Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in China Rivals That of United States, Europe, and Japan Combined

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in China is staggering, rivaling that of the United States, Europe, and Japan combined. According to a new Emerging Markets-China report entitled Type 2 Diabetes in China, the type 2 diabetes drug market in China will reach $1.3 billion in 2010 as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (e.g., Bayer's Glucobay) and the recombinant human insulins (e.g., Novo Nordisk's Novolin, Eli Lilly's Humulin) continue to dominate the market. However, newer drug classes such as the PPAR- gamma agonists (e.g., GlaxosSmithKline's Avandia, Takeda's Actos) and the insulin analogues (e.g., Sanofi-Aventis's Lantus, Novo Nordisk's Novolog) will grow most rapidly between now and 2010.

The report also finds that increasing economic power in China has led to growing numbers of patients with supplementary healthcare insurance and to improved ability of patients to afford Western branded drugs.

"This shift toward increased use of more-expensive Western branded drugs, particularly successful newer agents such as the PPAR-gamma agonists and the insulin analogues, will contribute significantly to the expansion of the type 2 diabetes market in China," said Donny Wong, Ph.D., analyst at Decision Resources.

This new report from Decision Resources assesses the commercial opportunity in the Chinese pharmaceutical market for type 2 diabetes based on population dynamics, economic development, disease epidemiology, and changing physician practices. Key elements of reports in our Emerging Markets-China series include the following:

   -- Accurate sizing of the patient population with access to Western
      medicine
   -- Projections for future patient populations based on trends in
      lifecycle, urbanization, and economic status
   -- Current treatment patterns and drivers of choice
   -- Physician-defined unmet needs in diagnosing and treating the disease
   -- Disease-specific pricing and reimbursement environment
   -- Key drivers of market growth

  About Emerging Markets - China

Emerging Markets - China is the first and only syndicated report series focusing on this high-growth emerging market with comprehensive disease- specific analysis. With these reports, biopharmaceutical companies gain the following:

   -- A more accurate assessment of the commercial opportunity for Western
      brands in China.
   -- An understanding of physician treatment patterns and drivers of choice
      in key urban areas, based on primary research.
   -- A clear, five-year, drug-level market forecast, which is broken out by
      sales of multinationals and sales by China-based companies.

  About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (http://www.decisionresources.com/) is a world leader in healthcare market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

  For more information, contact:

  Elizabeth Marshall
  Decision Resources, Inc.
  781-296-2563
  emarshall@dresources.com