Emerging Opportunities in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A Market on the Verge of Dramatic Change
This chronic, prevalent and challenging autoimmune disorder that affects 1.3 million Americans and amounts to $19.3 billion in direct societal costs annually. Beyond these staggering figures, looming payor and reimbursement changes will soon cause a dramatic shift in the business of treating RA, presenting distinct opportunities for patients, physicians and manufacturers alike to improve care.
The RA market is undeniably evolving. Historically, the medications most commonly used to treat this often debilitating disease were more general-purpose products such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Over time, more and more specialty products have emerged, primarily disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic agents.
In addition, there has been a migration of the physicians who are treating this disease. In the past, rheumatologists have primarily managed patients with RA, with primary care physicians also actively involved in treatment using less complicated therapies. Presently, the marketplace is experiencing a re-emergence of rheumatologists as the dominant treaters of RA patients, particularly with more complex therapies.
