Immunomodulators as objects of the pharmaceutical market. Message I. Analysis of the nomenclature of immunostimulators

Abstract

Increasing incidence of chronic diseases (bronchial asthma, allergic conditions, cancer, multiple sclerosis), unmet clinical needs for the treatment of immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, increasing number of post-covid diseases are driving the growth of the immunomodulator market. The global CAGR of the immunomodulator market is expected to be 5.4% during 2022–2027. That is why immunomodulators (immunostimulators and immunosuppressants) are a promising segment of the pharmaceutical market. The aim of the work was to study the range of immunomodulators (in terms of immunostimulators and immunosuppressants) on the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine in wartime conditions and their price conjuncture and economic availability using the example of immunostimulators. The algorithm of our research included 3 stages. The first provided an analysis of the current nomenclature of immunostimulators registered in Ukraine as of February 1, 2023. The second – a study of the price conjuncture of the retail segment of the market and the economic availability of immunostimulators. The third - a study of the marketing characteristics of immunosuppressants. At the first stage of the research, the results of which are presented in this article, the methods of information search, content analysis, data systematization and generalization have been used. The object of study was the data of the information fund «State Register of Drugs of Ukraine» regarding immunostimulators available on the domestic pharmaceutical market. It has been established that as of February 1, 2023, 12 INN immunostimulators in the form of 114 drugs were registered in Ukraine. At the same time, the most numerous group of the assortment is interferon alfa-2b drugs (35.96%), and by type of ALP – injectable ALP (52.63%). It has been found that almost two-thirds (61.41%) of registered drugs from the group of immunostimulators are represented by Ukraine, the rest (38.59%) – by 24 foreign producing countries. At the same time, it was shown for the first time that 9 or 12.86% of Ukrainian-made pharmaceuticals and 24 or 54.55% of foreign-made pharmaceuticals are the result of production cooperation of several enterprises. Among Ukrainian manufacturers, the largest number of drugs (27.14% of the range of individual production and 7.14% of the range in cooperation with other enterprises) was registered by Scientific Production Company «Interpharmbiotek» LLC. Among foreign countries, the largest number of immunostimulators on the Ukrainian market is represented by Germany – 12 German manufacturing companies are involved in the production of 16 of them. Three foreign manufacturers (Accord Helskea Limited, Great Britain, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Israel and Sanum-Kelbeck GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) produce 4 drugs each, and other foreign enterprises are involved in the production of one to three drugs. The results of the study can be used in the formation of the assortment policy of pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers and pharmacies.