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Respiratory disease represents one of the
most attractive pharmaceutical sectors, with sales expected to grow from
the current $35 billion in 2009 to an estimated $65 billion in 2014. Asthma
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represent 40% and 16% of
the respiratory market, respectively, and are the initial indications in
development by Epigenesis. Allergic rhinitis represents 25% of the
respiratory market, and Epigenesis is planning to target this indication in
the near future.
Our initial target disease, asthma, has been called a national epidemic and
COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and is expected to be
the third leading cause by 2020. It is estimated that 16 million Americans
have COPD and an equal number are undiagnosed. Allergic rhinitis is also
growing at alarming rates, especially in children. The need for a new
generation of respiratory therapeutics is both great and growing.
is a chronic lung
disease, which is characterized by inflammation of the air passages and
results in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air to the
lungs. Asthma is one of the United States' most common and costly
illnesses, affecting over 17 million Americans and costing approximately
$13 billion annually in direct and indirect expenditures. Asthma afflicts
approximately 150 million people worldwide, and its prevalence, morbidity
and mortality are increasing at rapid rates. Over 180,000 people died of
asthma worldwide in 2009 (greater than 6,000 in the U.S.). Frequent
visits/admissions for emergency care (over 2 million in the U.S. in 2009)
demonstrate that currently available asthma drugs are insufficient to
control the disease.
is a leading cause of death and disability
worldwide. It is largely preventable but expensive to treat. The World Bank
estimates that COPD is responsible for > 29 million disability-adjusted
life-years and 1 million years of life lost per annum around the world.
These figures place COPD as the fifth most significant global health
problem, and fourth leading cause of death. Furthermore, COPD is currently
the twelfth leading cause of disability worldwide and is expected to be the
fifth leading cause of disability by 2020.
COPD patients in the U.S. number approximately 13 million. The morbidity
and mortality of this disease are accelerating not only in the U.S. but worldwide.
Japanese and European rates of COPD are expected to continue to accelerate
due to the irreversible lung damage caused by continued heavy use of
tobacco products in these countries. The total cost of care for U.S. COPD
patients has recently been calculated at $25 billion per year, based on a
patient self-reported health utilization study.
, like asthma, has
seen dramatic increases in incidence over the past decade. Rates of
allergic rhinitis have increased worldwide from about 12% in the 1980s to
about 25% today. The sales for allergic rhinitis drugs are expected to grow
from the current $7 billion in 2009 to an estimated $15 billion in 2014. It
is among the top ten chronic diseases in the U.S.
. Lung cancer is now
the most frequently diagnosed major cancer in the world, and is also the
most common cause of cancer deaths in males and females in the U.S. and
worldwide. There are approximately 200,000 new cases of lung cancer
diagnosed annually in the U.S. Each year, over 160,000 U.S. lung cancer
patients die from their disease. The total annual cost of lung cancer in
the U.S. exceeds $10 billion, 20% of all cancer care costs. An expanding
market for lung cancer drugs is expected in Europe and Japan due to the expanding
use of tobacco products in these countries. Japan, for example, has
experienced a ten-fold increase in lung cancer rates since 1980s.
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