COVID-19 Impact on Vasoconstrictor Drug Market in Healthcare Industry

Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a complex challenge to several healthcare companies and proved to be an unprecedented global health threat. This global pandemic has emerged in December 2019, which was established as a global pandemic by WHO in March 2020. With the development and introduction of a novel coronavirus vaccine, COVID cases have been declined, but with the growth of mutant coronavirus strain, the overall COVID cases have been surged. They are increasing at a rapid rate in India, and the U.K., and other European countries.

The most common symptoms associated with this include cough, fever, diarrhea, sore throat, and loss of smell or taste. Patients affected with COVID 19 are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and blood pressure problems.

As per the studies conducted, this has been reported that the prevalence of non-communicable or cardiovascular disease. The majority of hypotension was 8.2% with office BP, 12.2% with daytime ABPM, 3.9% with nighttime ABPM, and 6.8% with 24-hour ABPM. Low diastolic BP values were responsible for the majority of hypotension. More than 68% of patients with hypotension detected with ABPM did not have hypotension, according to office BP. The cardiac involvement in COVID 19 infection can be related to the generation of the acute coronary syndrome, and myocardial infarction (myocarditis) with reduced systolic function were noted. This has been proved that myocarditis patients have higher troponin T [TnT] more significant than the 99th percentile upper limit) and had higher levels of leukocytes, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptides, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin but lower lymphocyte counts. Mortality was significantly higher in individuals with high TnT than normal TnT levels (59.6% vs 8.9% respectively; P < .001). Copresence of CVD and elevated TnT was associated with the highest mortality rate in this group, while patients without an elevated TnT, even in the presence of CVD, had a lower mortality risk.

Vasoconstrictor Drugs

Vasoconstrictor drugs are the drugs for the treatment of diseases related to the cardiovascular system. This lowering of blood pressure or hypotension is when blood vessels relax and widen, increasing blood flow and dropping blood pressure. Abnormal vasoconstriction may cause or worsen high blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. These drugs may be used to raise blood pressure when someone is in shock, has excessive bleeding, or has a severe allergic reaction. Some health conditions and drugs can cause too much vasoconstriction or make it happen in areas that it shouldn’t, such as parts of the brain. Enlarged blood vessels in the head can set off migraine or headache pain. Medications to treat this type of pain often work by causing vasoconstriction. This helps the blood vessels constrict and stop excess blood flow. Other prescription drugs trigger the same function as the vasoconstrictor drugs do, vasoconstriction to help reduce inflammation, swelling, or excess bleeding. For example, a nosebleed may be stopped with a vasoconstrictor drug. Vasoconstrictor drugs include- alpha-adrenoceptor agonists, vasopressin analogs, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, dobutamine, 5-HT receptor agonists.

As the cardio manifestations are more with COVID 19 infections, the increasing COVID 19 cases have posed complex challenges in patients suffering from vasoconstriction.

Price Impact

Vasodilation is a symptom of broadening of blood vessels. The most commonly prescribed drug indicated for its condition includes vasoconstrictor drugs. With the sudden increase in COVID 19 cases, the people's concern for their better health has also increased. Majorly patients suffering from respiratory illness infections, including pneumonia, among others, are at higher risk of developing COVID 19 infections; hence have started to take proper precautions to lead a healthy life.

As India relies on China for 70% of drug intermediates and bulk drugs, COVID -19 is expected to hike the price of the medicines used for Vasoconstriction purposes.

For instance,

• According to National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, fixed the ceiling price of Adrenaline (Vasoconstrictor drug)
• Table 1: Price Hike of Antibiotics indicated for Vasodilation Treatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic across the U.K.

Source: NPPA

This thus signifies that COVID 19 pandemic has led to increased demand for a few antibiotics, which has enhanced the overall cost of antibiotics.

Impact On Demand

The coronavirus has affected the various regions of the world and caused the widespread closure of companies and local manufacturing plants. This lockdown and isolation have adversely impacted global economic activity. As the patients are afraid of getting infected and transportation facilities are drastically disrupted, the demand for cardiological drugs is affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Due to covid-19, social distancing increases, and a smaller number of patients visit the cancer, which delays elective surgeries. As a result, the demand for the online delivery of drugs is increasing.

This suggests that increasing prevalence of COVID 19 poses a life threatening challenge and hence enhance the demand for cholangitis treatment options. This thus signifies that COVID 19 is accelerating the direction of the vasoconstrictor drug market.

