FOR A YEAR now the focus has been on Covid-19 pandemic. This does not mean that many of the other diseases have disappeared. Far from it. Proof of this are the sales of the pharmaceutical sector. While some companies took a “shake”, those who had the advantage of having a diversified drug portfolio were “saved”. Despite the pandemic, sales are driven by the sector of anticancer therapies. According to a recent report by EvaluatePharma, 6 of the ten drugs that could sell more in 2021 belong to the category of anticancer and in particular to immunoterapici, that class of antibodies that is revolutionizing the treatment of many cancers by helping the immune system to attack cancer cells. Looking instead at the prescriptions in our country, 2020 marked a decided one increased heparin and glucocortisonic consumptionfirst-line drugs for therapy anti Covid-19- and the antibiotic azithromycindespite the lack of data on efficacy in treating coronavirus positive people. Unfortunately, one of the negative aspects of the pandemic is the significant decline in new clinical trials.
The best-selling drugs
At the top of the list of drugs that will be sold the most – according to the EvaluatePharma report – is MSD’s pembrolizumab, an immunotherapist used to “always keep on” the immune response useful in the treatment of different forms of cancer such as, for example, the lung cancer. Antibody that is expected to outperform Abbvie’s adalimumab within a couple of years, an antibody used to relieve symptoms of certain autoimmune diseases, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and chronic plaque psoriasis.
Aifa: “Covid increases the consumption of anxiolytics”
But if some sectors have not been affected by the pandemic, others have seen Covid-19 as a real brake. According to Jefferies analysts, in the United States the pandemic has led to a collapse in the use of Shingrix, the herpes zoster vaccine by GSK; Zolgesma, gene therapy against thespinal muscular atrophy Novartis, Rybelsus, Novo Nordisk’s new oral diabetes drug, and Roche’s Hemlibra used in the treatment of Roche’s haemophilia.
Few, very few studies
But the impact of the pandemic wasn’t just on sales. One of the most disrupted sectors is that of clinical trials of new molecules. In fact, many pharmaceutical companies have reduced the enrollment of patients in the most affected areas. The bottleneck of the various drug regulatory authorities should not be overlooked. In fact, to cope with the emergency, Ema and Fda have activated their own fast tracks for therapies against Covid-19, giving the latter absolute priority over the rest.
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What happened instead in this pandemic year in Italy? The AIFA report on the monitoring of drug sales by comparing sales with those of 2019 took care of revealing the changes in prescriptions. From the analyzes it emerged that the consumption of heparin and glucocortisonics – first-line drugs for anti-COVID-19 therapy – it increased, as expected, in 2020 compared to 2019 both among hospital purchases and those at local pharmacies. Starting from April 2020, on the other hand, the consumption of antivirals that were not effective for Covid-19 and therefore no longer recommended by AIFA for this use (Lopinavir / itonavir, Darunavir / cobicistat, colchicine and hydroxychloroquine) was reduced.
During 2020 there was also a growth in purchases of azithromycin although AIFA did not approve its use for the treatment of coronavirus infections. Not only that, among the non-specific drugs for Covid-19, the report highlighted in the hospital setting compared to 2019 an increase in the use of general anesthetics and injected cardiac stimulants (both used in intensive and subintensive care). In addition, as evidence of the shift in focus on the pandemic, hospital purchases of intravenous cancer drugs in 2020 decreased but were partially offset by the growth of subcutaneous and oral drugs.
Among the drugs purchased in local pharmacies, however, is increased compared to 2019, the consumption of anxiolytics, while that of Fans decreased. Another news item, to underline the effect of the pandemic, drugs for erectile dysfunction and emergency contraceptives showed a significant reduction in use during the lockdown period.
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