nonsurgical therapies such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy aid in preserving quality of life while offering the most effective care.

Recent advances in cancer research have permitted successful therapeutic targeting of a patient’s own immune system. Leading pipeline drugs such as Imfinzi (durvalumab) and Bavencio (avelumab) are expected to be launched during the forecast period. Results from clinical trials of these drugs have reported positive primary and secondary endpoint data.

Therapeutic Class Insights

The major drug classes in head and neck cancer therapeutics market include PD inhibitors, EGFR inhibitors, and microtubule inhibitors. Among these therapeutic classes, PD inhibitors accounted for the largest market share in 2016, followed by EGFR inhibitors. The PD inhibitor drug class is expected to grow significantly throughout forecast period, primarily driven by new product launches. The market shares of EGFR inhibitors and microtubule inhibitors will see a double-digit decline over the course of the forecast period owing to high adoption of immunotherapies and targeted therapies.

Major brands prescribed in head and neck cancer include Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo (nivolumab), Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Eli Lilly’s Erbitux (cetuximab), and Sanofi’s Taxotere (docetaxel).

Regional Insights

The global market for head and neck cancer drugs will collectively be driven by rising SCCHN incidence, large number of side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, development of cost-effective therapies, increased expenditure on healthcare, and better government initiatives and reimbursement policies.

Regionally, U.S. dominated the worldwide market in 2016, with more than 50.0% share. Japan has witnessed growth in adoption of immunotherapies and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period.

Head and Neck Cancer Drugs Market Share Insights

Some of the players operating in this industry are Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck & Co., Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Merck Group. Approval of Imfinzi and Bavencio are expected to create significant market opportunity for AstraZeneca and Pfizer respectively through forecast period. Some of the emerging companies with promising pipeline drugs are Kura Oncology, Lion Biotechnologies, and Marsala Biotech.

Patent expirations and rising biosimilar competition have affected several companies, most notably Sanofi and Eli Lilly. Amgen, Actavis, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Jiangsu Hengrui, Teva Pharmaceuticals, DFG Oncology, and BioXpress Therapeutics are some of the major players manufacturing biosimilar Taxotere and Erbitux. Several market players are expected to work on serving unmet market needs, identifying new targets, and consequentially develop stronger drug pipelines.

Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at regional and country levels and provides an analysis on latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2022. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global head and neck cancer drugs market report on the basis of therapeutic class and region:

• Therapeutic Class Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2022)

  • PD Inhibitors

  • EGFR Inhibitors

  • Microtubule Inhibitors

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2022)

  • U.S.

  • U.K.

  • France

  • Germany

  • Italy

  • Spain

  • Japan