Case Study: Autism Spectrum Disorders - Public awareness and physician detailing will drive market growth

Introduction

To date, only two products have gained approval for the treatment of ASDs; Risperdal (risperidone; Johnson & Johnson) and Abilify (aripiprazole; Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka Pharmaceuticals) are both approved in the US for the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder.

Features and benefits

• Examination of key recommendations contained in published treatment guidelines for the management of ASDs.
• Overview of the treatment pathway and identification of three key points of influence that may be targeted by pharmaceutical companies.
• Discussion of key opportunities and treats facing existing and prospective players in the autism spectrum disorders market.

Highlights

ASDs are a complex spectrum of disorders, largely heterogeneous in etiology and symptomatology. Increasing public awareness of the milder symptoms of the disorders would serve to aid earlier recognition and presentation. In addition, increasing physician education in relation to the use of validated screening tools would aid earlier diagnosis.

Given that only two products are approved in the US for one of the behavioural symptoms of ASDs, physicians largely rely on off-label prescribing for the majority of symptoms. With few marketing strategies currently employed, primary care physician detailing has the potential to boost product uptake in the ASDs market.

Targeting the core symptoms of ASDs represents a ‘high-risk, high-reward’ strategy, given the heterogeneity of patient presentation and unknown etiologies, yet high population base. Meanwhile, the traditional route into the ASDs market– targeting of individual symptoms – represents a 'low-risk low-reward' strategy.

Your key questions answered

• What do current treatment guidelines recommend in relation to pharmacological treatment of ASDs?
• What is the current typical treatment pathway for patients with ASDs? Where are the key points of influence for market players?
• Which segment of the ASDs population offers the greatest commercial potential to developers?
• What actions can pharmaceutical companies take in order to maximize the uptake of products indicated for the treatment of ASDs?
• Which factors pose the greatest threat to the commercial potential of products indicated for the treatment of ASDs?

Table Of Contents

OVERVIEW
Catalyst
Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Strategic scoping and focus
Datamonitor key findings
Related reports

CASE STUDY IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Introduction
Treatment guidelines for autism spectrum disorders
Treatment should be individualized and systematically monitored
Pharmacological treatment is considered an adjunct to behavioral and psychological intervention
Published treatment guidelines are based on mixed clinical trial data and focus on pediatric patients
Treatment pathway
First point of influence: increase public awareness in order to drive up patient presentation
Second point of influence: improved primary care physician education will aid earlier diagnosis and intervention
Third point of influence: physician detailing will boost product potential
Opportunities and threats
(Untitled sub-section)
Key opportunities
Key threats

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Journal papers
Websites
Datamonitor reports

APPENDIX
Contributing experts
Conferences attended
Report methodology

LIST OF TABLES

Table: Treatment recommendations for behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorders from a selection of guidelines, 2011
Table: Summary of key opportunities and threats within the autism spectrum disorders market, 2011

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure: Autism spectrum disorder patient care pathway in the seven major markets, 2011
Figure: Comparison of incentives conferred by orphan product policies across the US, EU, and Japan, 2011