COVID-19 Impact on Pharmaceutical Packaging in Chemicals and Materials Industry

COVID-19 Impact on Etanercept Market in Healthcare Industry

  • Healthcare
  • Jul 13, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the whole planet with its major impacts on the economy and businesses across the globe. The COVID-19 spread worldwide in unprecedented ways due to its high infectious and contagious nature and lack of availability of its vaccine. As a result, the greatest medical challenge in the 21st century is yet to be faced by physicians worldwide. Though the emergence of the virus can be traced back to Asia, many European countries along with the U.S. have been struck massively by the pandemic. The virus has spread across all regions ranging from North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa up to South America. The COVID-19 has been declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) due to its increased spread across the globe. After the declaration of the pandemic, various countries announced the complete lockdown such as India, China, and other Asian countries to decrease its spread. According to the situation report of 7th June, 2021 by WHO stated 174 million cases of the corona have been reported globally and 3.7 million patients are dead due to the coronavirus. On a slightly positive note, a total of 157 million people have recovered and total of 1.9 million vaccine doses have been administered as well.

Etanercept market have been surely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased in the rheumatology market. Studies have been conducted regarding the use of etanercept in the treatment of COVID-19 which will help in rising the growth of etanercept. Many new etanercept products will be launching in 2020 by the major manufacturing companies and their biosimilars have also been launched in the same year.

During COVID-19, it has been observed in some studies that there is an increased inflammatory cytokines [such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] in COVID-19 patients, especially in the group who are having severe symptoms. There has some similarities of clinical features and pathogenesis between toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and COVID-19 which have influenced the market of etanercept.

Impact on Price

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has an enormous impact on the global etanercept market. In recent studies it has been shown that, there are many pathogens similarities between TEN, COVID-19 and etanercept (TNFα). This might provide a potential treatment for early/middle stages of severe cases of COVID-19 which have risen and it further leds to increase in price of etanercept.

Also there is another reason for the increase in the prices as the sale and supply of etanercept have been decreased in 2020 with the rise of COVID 19 and decrease in the number of rheumatology diseases.

For instance,

  • The price for Amgen’s venerable TNF inhibitor Enbrel (etanercept) for arthritis and other inflammatory conditions has been increased in terms of the added cost to the healthcare system, which ICER – the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review which is estimated to be USD 403 million.

Impact on Supply

The decrease in the overall market growth due to COVID-19 is also affecting the after growth of the etanercept market owing to the shutting down of factories, obstacles in the supply chain with the rise in pandemic cases and lockdown. The supply chain has been disrupted the most with the rise in restrictions and shutdown of production units.

Supply chain have been affected the most in 2020 with the rise of COVID-19, companies have seen major changes in supply chain with the changes in government policies regarding import and export of products and devices overseas.

Supply of etanercept has been decreased during COVID-19 because of above mentioned factors. This has further decreased the growth of the market and revenue for etanercept. Companies have taken some action to over come the decrease in supply chain.

For instance,

The sales of ENBREL were decreased in 2020 as compare to 2019 with the negative effect of COVID-19. For example the ENBREL has continued to lose market share, and decline has been compounded by a reduction in the growth rate of the rheumatology market as a result of COVID-19, it has seen in major market players annual report.

Year

2020 (Mn)

2019 (Mn)

Sale of ENBREL (AMGEN)

USD 5,226

USD 4,996

Sale of ENBREL (PFIZER)

USD 13,50

USD 16,99

Impact On Demand

The pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide, with hospitals being overwhelmed due to the increasing influx of patients. Temporary hospitals are also being set up to deal with the growing number of cases. Decrease in demand, due to reduced numbers of in-person meetings with prescribers, patient visits with physicians, vaccinations and elective surgeries, resulting in fewer new prescriptions or refills of existing prescriptions and reduced demand for products used in procedures.

The sale of etanercept (ENBREL) have seen decreased in year 2020 with the decrease in rheumatology and Covid pandemic. Total 4 percent decreased in the sales of Amgen’s etanercept has been seen in 2020 as compared to 2019. The decreased sales and negative impact of COVID-19 have affected products whose demand fell the most in the early part of the second quarter, with ENBREL demand beginning to show some recovery in the second half of the year but still below pre pandemic levels.

The sales for Enbrel is decreased in some countries with the ongoing pandemic and the growing use of biosimilars instead of Enbrel. For example in U.S.A. manufacturing company amgen has seen decrease in their product ‘Enbrel’ upto 2% in 2020 as compared to 2019.

year

2019

2020

Total Sale of Enbrel in U.S. (%)

23%

21%

STRATEGIC DECISIONS OF GOVERNMENT AND MANUFACTURERS 

Tremendous amount of populations have been affected by this COVID-19 virus, and the spread is enormously expanding since the last few months. Decrease in sales and demand have affected the market growth and companies revenue as well. To overcome this drastic effect and increase the sales, manufacturing companies and government have taken some strategical action to overcome the negative impact.

The year 2020 already had 4 biosimilar launches in the United States, and those could be augmented by several more, although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced a wild card to the mix, as said by presenters at the American Academy.

Major companies have announced to launch the developing biosimilar versions of Etanercept products, government and FDA have approved etanercept for the treatment of COVID 19 as it has been found to be effective in treating patients in less period of time.

For instance,

  • The European Commission has approved Nepexto, a biosimilar of Enbrel (etanercept), for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. The approval of Nepexto, is codeveloped by Mylan and Lupin Limited, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis (including the pediatric form of the disease), and among others.
    • Also the link between clinical features of pathogenesis toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and COVID-19 have influenced manufacturers to apply for clinicalp trial for their product for the treatment of COVID-19. For example, India’s government’s expert panel has given its approval to Mumbai-based drugmaker Lupin to test a biological drug, Etanercept, to treat COVID-19. It has been granted the permission to conduct phase 2 clinical trials on auto-immune drug Etanercept in COVID-19 patients.
  • Health Canada has expanded the approved use of Brenzys, a biosimilar of Enbrel (etanercept), to include the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and other inflammatory disorders. These biosimilars are as much as effective as the parent drug which is why their sales are increased in recent years.

Conclusion

Pandemic has taken a toll on every aspect of life, including the global economy. With the significant downfalls in many sectors, a collaborative effort of government, industry players, and consumers can win the fight against COVID-19.

It still continues to inflict the world with appalling economic and social dilemmas, capable enough to leave severe backlash on the economy for the next several years. The first wave had already inflicted severe blows to the population as well as the economy. The currently experiencing second wave is expected to be more disastrous not only to the masses but also to financial markets.

The demand for etanercept have been decreased in the first quarter of 2020, but gradually rises in the second quarter due to the price increase with the decrease in the supply and sales of etanercept. Major manufactures have taken strategical actions to provide more product of etanercept. The demand for Etanercept is increased in the second quarter of the 2020 as they are found to be effective in treating COVID-19 patients. Doctors and scientist have approved this medication for treating the patients in some countries.

Many biosimilars have been launched in 2020 and many more will be launching in the coming years with the rising demand. The ever-rising cases have been an incentive to trigger the launch of new products by major manufacturing companies.