Shooting the Rapids
Executive Summary
Despite a market turbulence that has buffeted recently-public medical device companies Oratec Interventions and Aspect Medical, Curon Medical, one of the latest device companies to complete an IPO, is holding steady. The company has a great story to tell. It is offering an FDA-cleared device to permanently treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, in a minimally-invasive office-based procedure.
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A Gut Feeling
The gastrointestinal market has traditionally split into two categories: the heartburn diseases GERD and ulcer, and "other." The former category has yielded blockbuster successes for several large companies, including SmithKline Beecham and AstraZeneca. Those markets have plateaued, however, and now companies are casting about for follow-on products in GI. Large companies and small companies have begun to venture into the "other" GI diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. These diseases are all difficult to diagnose, and the mechanisms that underpin them are still unknown. Furthermore, the diseases are multi-factorial, immunological inflammatory diseases and drug discovery is challenging. While waiting for new drugs, many small companies find the market controlled by 10,000 gastroenterologists in the US to be a niche opportunity that represents a large market that can be targeted with a small salesforce. Device companies too have a role to play, in giving gastros new procedures that keep patients in their franchise, which is encroached upon by GPs and general surgeons.
Japan Grants Global-First Approval To Zolbetuximab, 15 Other New Drugs
Astellas's first-in class CLDN18.2-targeting antibody receives its first approval worldwide, while crovalimab and a number of drugs for rare diseases also receive nods from regulators and are now awaiting reimbursement price-listing.
Hanmi-OCI Merger Hits Wall As Brothers Win Shareholder Vote, Board Seats
The planned merger of Korea's Hanmi Pharm Group with OCI Group hits a major speed bump as the two sons of Hanmi's founder and other candidates recommended by them secture board seats. But it remains to be seen how the Lim brothers will fulfil their ambitious promises.