Impact on Supply

The COVID 19 pandemic has affected and badly disrupted the global drug supply chain due to the continuous shut down of manufacturing facilities and restrictions imposed by the government over the import and export activities. Due to such wide shutdown of manufacturing facilities, the vasoconstrictor drug manufacturing has been badly affected.

For instance:

• As per the FDA, the shortage in vasoconstrictor drugs is majorly due to quality issues associated with manufacturing facilities.
• Pfizer is continuously providing the manufacturing and supply chain over the different regions by increasing production, shifting demand to most critical products, and allowed overtime to meet the patient needs. They also implemented the increased demand monitoring and order management process and taught a heightened logistics control program to ensure that products get to their customers.

Due to the pertinacious COVID 19 lockdown, sanctions have been imposed by governments of various countries. These restrictions and barriers across countries' borders led to a decrease in the supply of APIs needed for drug manufacturing and raw materials required for the manufacturing of devices, including insulin pumps. Lack of updates to routine operations maintaining the vasoconstrictor drugs manufacturing during the COVID 19 led to shortage of high-quality vasoconstrictor drugs manufacturing and impacted the overall supply of these vasoconstrictor drugs indicated for the treatment of cardiac problems.

However, to deal with the current scenario of vasoconstrictor drug supply shortage FDA and International Council for Harmonization (ICH) have issued guidelines to improve the quality controls and to boost up the production.

This, thus, signifies that due to continuous lockdown and several restrictions by government authorities, the companies and patients are facing disruption of the supply chain for vasoconstrictor drugs indicated for the treatment of cardiac diseases.

STRATEGIC DECISIONS OF MANUFACTURERS

Collaboration, agreements, strategic initiatives by market players such as Pfizer Inc., Mylan NV, Novartis, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, among others, in the vasoconstrictor drug market, will help them to expand their product portfolio and to provide with appropriate vasoconstrictor drugs, among others to physicians and patients. This, in turn, will lead to increased product sales and hence will put a positive impact on the overall company’s revenue.

Vasodilation treatment manufacturing companies are taking so many strategic decisions in order to cope up with the current scenario of COVID 19. The companies engaged in the manufacturing, vasodilation treatment drugs are adopting several initiative to accelerate the development of vasoconstrictor medicines and efficiently supply the drugs to different end-users.

Companies have already taken several kinds of strategic initiatives in order to cope up with the corona virus situation.

 For instance,

• In August 2020, Pfizer drecognized the drastic impact of COVID in patients and the healthcare sector around the world, so they are providing support to the patients with their collaboration with governments, international NGOs, and US-based non-profit organizations by donating the needed medications and vaccines and working to support the frontline health workers. Through this initiative, the company has boosted product manufacturing and enhanced the pharmaceutical supply chain by provide appropriate guidance on work attendance, traveling, and personal hygiene, which is important for the health and wellbeing
• In June 2020, Mylan NV Mylan is mobilizing its resources and expertise in the battle against COVID-19 with their disease-fighting products and manufacturing capabilities to global reach. Mylan also collaborated with the Gilead sciences for the manufacturing platforms and strong technical expertise. Mylan also made ten million doses, ten donate Hydroxychloroquine sulfate to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to test the drug potential use against COVID
• Mylan has taken action to avoid the disruption in the supply chain for critical medicines, chronic condition medications, to ICU drugs in short supply due to increased demand. They are also ',e the ambitions for the employee's security by implementing social distancing measures, daily health assessments, split shifts where possible and regularly office advice and support to work from home

Thus, companies operating in the vasoconstrictor drugs market are adopting several strategies, including collaboration, agreements, acquisition, and market expansion, enhancing their business. These strategic decisions by the companies are expected to provide significant opportunities for the market players operating in the vasoconstrictor drugs market.

Conclusion

As the pandemic of COVID 19 has resulted in several restrictions throughout the borders, but still, manufacturers of vasoconstrictor drugs are able to manage their stocks. Various manufacturers have allowed their manufacturers to work in a clean and safe environment so as to boost up the production of vasoconstrictor drugs at various manufacturing facilities across several regions of world helping them to maintain continuous supply chain. However, introduction of mutant corona strain has worsened the situation and affecting the several industries worldwide which is compensated by raising price of vasoconstrictor drugs. By raising the prices the companies are gaining extra profit which is helping them to combat the negative effect on overall revenue.