PUBLISHER: DelveInsight | PRODUCT CODE: 1337641
PUBLISHER: DelveInsight | PRODUCT CODE: 1337641
DelveInsight's "Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia - Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2032" report delivers an in-depth understanding of the homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia historical and forecasted epidemiology as well as the market trends in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.
The homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia market report provides current treatment practices, emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted the 7MM homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia market size from 2019 to 2032. The report also covers current homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia treatment practices/algorithms and unmet medical needs to curate the best opportunities and assess the market's potential.
Study Period: 2019-2032
Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is the most serious and rare form of familial hypercholesterolemia. It is a genetic disorder that affects lipid metabolism, leading to extremely high levels of LDL-C in the blood. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern and caused by a genetic mutation that affects the function of the LDL receptor, which normally removes LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. As a result, individuals with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia cannot effectively clear LDL cholesterol from their blood, accumulating cholesterol in arteries and other tissues.
The LDLR gene encodes a receptor responsible for removing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the bloodstream. In homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, the mutations in both copies of LDLR severely impair the function of these receptors, resulting in extremely high levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood. Individuals have high cholesterol levels despite following a low-cholesterol diet and other lifestyle modifications.
The disease is characterized by plasma cholesterol levels higher than 13 mmol/L (>500 mg/dL), corneal arcus, xanthomas, xanthelasmas, and marked premature and progressive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It is typically diagnosed early in life, and high LDL cholesterol levels increase the risk of cardiovascular complications such as heart attacks and strokes at a young age.
In the US, cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per blood deciliter (dL). While in European countries, cholesterol levels are measured in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
The disease, if untreated, can cause aggressive narrowing and blocking of the blood vessels even before birth, which progresses rapidly, triggering serious cardiac issues for patients much earlier in life than the general population. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia have three to six times higher LDL-C levels than normal.
Diagnosing homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia involves clinical evaluation, family history, and laboratory tests that provide access to the extent of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular involvement.
While genetic testing may provide a definitive diagnosis of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, genetic confirmation remains elusive in some patients. It is diagnosed based on an untreated LDL-C plasma concentration >13 mmol/L (>500 mg/dL) or a treated LDL-C concentration of =8 mmol/L (=300 mg/dL) and the presence of cutaneous or tendon xanthomas before the age of 10 years.
Currently, diagnostic criteria developed by the European Atherosclerosis Society, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and Japan Atherosclerosis Society are widely used to diagnose homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is challenging to manage due to the severe elevation of LDL cholesterol levels and the increased risk of early-onset cardiovascular complications. Treatment for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia typically involves a combination of lipid-lowering medications, lifestyle modifications, and in some cases, advanced interventions. Statins are the first-line pharmacological therapies for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia that help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. Some statins were approved in the US, like LIPITOR (atorvastatin), CRESTOR (rosuvastatin), and ZOCOR (simvastatin), but now their generics are available. ATORVALIQ (atorvastatin) was approved in 2023 by the US FDA, but it is an oral suspension of the already approved atorvastatin.
Ezetimibe is another medication that inhibits cholesterol absorption from the intestine, leading to further reductions in LDL cholesterol levels and is the first-line lipid-lowering therapy recommended for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Bile acid sequestrates are also recommended but are limited mostly due to poor tolerance and low efficacy.
In those with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, despite the first line of therapy, various therapies like PCSK9 Inhibitors (alirocumab and evolocumab), Anti-Apo-B Therapies (lomitapide and mipomersen), and ANGPTL3 Inhibitors (evinacumab) are recommended as adjuncts to the first-line of lipid-lowering therapies. Besides these interventions to lower LDL independent of LDL-receptor lipoprotein, apheresis, and liver transplantation are also recommended.
As the market is derived using a patient-based model, the homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia epidemiology chapter in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by diagnosed prevalent cases of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and mutation-specific cases of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in the 7MM covering the United States, EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan from 2019 to 2032.
The drug chapter segment of the homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia report encloses a detailed analysis of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, currently used drugs, and mid-stage (Phase II and Phase I) pipeline drugs. It also helps understand the homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, approval and patent details, advantages and disadvantages of each included drug, and the latest news and press releases.
