Statins are a category of drugs primarily used to lower lipid levels in the plasma and, thus, reduce cardiovascular disease risk including myocardial infarction (heart attack) and cerebrovascular accidents (stroke). Statins work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which is instrumental in the production of cholesterol in the liver.
Statins lower synthesis of cholesterol in the body, leading to decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or "bad cholesterol," and some modest rises in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or "good cholesterol."
Statins are commonly prescribed for patients with high lipid levels, a history of ischemic heart disease, or other risk factors including diabetes or hypertension. Studies have consistently demonstrated that statins reduce cardiovascular events which has made statins one of the most widely prescribed medicines in the world.
Common statins include atorvastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin. While statins are generally well tolerated, they can have side effects including myalgias, liver function test abnormality, and gastrointestinal upset. Patients on statins are usually monitored for these side effects. Overall, statins are the mainstay in the treatment of dyslipidemia by reducing cardiovascular risk. Statins have improved health outcomes in at-risk populations, significantly.
The rise in prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) around the world is a major factor boosting statin market growth. CVD is a broad illness that affects the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes.
As people have changed their ways of life to include poor nutrition, an absence of physical activity, and not gaining any improvement in obesity, the incidence of CVD has dramatically increased. According to the World Health Organization, CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for approximately 31% of all deaths globally.
This trend has led to higher patient demand for preventive and therapeutic treatment options, and statins, in particular. Statins are also very effective at reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol counts and have exhibited major clinical benefits in decreasing cardiovascular events.
Because healthcare providers have started to promote the need for cholesterol management to decrease risk of CVD, the utilization of both primary and secondary prevention involving the use of statins are increasing. Finally, research-and-development efforts continue to expand the population of patients who qualify for statins respectively; treatment guidelines have changed that include more risk factors than just cholesterol levels.
The presence of generics has been a critical catalyst for growth in the statin sector, which has fundamentally changed the drug's access and affordability. Statins are the most commonly prescribed treatments for cholesterol, and therefore, the associated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statins were previously sold as brand names for many years, but as the patents for those original brand names expired, generics drove down costs and made the medication and therapy more accessible.
This accessibility has had a significant impact on a larger patient population, especially in low- and middle-income countries with limited health care budgets. Reduced medication costs increase access to preventive or therapeutic treatment for patients with risk of CVD. From a system perspective, health care systems can better allocate budgets and potentially alleviate high cholesterol related cardiovascular complications in the long run.
Additionally, with the advent of multiple generic statin producers, consumers have seen the benefits of competition, which has resulted in further reductions in costs and in some cases added innovation. Generic statins still have the same active ingredients and therapeutic indication as the brand versions meaning that patients can receive effective treatment without having to incur huge expenses.
North America is expected to maintain a dominant position in the statin market due to several key factors, including a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a well-established healthcare system, and a growing emphasis on preventive health.
The region has a large and increasing proportion of the population at risk for CVD primarily due to lifestyle issues associated with poor diet, lack of physical activity, and an increase in the population with a higher Body Mass Index. This leads to rising demand for cholesterol-lowering medication where statins are generally among the treatments expected and recommended to be successful, and thus, has become the cornerstone of cholesterol-lowering therapy.
In addition, North America has the advantage of an established healthcare system that allows access to medications and promotes regular health checks leading to early diagnosis and treatment of hyperlipidemia. In combination with a well-established drug regulatory system, both development and adherence to clinical limitations of statin use in at risk individuals are markedly better than that of other regions.
Moreover, ongoing developments in research in the field of cardiology and development of new formulations contribute to improvements in the efficacy and safety of statins. The presence of large global pharmaceutical companies contributing to risk in the North American market is also a major factor in ensuring innovative new formulations and a competitive price for existing statin medications.
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Statin Market
