Independent market analyst Datamonitor published the results of a survey on monoclonal antibody (mAb) global sales, revealing that in 2007, sales reached $ 26 billion dollars, and estimating sales for these type of drugs could double, reaching almost $ 50 billion dollars by 2013.

While small molecule drug sales will continue to make up the majority of total market sales, the mAb market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 11 percent, a much greater rate than their small molecule counterparts.

Traditionally, the ‘big five’ mAbs – Avastin, Herceptin, Rituxan (all Roche Holding AG/Genentech); Humira (Abbott); and Remicade (J&J/Schering-Plough) – have dominated the market, cornering almost 80 percent of sales in 2007.

However, Datamonitor has identified an ‘emerging eight’ group of mAbs that will each achieve annual sales of at least $ 500 million dollars between 2007 and 2013: Bapienuzuamb (Elan/Wyeth); Denosumab (AMGEN/Eisai); Motavizumab (AstraZeneca/Abbott, Numax); Golimumab (J&J/Schering-Plough); Lucentis (Genentech/Novartis); Actemra (Roche Holding); Tysabri (Biogen Idec/Elan); and Cimzia (UCB).

Datamonitor estimates that jointly, these drugs could generate some $ 11 billion dollars between 2007 and 2013.