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

COVID-19 Impact on Vertigo Treatment in Healthcare Industry

  • Healthcare
  • May 06, 2021

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread unexpectedly across the globe with a significant number of cases recorded worldwide. This pandemic started in the Chinese city of Wuhan from which it spread to almost every part of the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic is not only causing a health crisis but it is also having an effect on healthcare companies, societies and the pharmaceutical industry. COVID-19 has impacted the healthcare landscape. The focus of healthcare providers have changed due to the spread of pandemic and it has impacted almost all the spheres in healthcare firm. It has led to many challenges due to rapidly evolving nature among the physicians.

As COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is spread endlessly, moreover, still appropriate measures and research is going on to cure with this disease and it has impacted many healthcare industries. However, vertigo manufacturing companies are finding it difficult to manufacture and distribute the drugs due to continuous lockdown, disruption of supply chains and social distancing restrictions.

Price Impact

The outbreak of coronavirus has not only affected the people around the globe but it has affected the markets of different companies. The pharma companies have drastically been affected due to this pandemic leading to the rise in the prices of the drug due to lockdown and quarantine guidelines:

  • In Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., governments around the world are attempting to slash their healthcare budgets which could result in government-mandated price caps on prescription drugs which has an effect on the vertigo industry.

Vertigo can be treated with antihistamines, benzodiazepines and others. Several market players such as Roche, Sanofi, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical, Novartis, Pfizer among others are engaged in manufacturing of advanced drugs and therapies so that suffering patient population can lead a normal and lavish life.

The news published by Xtelligent Healthcare Media, LLC in July 2020 suggested that pharmaceutical companies have raised drug prices during the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 75 percent of drug impacted directly.

Vertigo drugs such as ifenprodil are in clinical trials for COVID-19 that led to shortage of these drugs which led market players to enhance their drug prices. This signifies that the increased usage of these drugs for clinical trials of COVID-19 led to drug shortage which is responsible for enhanced drug prices.

Vertigo is a common disorder that places an increasing strain on the healthcare system which is compounded by the population's ageing, it also leads to broad range of indirect burdens such as diminished ability to function or the need for assistance in everyday activities. Also in a study, it has been found that dizziness or vertigo is the common neurological manifestation of COVID-19. It is not surprising that vertigo is associated with viral infections.

The price of APIs imported from China is expected to rise due to a rate hike in 2019 and a supply interruption in 2020, putting upward pressure on drug prices. Vertigo affects both men and women and two-thirds are common to women than men. According to the survey, 1 year prevalence rate is 5%. The 1 year prevalence rate of vertigo is 4.90%, migrainous vertigo is 0.89% and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is 1.60%. The 1 year prevalence is about 1.6% for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and it is less than 1% for vestibular migraine. COVID-19 has impacted the vertigo treatment market.

FIGURE 1 ONE YEAR PREVALENCE RATE OF VARIOUS DISORDERS

ONE YEAR PREVALENCE RATE OF VARIOUS DISORDERS

Impact On Demand

The coronavirus has affected the various regions of the world and caused widespread closure of companies and local manufacturing plants. This lockdown and isolation has adversely impacted the global economic activity. Due to coronavirus, the screening process in different countries are either suspended or reduced.

There were many cancellations for medical examinations during the period of 2020. The total number of vertigo/dizziness outpatients decreased by 44.6% in the 2020 period compared to the same period in 2019. Therefore, there is less demand of screening medical devices in the healthcare centers due to COVID-19 so there is less production of devices in manufacturing industries.

As vertigo treatment drugs are being used for COVID-19 treatment, thus the demand is increasing during COVID-19 along with other treatment options. Australian researchers are involved in clinical trials to investigate existing medications to treat COVID-19 and vertigo drug such as ifenprodil are being used to undergo such trials.

The effectiveness and safety of AM-125 in the treatment of acute vertigo was investigated in this study. Patients with vertigo after neurosurgery (vestibular schwannoma labyrinthectomy and vestibular neurectomy) will be given AM-125 or a placebo in this proof of concept study. It compares the effectiveness of AM-125 versus placebo in reducing vestibular dysfunction symptoms and speeding up vestibular compensation after neurosurgery.

