Market Insights
As per the latest research cited in the European Respiratory Journal 2016 report, the global prevalence rate of cough was 9.6%. The largest prevalence was in the Oceania region, with 18.1%, followed by Europe, America, Asia, and Africa, with 12.7%, 11.0%, 4.4%, and 2.3%, respectively. Coughing is a reflex action produced by the human body’s defense mechanism system to clear the upper airways. Rapid industrialization and urbanization are resulting in tremendous air pollution. The primary causes of cough are particulate matter (PM) of sizes 2 and 10 microns produced by automobile emissions, incomplete combustion, dust, and cooking. Chronic cough that lasts more than eight weeks accounts for 10% of the community’s prevalence. Smokers have a high prevalence in comparison to non-smokers, and women have a more sensitive cough reflex as compared to men. The diseases causing chronic cough are eosinophilic bronchitis, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, rhinosinusitis, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease. In the last decade, there has been a rampant increase in the number of patients suffering from chronic cough, which is attributed to factors such as cigarette smoking, air pollution, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.
Currently, the drugs employed as antitussive agents to suppress cough are of narcotic and non-narcotic origin. The mechanism of action involved in cough suppression using narcotic drugs such as dextromethorphan and codeine is the depression of cough centers situated in the medulla by stimulating the sigma receptors. The mechanism of action involved in using a non-narcotic drug such as benzonatate provides an anesthetic effect to the stretch receptors situated in the lungs, respiratory passage, and pleura, thereby dampening their activity and suppressing the cough reflex.
The promising drug in the pipeline, Transpulmin (Ache Laboratorios Farmaceuticos S.A.), is having promising results in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of cough in children because of its expectorant, fluidity, and antiseptic activity. Transpulmin is set to register significant growth in the near future as it is made from natural sources with negligible side effects in comparison to narcotic and non-narcotic antitussive agents.
The antitussives market is divided into the following categories:
Drug Class
Narcotic
- Dextromethorphan
- Codeine
- Hydrocodone
- Methadone
- Noscapine
- Butorphanol
Non-Narcotic
- Benzonatate
- Pipazethate
- Pipeline Analysis
- Drugs in Phase III
- Transpulmin
- Dexchlorpheniramine/Pseudoephedrine/Guaifenesin
Geography
- North America
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- U.K.
- Russia
- Rest of Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- India
- China
- Japan
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East and Africa
- GCC Countries
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East and Africa
Key players identified for the antitussives market include:
AstraZeneca, Alkem Laboratories, Cipla, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., Toray Industries, Zoetus, Zydus Cadila, etc.
This report offers the following:
- The market is assessed using 2017 as the base year and a forecast period of 2018 to 2026. It is an important tool that helps understand the existing market trend in the antitussives market.
- Attractive investment propositions by drug class and across various geographical regions are given to decipher the performance of narcotic and non-narcotic drugs as antitussive agents.
- A competitive landscape is given to understand the prevailing competition among the key players actively engaged in the manufacturing of oral formulations containing antitussive agents.
- In the company profiles segment, the product portfolio exhibits various types of antitussive drugs currently prescribed throughout the globe as cough suppressants.
