Methotrexate Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Combination therapies: Methotrexate combination therapies are emerging as an advanced approach to treat several autoimmune diseases. Methotrexate when combined with leflunomide offers effective results in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Many researchers are constantly focusing on the introduction of advanced combination therapies to improve the efficiency of treatment and patient care. For instance, in March 2023, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed a novel combination therapy for the treatment of vancomycin-resistant bacterial infections. This combination therapy makes use of mitoxantrone an anticancer agent together with an antibiotic vancomycin. Mitoxantrone and methotrexate with no significant difference in clinical response are expected to drive lucrative opportunities for innovations. Such advancements are set to propel the overall methotrexate market growth in the coming years.

• Personalized treatment approaches: The personalization treatment approaches are anticipated to fuel the use of methotrexate in the coming years. Tailored medicines developed considering the genetic makeup, disease subtype, and response to previous therapies are gaining traction. Personalized approaches, essential for improving patient outcomes and minimizing unnecessary treatments are set to double the revenue shares of the manufacturers in the coming years. For instance, in April 2024, PrecisePK announced the launch of 3 innovative drugs methotrexate, cyclosporine, and infliximab for Bayesian precision dosing. These models are expected to revolutionize therapeutic drug monitoring and analysis for transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy patients. Through this move, the company is making strides in the personalized medicine approach.

Challenges

• Availability of alternatives: The easy availability of substitutes is emerging as a major challenge for methotrexate manufacturers. Biologics are increasingly replacing methotrexate for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is widely observed in patients who don't respond to conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Thus, these newer therapeutics with better efficacy and fewer side effects are expected to lower the sales of methotrexate solutions.

• Stringent regulatory policies: The strict and time-consuming regulatory approvals hinder the methotrexate market to some extent. These long procedures often hamper the profits of the manufacturers, as they are not able to grab trending opportunities. This factor majorly challenges budget-conscious end users such as small companies and start-ups.