Impact on Supply Chain

The outbreak of COVID-19 has its effect on the supply of the vertigo drugs due to extended lockdown policies made by the government. The airline industry, vaccine shipments and other modes of delivery was temporally closed. These restrictions have led to shortage of drugs for the vertigo treatment.

VESTIBULAR SUPPRESSANT MEDICATIONS

Medication

Dosage

Adverse Effects

Cost

Antiemetics

  • Metoclopramide (Reglan)

5 to 10 mg orally every 6 hours or 5 to 10 mg slowly IV every 6 hours

Akathesia, atrioventricular block, bradycardia, bronchospasm, dizziness, drowsiness, dystonic reaction, gynecomastia, nausea, tardive dyskinesia

Tablets: USD 2.00 (USD 25.00)

  • Prochlorperazine

5 to 10 mg orally or IM every 6 to 8 hours

Agitation, dizziness, drowsiness, dystonic reaction, extrapyramidal symptoms, photosensitivity, tardive dyskinesia

Tablets: USD 2.00

  • Metoclopramide (Reglan)

5 to 10 mg orally every 6 hours or 5 to 10 mg slowly IV every 6 hours

Akathesia, atrioventricular block, bradycardia, bronchospasm, dizziness, drowsiness, dystonic reaction, gynecomastia, nausea, tardive dyskinesia

Tablets: USD 2.00 (USD 25.00)

  • Prochlorperazine

5 to 10 mg orally or IM every 6 to 8 hours

Agitation, dizziness, drowsiness, dystonic reaction, extrapyramidal symptoms, photosensitivity, tardive dyskinesia

Tablets: USD 2.00

Antihistamines

  • Dimenhydrinate

50 mg orally every 6 hours

12.5 to 50 mg orally every 4 to 8 hours

USD 3.00

  • Var (Antivert)

 

12.5 to 50 mg orally every 4 to 8 hours

Blurred vision, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, vomiting

USD 1.00 to USD 4.00 (USD 8.00 to USD 47.00)

  • Promethazine

25 mg every 6 hours orally, IM or rectally every 4 to 12 hours

Agitation, bradycardia, confusion, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness, dystonia, extrapyramidal symptoms, gynecomastia, photosensitivity, urinary retention

Tablets: Supposition

In Abbott, disruption in supply chain has occurred and it is affected by the global pandemic despite this fact that the pharma industry has put forth its energy to fight against COVID-19.

STRATEGIC DECISIONS

A March 2020 survey was conducted by the Institute for Supply Chain Management and nearly 75% of companies stated that the supply chain disruption is in one form or the other due to restrictions while transporting due to coronavirus. The companies from a number of industries are rethinking their supply chain risk management techniques. The Indian government has shown its support by announcing a range of incentives for the establishment of API units in order to improve domestic manufacturing and reduce the chance of supply chain disruptions from outside sources. Lupin is taking advantage of this period to reconsider their manufacturing footprint, de-risk in-line products and instil flawless execution as a key differentiator.

The Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India have agreed to assist with pandemic-related disturbances. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, trade, investments and private consumption will all decline in 2020 resulting in low growth. The government's fiscal incentives as well as liquidity initiatives can assist the economy in resuming its normal growth trajectory. However, the recovery across economies is expected to be sluggish, shaky and vulnerable to variety of headwinds. Abbott is trying to focus on digital transformation with pioneer initiatives in therapies for the treatment of vertigo, liver, influenza and others and partnered with health tech start-ups that would solve the problem in healthcare space and lead to the growth in the vertigo treatment market.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 has limited the global vertigo treatment market due to increased demand for medicines and supply chain instability due to import-export bans and significant lockdowns in various regions around the world. As a result, the main market players may have had difficulty meeting the demand of people all over the world. As the pandemic of COVID-19 prevailed, global vertigo treatment market got affected. But still the manufacturers of vertigo treatment medicines are able to manage in stocks. Moreover, by raising the price of the drugs, the companies are gaining the profit and trying to combat with negative effect of overall revenues. Many examination procedures were cancelled and it affected the market as the patients were not able to get treated when required due to the imposition of government laws and continuous quarantine and no mode of transport at the verge of pandemic.