Glioblastoma market set for strong innovation, with 120 programmes in a promising treatment pipeline

Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain tumour, has a promising treatment pipeline, according to business intelligence provider GBI Research.

According to GBI's latest report, there are 120 programmes in development acting on 86 molecular targets.

The glioblastoma therapy pipeline, which includes 512 products active across all stages of development, is moderately sized but highly innovative, the report says.

Potential factors driving the pipeline include vast unmet need, a growing patient pool if disease prognosis can be improved, a lack of approved options in the market, and a recently improved understanding of the disease pathophysiology, facilitating the development of new compounds.

Adam Bradbury, Associate Analyst for GBI Research, said pipeline innovation has far-reaching implications for all market participants.

'In spite of the high attrition rate in glioblastoma, it is highly likely that many of the numerous products, a number of which are supported by promising preclinical data, will reach the market over the coming decade, potentially transforming the clinical and commercial landscape,' he said.

For players in the market, the case for investment in new products has not weakened as a result of the challenging commercial environment in developed markets and, increasingly, in developed nations.

On the contrary, in spite of higher stakes and greater risks, the return on investment for innovative products reaching the market remains attractive and could increase in significance in years to come.

Bradbury continued: 'There are many signalling pathways and cellular processes in glioblastoma that remain untargeted by the limited number of associated marketed products.

'While growth factor signalling, such as by vascular endothelial growth factor, is inhibited in current glioblastoma treatments, evidence is mounting for the importance of other parallel mechanisms, such as cancer stem cell growth, and extracellular matrix remodelling.'

In terms of the glioblastoma deals landscape, activity is moderate and the mean value for co-development deals is below the industry average at $196.2 million, although the mean value of licensing deals is above the industry average at $168 million, according to GBI Research.

Bradbury said: 'One of the most lucrative recent deals, a licensing agreement between AstraZenenca and Targacept, involved a current first-in-class product, and was valued at $1.2 billion.

'In spite of the risk that can be associated with first-in-class products, they have still been shown to be a highly desirable investment option.'