Shift in BPH Treatment From Symptom Relief to Disease Management Key to Driving Market Revenue Growth

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The understanding of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition often treated only for its bothersome symptoms, is being transformed as evidence amounts that it is a progressive condition. The move towards treating "high risk" patients, managed through "watchful waiting," expects to expand market revenue for pharmaceutical market participants.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.pharma.frost.com/ ), U.S. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Markets, reveals that the BPH market earned revenues of $1.44 billion in 2004, with estimates to reach $3.40 billion in 2011.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants an overview of the latest analysis of the U.S. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Markets, then send an e-mail to Melina Trevino, Corporate Communications, at melina.trevino@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. We will send you the information via email upon receipt of the above information.

Despite the tremendous potential for the BPH market only 20 percent of the prevalent population were treated with medication in 2004.

"Dynamics in the BPH market expect to change significantly as market leaders, Astellas' Flomax and Merck's Proscar, approach patent expiries followed by rapidly ensuing generic competition," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Linda Liu.

Merck's patent governing the treatment of BPH with finasteride expires in June 2006 while Astellas' and Boeringer Ingelheim's patent for Flomax (tamsulosin) expires in October 2009. Both companies are already contending with generic companies who have filed Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs).

In the U.S. market landmark studies are changing the management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and are expected to play an increasing role in guiding treatment and competition in this market. Physicians are currently changing their treatment practices in response to long-term studies such as PLESS, and MTOPs.

"Competitors are investing heavily in such trials, which take on average 4 to 7 years and this is becoming more and more of an order qualifier in this market," explains Liu. "This expects to put barriers in place for small companies that do not have the resources to invest in such costly trials."

Small pharmaceutical companies who are positioned to enter the market are encouraged to enter into marketing and development partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies in order to leverage the financial resources needed to achieve success in the BPH market.

U.S. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Markets, a part of the pharmaceutical subscription, provides an overview and outlook for the market. This research includes detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants and physician surveys. Interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com/

U.S. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Markets F534-52 Contact: Melina Trevino Corporate Communications - North America P: 210.247.2440 F: 210.348.1003 E: melina.trevino@frost.com Radhika Theodore Corporate Communications - Europe T) +91 44 52044668 +91 44 24314264 E) rmtheodore@frost.com Donna Jeremiah Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific P: +603 6304 5832 F: +603 6201 7402 E: djeremiah@frost.com http://www.frost.com/