Drug Companies Expect Big Profits from Celiac Disease Patients
But did you realize that the pharmaceutical industry has its hungry eyes trained on celiac disease patients, too? For $3,800, drug company executives can buy a market research report from DataMonitor that summarizes their potential opportunities in the celiac disease market. Some of the highlights are available for free:
- Celiac disease medications will be available sometime within the next 5 years, and drug sales could reach $8 billion by 2019.
- Continued efforts to increase awareness, especially once a drug comes to market, will drive celiac disease diagnosis rates up to 50%-60% by 2019, which will expand the overall patient population.
- Right now, most of the research and development is being done by small companies backed by venture capital, but there are big licensing opportunities available for larger companies.
Also according to the this report, among the drugs that are farthest along in the “research pipeline” (i.e., the research process) are:
- AT-1001 (larazotide acetate), being developed by Alba Therapeutics.
Alba values its drug’s US market value at over half a billion dollars. Shire Pharmaceuticals Group has agreed to pay Alba $325 million for worldwide rights for all potential uses, except in the U.S. and Japan. (From the Shire press release about the agreement: “Should the product reach blockbuster status, Shire will also pay royalties on net sales of the product, with tiered, single or double digit royalty rates.”) - CCX-282, being developed by ChemoCentryx.
GlaxoSmithKline has bought an option to sell this drug (and other drugs being developed by ChemoCentryx) worldwide.
I have very mixed feelings about all this. On one hand, I personally would rather follow a gluten-free diet and not have to take any medications. On the other hand, I know that some people have a lot of trouble staying gluten-free. Furthermore, gluten-free food costs so much more than “regular” food, and these medicines might make it possible for people to eat regular, cheaper food. Isn’t it a shame, though, that insurance companies (and taxpayers) in the United States will probably pay for these medications but are unwilling to reimburse for the extra costs of gluten-free food? (It shouldn’t surprise you to know that something I wrote on this topic a while back generated some controversy.)
What’s your opinion?
I would take a medication if I could simply because in Texas, there are almost no choices of restaurants to gather with friends unless you can eat gluten. We have been left out of many get-togethers in the last two years because of my diagnosis. I would still eat mostly gluten free but socially, I could eat gluten. It would be life changing for me and for my husband. My husband skips business dinners because he doesn’t want to go alone and he knows I can’t eat. Celiac has really affected our life.
I do not see any real negatives of these drugs. Getting to eat normal food again would simply be fantastic. Those who choose to continue eating gluten-free diets will still have the same amount (or even more) options. Celiac is pretty terrible socially as Susan said and I look forward to the day I can take a pill to eat somewhat normally again. Not wanting to take medication to help a problem because you do not simply want to take medicine sounds like old grandpappy not believing doctors to be “on the trolley.” I am conscious of the fact that they still need to do a lot of research on these drugs and it will be a while until we know any and all side effects, but I encourage such research and medicine.
In addition – why should the public have to reimburse me for the costs of my special diet? I have a huge problem with that comment – I, in no capacity, think that the public should have to pay to offset the cost of my more expensive food. First, the food we eat does not need to be more expensive – the things that are expensive are substitutes to foods that naturally have gluten in them. I have a normal budget eating plenty of meats, veggies, milk products, etc. Second, the real cost of the drugs will be on us, those with the disease who chose to take the medicine. The comment that there is any fairness issue involved is simply unfounded and ludicrous.
I am excited about these new drugs and wish I could be a trial member. In the meantime I will buck up, eat as best I can, and look forward to the day I can eat and drink normal bread, cereal, cakes, cookies and beer again.
I personally prefer to monitor my diet, rather than take a new drug that may or may not have long-term health consequences. Too many drugs these days are being rushed to market, and they only find out later that they kill people. The diet restrictions are really not that difficult; I eat out regularly, just avoid gluten-bearing items. I even take in some items to make it easier; thin rice cakes to sustitute for the bread in a sandwich, etc. But I actually LIKE steamed veggies and simply prepared meats. And, by the time I eat a meal, dessert is not a bigge, and never has been. I DO miss hot fresh yeast rolls, but I can live without them.
I think that a safe, effective medication will be of most benefit to celiac children and teens…and their parents. I’ve learned to love the diet, but even kids who are okay with the diet at home will appreciate being able to go to pizza parties, or eat at school, etc., without calling attention to themselves. Hillary makes a great point about the safety of drugs rushed to market, too; any drug that will benefit celiac children must be thoroughly tested to ensure safety.
I have NO mixed feelings about a pharmaceutical alternative to the current diet. I think it’s a wonderful option and I can’t wait until I can try one. As for the alleged high cost of gluten-free foods, it’s only so if you insist on buying GF substitutes for bread and pastry and cookies and whatnot. It’s easier (and cheaper, and healthier) to rework one’s diet to just avoid that kind of stuff 90% of the time. Expecting insurance to fund one’s cookie habit seems a little absurd.
I think your commenters are misled: the drug is not meant to allow you to eat gluten, but to avoid getting sick from cross contamination!! One dose of the drug is estimated to allow you to eat 1/4 of a slice of bread. Increasing the dose may allow you to eat more, but what side effects would result from taking more? If taking a pill would allow me to have a grilled chicken breast in a restaurant and a baked potato without worrying about what crumbs would be on it, I’d be overjoyed. You could even have chinese take-out, since the amount of wheat in the soy sauce would be much less than 1/4 of a slice of bread. But Subway? Think again.
I would love to have this drug option!! The GF diet has become almost easy for me now that I’ve been doing it for 2 years, but it would be so much easier to be low-gluten than NO gluten. How great would it be to go to a restaurant and order something that looks GF, but not have to quiz the waiter about what’s in the salad dressing or whether or not the fries are made in the same oil as the chicken tenders? Priceless. And we could eat at potluck dinners and office parties again!