Actinic Keratosis Treatment Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The actinic keratosis treatment market was valued at US$8.251 billion in 2022.

Precancerous skin lesions called actinic keratoses require individualized care, which can lead to poor treatment adherence and subpar results. There is little information on personalizing care, especially when it comes to adjusting therapy to each patient's preferences and goals and promoting shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers.

Growing prevalence of skin cancer

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most prevalent type of cancer is skin cancer. Data on Merkel cell carcinoma and other non-epithelial skin malignancies are gathered by central cancer registries. The most prevalent kinds of skin cancer, basal cell, and squamous cell carcinomas, do not often have information gathered by central cancer registries. According to statistics from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, over 6.1 million individuals receive treatment for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas annually, at a cost of about $8.9 billion. This leads to growing cases of actinic keratosis.

Personalization in treatment actinic keratosis treatment

When treating chronic skin disorders, patients' compliance with lengthy, repeated treatment regimens is crucial to the efficacy of the treatment which is boosting the actinic keratosis treatment industry. Healthcare providers (HCPs) can collaborate with their patients from the moment of diagnosis to understand their unique objectives, concerns, and treatment expectations to provide individualized care. Maintaining continuous, shared decision-making between patients and HCPs can enhance adherence and optimize treatment results to ultimately improve patient satisfaction and QoL, given the life-long nature of AK and the necessity for recurrent treatment sessions.

Management of Actinic Keratosis

For the management of AK, several therapies with various effectiveness and safety profiles are made available which is fueling the actinic keratosis treatment market. Therapies are categorized as "lesion directed" (i.e., treatments are conducted on a single or very small number of AK lesions within the same location) or "field directed," which targets the FC, i.e., the clinically evident lesions and the entire surrounding area with subclinical alterations. The choice of therapy is often made on an individual basis and is always dependent on the traits of both the patient and the lesion, especially in senior individuals. When selecting a specific medication and determining the patient's propensity to adhere to treatment, comorbidities including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurological dysfunctions are frequently present in this group of AK patients.

Growing popularity of laser therapies

Single AK lesions and FC can be treated with laser therapy, which can remove the actinic-damaged epidermis and papillary dermis or cause a full-face skin resurfacing. Fully ablative laser resurfacing using carbon dioxide and erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet has been reported to be more efficient as monotherapy than fractional ablative methods for treating AK, despite lengthy healing durations. Data from the National Library of Medicine indicate that laser resurfacing monotherapy is equally effective as 5-FU and 30% TCA and less effective than PDT, even though larger sample numbers for clinical studies are required. 90% of patients respond to therapy on average, and 10-15% relapse within 6 months.

In North America, it is projected that the actinic keratosis treatment market will grow steadily.

The actinic keratosis treatment market in North America is anticipated to be fueled by the growing prevalence of actinic keratosis and research initiatives in the region. A poll conducted by the international biopharmaceutical firm Almirall S.A. (ALM), which specializes in medical dermatology, revealed that 85% of participants were ignorant of actinic keratosis (AK). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most typical kind of skin cancer, can develop as a result of this persistent skin disorder. The poll, performed by Almirall with more than 2,500 participants over the age of 35, sought to ascertain the general public's degree of awareness of AK and skin-healthy practices in Spain, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Actinic Keratosis Treatment Procedures

• Freezing (Cryotherapy), Liquid nitrogen freezing can be used to eliminate actinic keratoses. The material is applied to the damaged skin by healthcare professionals, which results in blistering or peeling. The injured skin cells peel off as the skin heals, revealing fresh skin. The most frequent kind of treatment is cryotherapy.
• Scrapping (Curettage), The injured cells are scraped out during this treatment using a tool called a curet. Electrosurgery, which uses a pencil-shaped device to cut and vaporize the afflicted tissue with an electric current, may be performed after scraping.
• Photodynamic Therapy, The doctor may apply a chemical solution that is light-sensitive to the damaged skin before exposing it to a specific light to eradicate the actinic keratosis. Skin inflammation, swelling, and a burning feeling may be side effects of treatment.

FDA Approvals and Clinical Trials for Actinic Keratosis Drugs

• In January 2023, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase 3 clinical trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of Ameluz® in a field-directed treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) on the extremities, neck, and trunk began enrolling patients, according to Biofrontera AG, a global biopharmaceutical company.
• In December 2020, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Klisyri® (tirbanibulin) for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) of the face or scalp, according to Almirall, S.A., a worldwide biopharmaceutical business specializing in skin health. During the first quarter of 2021, Klisyri® (tirbanibulin) will be made available in the United States.

Market Key Developments

• In December 2022, Ameluz® and BF-RhodoLED® are being sold in Finland owing to Biofrontera AG (ISIN: DE0006046113), a global biopharmaceutical firm, and its Scandinavian licensing partner Galenica AB, Malmo, Sweden.
• In September 2021, the commercial launch of Klisyri® (tirbanibulin), which was approved by the European Commission and the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in July and August of 2021, respectively, for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) of the face and scalp in adults, was announced by Almirall S.A., a global biopharmaceutical company.

Segmentation:

By Therapy

• Photodynamic Therapy
• Surgery
• Topical Medications

By Drug Class

• NSAIDs
• Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor
• Immune Response Modifiers
• Photoenhancers

By End-User

• Hospitals and Oncology Centers
• Dermatology Clinics
• Homecare
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Others
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Spain
• Others
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Israel
• Others
• Asia Pacific
• Japan
• China
• India
• South Korea
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Others