Numerous Opportunities Exist in the Current Hospital Antibiotics Market as Many Large Pharmaceutical Companies Divest from Antibiotics Drug Development

Dublin (PRWEB) January 27, 2006 -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31538) has announced the addition of Hospital Antibiotics Pipeline Analysis: Big Pharmas Retreat Creates Opportunities for Biotech to their offering

The current hospital antibiotics (HA) market has seen many of the large pharmaceutical companies divest from antibiotics drug development. Most of these companies have reduced their investment in early-stage drug development (Phases I and II clinical trials) and appear to be outlicensing preclinical antibiotics candidates and strategically inlicensing late-stage development antibiotics. Although the HA market is saturated, competitive, and somewhat restrictive to novel antibiotics, numerous opportunities remain. The growing threat of antibiotic resistance is the primary factor driving market development. As the large pharmaceutical companies have reduced their efforts in antibiotics development, the market space has opened for biotechnology companies that can focus their development on a particular strategy or therapeutic indication. In this report, prominent hospital-based infections (HBIs) and the current and emerging antibiotics used to treat them are briefly discussed and the development pipelines of significant companies in the HA market is profiled.

This report focuses on the development of antibiotics to treat the predominant hospital-based infections (HBIs) in the seven major markets that we cover (United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, and Japan)—hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, bloodstream infections (BSIs), and skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs)—and community-associated infections such as community-acquired pneumonia. In this report, the indications and route of infection of prominent HBIs and the current and emerging antibiotics and drug classes used to treat the various HBIs are discussed, and the development pipelines of significant companies in this therapeutic area is discussed. Comprehensive coverage of all hospital-based infections is beyond the scope of this report.

Currently, many large pharmaceutical companies are divesting their antibiotics development pipelines. Most of the current blockbusters will go off patent by the end of the decade, and few large companies have potential blockbusters in development to replace them. A few large pharmaceutical companies recently spun off their antibiotics units, and some of the new biotechnology companies have been established with strong drug candidates.

In 2003, Pfizer led the antibiotics market. The company’s merger with Pharmacia expanded its HA portfolio, ensuring that Pfizer will be a presence in the HA market for the near future. For now, Pfizer appears to be focusing on a collaboration with Vicuron Pharmaceuticals for drug development. In 2003, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) ranked second in total sales in the HA market, but many GSK products are mature and face intense generic erosion. Although GSK has been one of the most innovative and productive companies in the antibiotics market, it does not have any HA candidates in advanced stages of development.

On the other hand, smaller companies are emerging that possess strong portfolios of drug candidates. Among the most promising are Vicuron Pharmaceuticals and Basilea Pharmaceutica. Basilea has a rich pipeline of preclinical antibiotic candidates in development, and Vicuron Pharmaceuticals has a strong research and development pipeline, experienced staff, and solid financial backing.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c31538
Source: Decision Resources

Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Research and Markets
Fax: +353 1 4100 980

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