EVKEEZA (evinacumab) is a recombinant human monoclonal antibody used in treating adult and pediatric patients aged 5 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. It is a novel lipid-lowering therapy for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia that binds and blocks the function of ANGPTL3, a protein that plays a key role in lipid metabolism. ANGPTL3 inhibits the breakdown of these triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (LDL and chylomicrons). By inhibiting ANGPTL3, EVKEEZA allows these lipoproteins to be degraded, ultimately reducing LDL, HDL, and triglycerides.
In February 2021, the US FDA approved EVKEEZA (evinacumab) as an adjunct to other LDL-C lowering therapies to treat adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, while in March 2023, it extended the approval to treat homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in children aged 5-11 years also. In 2021, the EMA also approved EVKEEZA as an adjunct for the treatment of adult and adolescent patients aged 12 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
In January 2022, Ultragenyx collaborated with Regeneron to clinically develop, commercialize and distribute EVKEEZA (evinacumab) outside of the US.
ARO-ANG3 is an investigational, subcutaneously administrated, hepatocyte-targeted RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic designed to specifically silence angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) mRNA expression and mimic ANGPTL3 deficiency. Further, given the inhibitory role of ANGPTL3 in the metabolism of various lipoproteins and triglycerides, reduced expression and reduced circulating levels of ANGPTL3 may increase the clearance of LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. It is administrated subcutaneously and is being developed to treat dyslipidemia and metabolic diseases.
The drug is undergoing Phase II (GATEWAY) trial in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia already on stable, maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy, besides being developed for dyslipidemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Further, the company plans to meet with regulatory authorities in the second half of 2023 to discuss the proposed study design for the Phase III trial to investigate ARO-ANG3 in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
Note: Detailed emerging therapies assessment will be provided in the final report.
According to most guidelines, the treatment should start with conventional statin therapy, and depending on the response, combination therapy should be added and/or non-pharmacologic interventions considered. Statins and ezetimibe are still the first-line therapy for patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, although their mechanism of action is LDL-receptor dependent. In those with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, despite the first line of therapy, PCSK9 Inhibitors (alirocumab and evolocumab), Anti-Apo-B Therapies (lomitapide and mipomersen), ANGPTL3 Inhibitors (evinacumab) are recommended. Besides these interventions to lower LDL independent of LDL-receptor lipoprotein, apheresis, and liver transplantation are also recommended.
Statins reduce LDL-C by diminishing hepatic cholesterol synthesis, acting on the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA)-reductase. This leads to the upregulation of hepatic LDLR expression and the increased uptake of circulating LDL particles with consequent higher biliary cholesterol excretion in the feces. Reductions in cholesterol synthesis result in less VLDL, a precursor of LDL. Statins reduce the hepatic output of cholesterol to peripheral arteries, hence decreasing cholesterol plaque buildup.
Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is a rare, treatment-resistant genetic disorder that affects cholesterol metabolism and is characterized by early-onset atherosclerotic and aortic valvular cardiovascular disease if left untreated. Due to the severe elevation of LDL cholesterol levels, it is challenging to manage. There are at least four genes, including LDLR, APOB, PCSK9, and LDLRAP1, that cause homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia with phenotypic variation.
The prevention of early ASCVD in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia depends on early diagnosis and efficient LLT. On-treatment LDL-C levels are shown to be the best predictor of survival, and the sooner the onset of the treatment, the lower the cardiovascular consequences. However, due to absent or defective LDL-receptor activity, most individuals with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia resist conventional therapies that lead to LDL-C clearance by upregulating LDL receptors. Statins and ezetimibe are still the first-line therapy for patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, although their mechanism of action is LDL-receptor dependent. In those with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, despite the first line of therapy, PCSK9 Inhibitors (alirocumab and evolocumab), Anti-Apo-B Therapies (lomitapide and mipomersen), ANGPTL3 Inhibitors (evinacumab) are recommended. Besides these interventions to lower LDL independent of LDL-receptor lipoprotein, apheresis, and liver transplantation are also recommended.
