Go with the flow - a review of the respiratory therapeutic area

Abstract

This article recognises the present significance of respiratory disease as a finite number of conditions affecting over 5% of the developed world’s population and attracting a multitude of therapeutic responses. The global market is described in terms of present and future treatment options and their relative potential. The future prospects for emerging new drugs are affected by the prospects offered by a market approaching maturity. Blockbuster breakthroughs are unlikely to happen here. GlaxoSmithKline are expected to consolidate their dominant 30% market share in the medium term. Other contenders will not seriously challenge unless shrewd alliances and opportune development initiatives offer a radical treatment breakthrough. Oral compounds, genetic markers, new device technologies, safer steroids, new generation NSAIDs, cytokine/leukotrine-targeted compounds and vaccines are all fancied prospects for the longer term. It will be prohibitively expensive to back all such prospects, even for Glaxo. Focus is the only option. As for patients, the quality of life for the majority will continue to improve, without any shift in treatment protocols. Respiratory diseases are now well controlled, though prevention remains a distant prospect [1-7].

• compliance
• control
• devices
• genomics
• inflammation
• peak flow
• relief
• steroids
• vaccines