The Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, the research foundation of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA), recently released 2009 Specialty Pharmaceuticals: Facts, Figures and Trends, a new publication providing insight into performance trends in the specialty pharmaceuticals segment of the healthcare industry. The publication presents data on nearly 40 measures of the specialty segment, including market characteristics, finance, operations and handling and information technology. Primary research was based on surveys of manufacturers and distributors. The surveys were developed with the assistance of leading specialty distribution and manufacturing executives.

The specialty pharmaceuticals segment, which focuses on the development of therapies to treat chronic diseases, is among the fastest-growing sectors of the healthcare industry. A majority of specialty pharmaceuticals are manufactured from biological processes, creating products that replicate natural substances. IMS Health data estimates the global market for specialty pharmaceuticals to be $134 billion in 2008, growing 8.8 percent from the previous year. The U.S. specialty industry alone makes up nearly half of the global market.

Specialty pharmaceuticals also comprise some of the most costly treatments available in the marketplace. The publication notes that specialty distributors report an average of 400 orders per day containing specialty pharmaceuticals, with the value of these orders exceeding $12,000. Distributors and manufacturers report oncology to be the largest and most costly therapeutic category in the market. Oncology products alone account for more than half of specialty distributors’ annual sales volume; manufacturers indicate that these products make up nearly a third of their annual sales volume.

The publication analyzes therapeutic classes and delves into regulatory and legislative topics associated with specialty pharmaceuticals, including Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies, insurance and cost issues and the emergence and implications of biosimilars in the industry.

“To date, there has been little data published about distribution in this expanding market segment,” said Karen Ribler, Executive Vice President and COO of the Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research. “This research gives executives and analysts fundamentals on how specialty pharmaceuticals are brought to market. It also provides the reader with useful data and commentary to understand how this unique sector is growing.”

2009 Specialty Pharmaceuticals: Facts, Figures and Trends is now available for purchase. Visit http://www.hcsupplychainresearch.org for more information.

About the Center

The Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that serves as the knowledge partner of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA). The Center serves the healthcare industry by providing research and education focused on healthcare supply chain issues. The Center’s mission is twofold: to conduct research and disseminate information that will enhance the knowledge base, efficiency and effectiveness of the total healthcare supply chain; and to provide thought leadership to further enhance the safety and security of the healthcare supply chain through future-focused study and programming.

Source
HDMA

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