The Multiple Myeloma (MM) market is expected to grow from $14.5bn in 2017 to $27.8bn by 2027 across the eight major markets (US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, and China ) at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The company’s latest report, ‘Multiple Myeloma: Global Drug Forecast and Market Analysis to 2027’, states that the main driver of growth in the global MM market for the next ten years will be the approval and launch of pipeline therapies in multiple treatment lines.

Volkan Gunduz, PhD, Senior Oncology Analyst at GlobalData, says: “The modest growth of the MM market will be driven by increasing prevalence, primarily by aging populations, as well as the approval and launch of new branded therapies: isatuximab, bb2121, JNJ-4528, GSK2857916, AMG 420, Venclexta, selinexor, Ygalo, BL-8040, galinpepimut-S, and Opdivo. In addition, label expansion of currently marketed therapies: Darzalex, Kyprolis, Pomalyst, Ninlaro, and Empliciti will promote market growth during the forecast period.”

BCMA-targeting class of therapies is highly anticipated in MM and they are expected to improve treatment outcome in heavily-treated patients, an area of major unmet need in MM. Generic and biosimilar erosion of some of the mainstays of MM treatment is also expected between 2017 and 2027.

Gunduz continues: "A major barrier for market growth in MM will be the increased use of generics, in particular generic lenalidomide. The branded Revlimid alone brought in around $6.1bn in the US in 2018. Patent expiry is also expected for other major current standards of treatment, Velcade, Kyprolis, Pomalyst, Ninlaro, and Darzalex, during the forecast period. Generic and biosimilar erosion is expected to temper market growth significantly.”

Among the pipeline, BCMA-targeting therapies are expected to result in significant revenues due to premium pricing and clinical benefit in heavily pretreated patients. This class will be represented by four drug candidates, BCMA CAR-Ts bb2121 and JNJ-4528, the bispecific T-cell engager AMG 420, and the antibody-drug conjugate GSK2857916. The combined revenues of all four therapies is expected to reach $10bn in 2027.

GlobalData’s report also found that label expansion of the anti-CD38 Darzalex and launch of the ‘me-too’ isatuximab are other major drivers of the MM market.

Gunduz concludes: “Darzalex’s use is expanding in MM, translating into higher revenues. Despite being second-to-market, high KOL opinion of anti-CD38 class of therapies and the extensive clinical development of isatuximab in MM will facilitate its adoption in a sizable patient population following launch.”