APAC Cancer Supportive Care Drugs Market Analysis

The APAC Cancer Supportive Care Drugs Market size stood at around xx Bn in 2023 and is projected to reach US $xx Bn by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period.

The APAC Cancer Supportive Care Drugs Market Analysis Executive Summary

Patients with cancer face a variety of problems because of their disease, including physical, psychological, and occupational problems. Also, many suffer from adverse effects of cancer treatment which may be early, delayed or enduring. Such problems are not only personal but can also have implications for the patient’s management plan. In case of complications, it may lead to early termination, modifications, dose changes or reductions of anti-cancer treatments causing higher risks for the patient.

According to WHO, cancer is the cause of nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or 16% of all deaths. Supportive drugs, also known as protective drugs, are not used to treat cancer itself, they play a crucial role in enhancing the overall treatment experience. The cancer supportive care market focuses on alleviating symptoms caused by cancer treatments, such as pain, nausea, anemia, and infections, ultimately improving patient comfort and quality of life. With increased global cancer rates, there is an increasing need for supportive care. These are the toxicity associated with more aggressive therapies, the higher risk among elderly, and changes in patient expectations of the quality of the remaining years of life. However, there are barriers like high costs, side effects of supportive drugs and regulatory issues. The market trends include the use of biomarkers for personalized care, oral medication preference, telemedicine, and the incorporation of hospice care. It is anticipated that the market will continue to expand, with more emphasis placed on advancements, patient-centred strategies, and increasing access and affordability in the global setting.    

APAC Cancer Supportive Care Drugs Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

The market for supportive care medications is stimulated by the increasing global cancer rate, projected to be at 28.4 million new cases in the next 20 years. With success rates of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy improving over the years, the need for supportive care drugs for symptoms such as pain, nausea, and fatigue also rises. Further, a higher tendency of cancer and chronic diseases among aged people is fueling demand for such drugs. Healthcare associations and regulatory bodies are now placing increased focus on supportive care to enhance the quality of life of patients and have included it as a part of the standard palliative treatment. New treatment solutions for supportive care are being developed which are more effective and safer, such as the use of biologics and targeted delivery systems. 

Opportunity

New applications for supportive care medications could complement cancer therapy regimen. Targeted therapies that act specifically on the genetic profile of a given patient and their cancer might be less toxic and more effective. Other forms of medication administration like patch and long-acting injections could increase compliance and ease. Biologics and biosimilars with less side effects compared to conventional chemotherapies, and the incorporation of integrated digital health solutions can potentially enhance patient outcomes. With the improvement of healthcare systems in emergent markets supportive care will emerge as one of the key needs fueled by the patient-centred approach. 

Market Restraints

New cancer supportive care products are likely to face difficulty entering the market due to high research and development cost especially for new entrant firms. Concern that the growth of generics and biosimilars will reduce the market share and pricing of branded products. Lack of awareness among patients and healthcare givers might lead to low utilization of supportive care solutions. Also, an increasing adoption of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, many of which are less toxic to the body, could lead to decreased demand for some of the supportive care drugs. Lifestyle diseases and poor health care facilities in the developing world may also hinder usage of these commodities hence limiting market size. 

Competitive Landscape for Cancer Supportive Care Drugs Market in APAC

• Key Players
•  Novartis AG
• Johnson & Johnson
• Amgen, Inc.
• Merck & Co., Inc.
• Amgen Inc.
• Baxter International Inc.
• Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
• GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK) (Tesaro)

Recent Developments:

August 2020, FDA Approves First Liquid Biopsy Next-Generation Sequencing Companion Diagnostic Test.

May 2023, RedHill Biopharma Ltd. announced that it holds patents for RHB-102 (BEKINDA) in both the European Union and the United States. RHB-102 is developed to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

January 2023, Helsinn Healthcare SA and Immedica Pharma AB announced an exclusive long-term agreement to commercialize two cancer supportive care products, Akynzeo and Aloxi, in key European markets. These products are designed to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

October 2023, Merck & Co. invested $5.5 billion in a partnership with Daiichi Sankyo to develop three new antibody-drug conjugates. These cancer therapies, which could eventually be valued at up to $22 billion, provide an alternative to chemotherapy and may reduce damage to healthy cells.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Q4 2023, Pfizer has recently completed a $43 billion acquisition of cancer specialist Seagen. Seagen is a world-leading biotech company and a market leader in antibody drug conjugate technology. Pfizer is restructuring around Seagen, so this means that they respect the trajectory that they are already taking. 

Healthcare Policies and Regulatory Landscape for Cancer Supportive Care Drugs Market in APAC

Policy changes and Reimbursement scenario

New forms of reimbursement are shifting from fee-for-service in cancer treatment, and emphasize patient-centred care and cost-effective interventions like supportive care that enhance the patient’s overall well-being and decrease hospital readmissions. However, what constitute value in cancer care is not well understood and payers are increasingly questioning the cost of cancer drugs and demanding rebates from pharmaceutical firms. Some payers have adopted step treatment regulations that compel patients to use cheaper supportive care medications first. New supportive care services are added to Medicare, but Australians still face high out-of-pocket costs and gaps.
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are rising in relevance, with payers demanding data on supportive care effectiveness. Nonetheless, there is still restricted compensation for psychosocial support services, as many payers impose severe limitations on coverage, which negatively impacts patients with a small number of financial opportunities.