Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease that starts with mild memory loss possibly resulting into loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment. It involves part of the brain that controls thought, memory, and language. Further, it affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2014, it is estimated that 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease. It is projected that this number will nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Medical management can improve the quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. Further, estimates by CDC states that Alzheimer’s disease is one of the top 10 leading cause of death in the US. The 6^th leading cause of death among US adults and 5^th leading cause of death among adults aged 65 years or older. In 2014, an estimated 5 million Americans aged 65 years or older suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Pipeline Analysis

The purpose of study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of GV-971 in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, it is in Phase 3 clinical trials. The title of the project is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sodium oligomannate (GV-971). The interventional study is conducted for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The actual start date of the study was October 2020 and estimated completion date is October 2026. The company involved for the interventional study is Shanghai Greenvalley Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Green Valley obtains IND approval from US FDA for sodium oligomannate (GV-971) global phase 3 clinical study.

Market Drivers and Trends

Rising R&D investments and collaborations is a trend in Alzheimer’s disease treatment Market

The Alzheimer's Association funds work independently for the researchers globally through an international research grant program. The Association is investing over US$ 208 Mn in 590 active best-of-field projects in 31 countries. The grants have funded some of the most instrumental research in Alzheimer’s disease the Association made its largest ever research investment in 2019 granting more than US$ 42 Mn to 162 scientific investigations. The Alzheimer’s Association partners with key government, industry, and academic stakeholders for early diagnosis of the disease. One such collaboration is the Alzheimer’s disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). It is a strategic collaboration for early diagnosis and disease monitoring. The Alzheimer’s Association has awarded several million dollars in grants to support the ADNI study and subsequent ADNI GO, ADNI 2, ADNI 3 studies. The Association has also funded the European Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (E-ADNI), a pilot study that grew into the Worldwide Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (WW-ADNI). Further, it continued to provide leadership and financial support for WW-ADNI. Additionally, on December 2020, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) and the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) announced partnership for targeting novel research to advance and accelerate ways to diagnose and treat frontotemporal degeneration (FTD)-most common form of dementia for people under age 60. The ADDF/AFTD partnership, that provide research support from three different funding streams involving Accelerating Drug Discovery for FTD Fund, the Treat FTD Fund and the Diagnostics Accelerator, has received US$8.7 Mn for 39 FTD research projects.

Governing bodies like Alzheimer’s Association for affordable diagnostic test will boost the market growth of Alzheimer’s disease treatment

Individuals with Alzheimer’s often have one or more other chronic medical conditions. Therefore, care coordination effective communication among medical and community care providers, and connecting Alzheimer’s patient with the service they need is crucial for offering better medical care resulting in the rising opportunity. For this, Alzheimer’s association established an "innovation center" at the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) to test various ways that promote care coordination in the Medicare program for people with cognitive impairment and dementia. Further, the association offers insurance for individuals with early onset/younger onset Alzheimer. The federal government will now provide premium subsidies to low and moderate income individuals to help them purchase insurance as well as subsidies to business covering health insurance till retirees aged 55 to 64 years.

Segmental Outlook

Alzheimer’s disease treatment market is segmented based on drug class and distribution channel.

By drug class, the market is segmented based on cholinergic, memantine, combined drug, AChE inhibitors, and immunoglobulins. Based on the distribution channel, the market is segmented as hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and online sales.

Based on drug class, cholinergic drugs will record largest market share

Cholinergic drugs aim to increase communication between the nerve cells try to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. These drugs have been approved for use in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. This is one of the factors that contribute fullest for the segmental growth. In Germany, three different cholinesterase inhibitors are available: donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine. These are taken in the form of tablets. Rivastigmine is also available in the form of patch. The drug is absorbed through the skin. Moreover, donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine slightly delay the loss of mental abilities in people suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. This is one of the prominent factors resulting in the growth of the segment.

North America Dominates the Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Market

Based on regions, North America dominates the Alzheimer’s disease treatment market. This is attributed to high awareness regarding Alzheimer’s disease in the US and rising prevalence accelerates the demand for advanced therapies and disease modifying drugs in North America region. However, Asia Pacific will witness fastest pace by recording highest growth rate in the forthcoming years. This can be achieved due to improvement in healthcare infrastructure and rising awareness regarding Alzheimer’s disease. According to the CDC, 5.7 million Americans are estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer or other dementias. The burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related to dementia in 2014 was 5 million people that constitutes around 1.6 percent of the US population in 2014-319 million people. This is projected to grow to 13.9 million, nearly 3.3 percent of the population in 2060-417 million people. Further, CDC announced launching of a new program namely, Healthy Brain Initiative. This initiative supports partnerships, collects, and reports data, rising awareness of brain health, supports population with high burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias patients. Apart from that, CDC is also working with funded partners that accomplish the Road Map recommended actions. The Alzheimer’s Association assists in development of track road map acting items and help state public health agencies to use them. The association for state territorial health officials (ASTHO) develops a series of health communication materials to improve quality, availability, and accessibility of public resources to address the connection between brain health and heart health.

Competitive Landscape

Key companies profiled in this report involve Allergan, Eisai Co., Ltd., Novartis AG, DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED., Merz Pharma, Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., H. Lundbeck A/S, Biogen, AstraZeneca, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, VTV Therapeutics, TauRx, Eli Lilly and Company, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD., AC Immune, AB Science, AbbVie Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited., Bayer AG, and among others.

Market Segmentation

Market By Drug Class
Cholinergic
Memantine
Combined drug
AChE inhibitors
Immunoglobulins

Market By Distribution Channel
Hospital pharmacy
Retail pharmacy
Online sales

Market By Geography

North America
•    U.S.
•    Canada

Europe
•    U.K.
•    Germany
•    France
•    Spain
•    Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific
•    China
•    Japan
•    India
•    Australia
•    South Korea
•    Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America
•    Brazil 
•    Mexico
•    Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa
•    GCC
•    South Africa
•    Rest of Middle East & Africa