Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease and motor neuron disease (MND), is a neurodegenerative disease, affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that controls voluntary muscles. The disease is progressive in nature, meaning it gets worse over time.

According to a study published in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, around 14,713 people were diagnosed with ALS in the U.S. and prevalence rate of ALS was 4.7 cases per 100,000 people in 2012. The prevalence rate increased to 5.0 cases per 100,000 people and around 15,908 people were diagnosed with ALS in 2013, according to the same study. The increasing prevalence of ALS is in turn, expected to support growth of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) treatment market in the near future.

Approval of novel innovative drugs is expected to boost growth in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment market

In May 2017, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Radicava (edaravone), an innovative drug used in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This was the first drug to be approved after over 20 years since the last FDA-approved drug for ALS. The approval of this drug would provide an additional option for patients suffering from this deadly disease. Increasing incidence of ALS is expected to increase the adoption rate of this drug, in turn, boosting market growth. The drug has already been approved in Japan and South Korea in 2015.

Initiatives taken by some associations to increase awareness about diagnosis and treatment of ALS among population is also expected to drive market growth during forecast period (2017-2025). For instance in 2014, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a social media–centered campaign, received extensive public visibility and created increased awareness of ALS. In 2015, a group of ALS organizations in the U.S., including the ALS Association, Les Turner ALS Foundation, and ALS Therapy Development Institute, re-introduced the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise further funds and spread awareness about ALS among population.

Global Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Treatment Market Taxonomy

The global amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment market is segmented on the basis of drug type and distribution channel.

On the basis of drug type, the global amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment market is segmented into:

Riluzole

Edaravone (Radicava)

On the basis of distribution channel, the global amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment market is segmented into:

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail & Online Pharmacies

North America is expected to hold a dominant position in the market, increasing focus of manufacturers on novel drug development for ALS

North America is expected to hold a dominant position in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment market, as major companies present in the region are focusing on collaborations for product development. For instance, in January 2018 Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. collaborated for the development of a potential gene therapy using zinc finger protein transcription factors (ZFP-TFs) for the treatment of ALS. Companies based in emerging economies of Asia Pacific are focusing on developing novel drugs for treatment of ALS. For instant major companies such as Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd are developing drugs for treatment of ALS.

Major players are collaborating with various research institutes and companies for the development of drug for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment

In December 2017, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Order made Medical Research Corporation and Trans Chromosomics Inc. have completed strategic collaboration for the development of antibody drug to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. collaborated with Montreal Neurological Institute for the discovery of new drugs for ALS in the same month. In 2016, Evotec and Celgene Corporation have entered into a strategic drug discovery for the development of new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. In 2013 Janssen Research & Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, and Johnson & Johnson collaborated, with three prominent Belgian academic institutions and research centers for the discovery of new treatment drugs for neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS.

Major players operating in the global amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment market include Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Sanofi S.A., and Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.