A wave of technologically advanced, minimally invasive devices introduced over the last decade or so, has transformed the landscape of the prostate surgery. It is expected that the incidence of BPH and prostate cancer will increase in parallel to the rising population of men over 50 across the globe. The worldwide market for minimally invasive prostate surgery and treatment devices is estimated to reach almost $1.38 billion by the end of 2011, according to a new report released by Marketstrat Inc. of Pleasanton, CA.
For details on the BPH Prostate report, click here
BPH treatment has begun to shift away from TURP towards a whole host of new options for ablation and removal of prostatic tissue, based on microwave energy (transurethral microwave therapy or TUMT), radio-frequency waves (transurethral needle ablation or TUNA) and lasers (holmium and greenlight/KTP, i.e. potassium-titanyl-phosphate). The main aim of these technologies has been to reduce the common side-effects of prostate surgery, namely incontinence and impotence, while ensuring more precise delivery of energy to the target tissue. According to Marketstrat Inc., demand for all these options will continue due to the wide variation in symptoms of men presenting with BPH. Demand for Greenlight laser photoselective vaporization, or PVP, will far exceed others, with a cumulative average growth rate (CAGR) of over 9 percent over the 2009 to 2017 period. American Medical Systems is the sole provider of this technology in the US.
Other leaders in the BPH space include Urologix, Olympus, Stryker, Boston Scientific and Medtronic.Prostate cancer, a disease predominantly seen in N. America and Europe, is becoming more prevalent in Asia and Latin America. In addition to growing numbers of older men, Westernization of diet is thought to be largely to blame for this phenomenon. Minimally invasive treatments that offer an alternative to radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation are in high demand. Brachytherapy, involving the implantation of radioactive seeds, is more common than crytotherapy which destroys tumor cells by freezing them. The latest technology is high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU); there are only two HIFU devices currently available, the Ablatherm (from EDAP) and the Sonoblate (from Misonix). Both are undergoing phase III clinical trials in the US, although their use in Europe is well established. FDA approval may be obtained in the next two years, at which point HIFU is expected to capture the largest share of the market. Leaders in the prostate cancer market are CR Bard and Theragenics.
Comments