The company's latest report states that this growth, which will occur across the nine major markets of the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, China, and India, will primarily be attributable to a dramatic increase in the diagnosis and prevalence of the disease, and the fact that the rise in type 2 diabetes-related comorbidities has fueled a more aggressive approach in treatment and the use of multiple-drug therapies.

Dr Jesus Cuaron, GlobalData's Analyst covering Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, explains: "Increases in disease incidences will result from increased life expectancy and lifestyle changes, such as dietary changes and a reduction in exercise.

"Indeed, the US will be impacted the most by such changes, increasing its global market share from 58% to 66% during the forecast period."

Due to the increasing prevalence and progressive nature of type 2 diabetes, there are considerably high unmet needs within the indication.

Overall, these unmet needs are interrelated and include improved durability of treatment, a better balance of efficacy of glycemic control with cardiovascular safety, hypoglycemia avoidance, and tolerability and ease of compliance.

Dr Cuaron continues: "Currently, all available treatments for type 2 diabetes are initially effective and reduce complication rates. The need for drugs which are able to maintain glycemic control in the long term, however, represents a significant growth opportunity for new patent-protected products.

"Molecules in the earlier stages of development - Phase II or earlier - employ various novel mechanisms of action. Early-stage novel drug classes include those such as 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitors and glucokinase activators"

GlobalData believes that in order to address the biggest unmet need in type 2 diabetes, new drugs must address the problem of insulin resistance, as this is the root of the disease.

"New products must address insulin resistance while offering a strong safety profile and not causing weight gain," the analyst concludes.