The current treatment regimens focus on LDL-lowering therapies, with statins being the mainstay. Statin therapy is a long-term preventive treatment of choice for individuals with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Various statins were approved decades back; these include simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and atorvastatin, among others. Most of these approved statins market is awash with cheap generics. CMP Pharma's ATORVALIQ (atorvastatin) recently received approval from the US FDA for its oral suspension; however, the drug has been in the market for decades but in a different formulation. In those who persist with inadequate LDL-C concentrations, ezetimibe is prescribed as a second-line therapy for LDL-C lowering, as it reduces intestinal cholesterol absorption and increases fecal excretion. It usually adds 10-15% additional LDL-C reduction to isolated statin therapy.
Key players Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals' ARO-ANG3, LIB Therapeutics' Lerodalcibep (LIB003), and Novartis and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals' LEQVIO (inclisiran/KJX839) and others are evaluating their lead candidates in different stages of clinical development. They aim to investigate their products for the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
This section focuses on the uptake rate of potential drugs expected to be launched in the market during 2019-2032. For example, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals' ARO-ANG3, an ANGPTL3 inhibitor, with an anticipated entry by 2027 in the US, is predicted to have a slow-medium uptake during the forecast period.
The report provides insights into therapeutic candidates in Phase II and Phase I. It also analyzes key players involved in developing targeted therapeutics.
The report covers information on collaborations, acquisitions and mergers, licensing, and patent details for emerging therapies for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
To keep up with current market trends, we take KOLs and SMEs' opinions working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research. Industry Experts contacted for insights on the homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia evolving treatment landscape, patient reliance on conventional therapies, patient therapy switching acceptability, and drug uptake, along with challenges related to accessibility, including Medical/scientific writers, Medical Professionals, Professors, Directors, and Others.
DelveInsight's analysts connected with 50+ KOLs to gather insights; however, interviews were conducted with 15+ KOLs in the 7MM. Centers like Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, the University of Washington, the University Hospital of Tours, Navarra Institute for Health Research, the University of Tokyo School of Medicine, and the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry were contacted. Their opinion helps understand and validate current and emerging therapy treatment patterns or homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia market trends. This will support the clients in potential upcoming novel treatments by identifying the overall scenario of the market and the unmet needs.
According to our primary research analysis, lipid-lowering therapies are not being used enough despite approvals. High-dose statins were the highest of all the therapies recommended to treat homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and were the treatment of choice for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, but very few patients achieved current LDL cholesterol recommendations with this approach. The use of three or more LLTs was associated with lower LDL cholesterol levels and a greater likelihood of goal achievement. There is a need to improve disease awareness and increase diagnosis and treatment, as most cases are not diagnosed or not treated properly.
We perform Qualitative and market Intelligence analysis using various approaches, such as SWOT and Conjoint Analysis. In the SWOT analysis, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in terms of disease diagnosis, patient awareness, patient burden, competitive landscape, cost-effectiveness, and geographical accessibility of therapies are provided. These pointers are based on the Analyst's discretion and assessment of the patient burden, cost analysis, and existing and evolving treatment landscape.
Conjoint Analysis analyzes multiple emerging therapies based on relevant attributes such as safety, efficacy, frequency of administration, route of administration, and order of entry. Scoring is given based on these parameters to analyze the effectiveness of therapy. To analyze the effectiveness of these therapies, we have calculated their attributed analysis by giving them scores based on the percentage change from baseline in LDL-C.
The therapies' safety is evaluated wherein the acceptability, tolerability, and adverse events are majorly observed. It sets a clear understanding of the side effects posed by the drug in the trials. In addition, the scoring is also based on the route of administration, order of entry and designation, probability of success, and the addressable patient pool for each therapy. According to these parameters, the final weightage score and the ranking of the emerging therapies are decided.
Reimbursement of rare disease therapies can be limited due to lack of supporting policies and funding, challenges of high prices, lack of specific approaches to evaluating rare disease drugs given limited evidence, and payers' concerns about budget impact. The high cost of rare disease drugs usually has a limited effect on the budget due to the small number of eligible patients being prescribed the drug. The US FDA has approved several rare disease therapies in recent years. From a patient perspective, health insurance and payer coverage guidelines surrounding rare disease treatments restrict broad access to these treatments, leaving only a small number of patients who can bypass insurance and pay for products independently.
The report provides detailed insights on the country-wise accessibility and reimbursement scenarios, cost-effectiveness scenarios, programs making accessibility easier and out-of-pocket costs more affordable, insights on patients insured under federal or state government prescription drug programs, etc.