Description
Epilepsy is second only to stroke as a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by excessive neuronal discharge in the brain resulting in recurrent, seizure and transient central nervous system malfunctions. Epilepsy occurs in people of any age, region, and race, especially in children and adolescents.
The prevalence of epilepsy in China is approximately 7‰, based on which the number of people with epilepsy in China is estimated to be no less than 9 million. More than 60% of Chinese epilepsy patients are children and adolescents, and because of the long and recurrent course of epilepsy, the physical and mental health of patients is seriously threatened, which brings a heavy burden to families and society. In recent years, as China’s population ages, the incidence of cerebrovascular disease, dementia, and neurodegenerative diseases has increased. Particularly, the incidence of epilepsy has been on the rise in the elderly population over the age of 50. Approximately there are 400,000 new cases in China each year. Since the number of people with epilepsy is still growing at a faster rate each year, individuals, families and society will be seriously affected.
At present, epilepsy is mainly treated with medication, and if epilepsy patients use medication in a standardized way, about 70% of them can have their condition well controlled.
Levetiracetam was first developed by UCB under the trade name of Keppra®. As a first-line drug in the field of epilepsy treatment, levetiracetam was first marketed in the United States in 1999 in tablet form, and the extended-release tablet form was approved by the FDA in 2008, which is now widely regarded as the gold standard drug for epilepsy treatment.
Keppra was approved for marketing in China in November 2006. In 2009, after the expiration of the patent, generic drugs by Chinese companies were marketed, but Keppra still occupied a major market share. The dosage forms of levetiracetam include tablet, oral solution and injection. Among them, levetiracetam tablets have the main market share and the fiercest market competition with increasing generic drugs.
According to CRI’s market research, the sales value of levetiracetam in the Chinese market continued to rise from 2016 to 2019. In 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak prevented Chinese healthcare facilities from functioning properly. And as the various dosage forms of levetiracetam are prescription drugs in China, the total sales value of levetiracetam declined to approximately CNY319 million (USD49.1 million) with a CAGR of approximately 2.3% from 2016 to 2020.
CRI expects that from 2021 to 2025, China’s levetiracetam market will show a recovery growth in both sales volume and value due to the effective control of COVID-19 and the resumption of proper operation of healthcare facilities. The number of patients with epilepsy in China will continue to rise because of factors such as the accelerated pace of life and work and poor lifestyle behaviors like late nights, alcohol abuse, and the increasingly aging population, driving up both sales volume and value of levetiracetam in the Chinese market.
Topics Covered:
- Impact of COVID-19 on China’s Levetiracetam Market
- Development Environment of Levetiracetam in China
- Sales Volume of Levetiracetam in China
- Sales Volume and Value of Levetiracetam in China by Region
- Major Levetiracetam Manufacturers in China and Their Market Shares
- Sales Price of Levetiracetam in China
- Prospects of China’s Levetiracetam Market, 2021-2025
