Gout treatment market to be driven by biotech drugs, Decision Resources finds

BURLINGTON, Mass. — Biotech drugs will help drive the markets for acute and chronic gout through 2019, according to a new report by market research firm Decision Resources.

The report, titled “Acute and Chronic Gout — New Agents Target Refractory Patients and Tap Market Opportunity,” found that the acute gout drug market would triple in size to $117 million, while the chronic gout market would reach $1.83 billion.

High-priced biotech drugs would help drive the market. The latest approved drug for chronic gout is Savient Pharmaceuticals’ Krystexxa (pegloticase), while Novartis’ Ilaris (canakinumab) and Regeneron’s Arcalyst (rilonacept) are under development for acute gout.

“These high-priced agents will be reserved for small segments of the population,” Decision Resources analyst Matthew Scutcher said. “Krystexxa will be used predominantly in patients with severe treatment-refractory chronic gout, while Ilaris and Acalyst will likely be used adjunctively with uricase-lowering treatment for patients who experience severe and frequent acute attacks.”