Vitiligo Treatment Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Aesthetic appeal and rising awareness of appearance: The rising emphasis on aesthetic appeal and increased awareness of appearance-related issues have become important drivers in the vitiligo treatment market. Consumer awareness and demand for treatment options are increasing due to social media's role in advocacy and support for those dealing with vitiligo. Organizations and influencers are raising awareness and helping to decrease the stigma while also making people more aware of available treatment options.
  
  As societal focus on physical appearance is primarily fueled by the influence of social media, pharmaceutical companies are ramping up their RD and gaining necessary government approvals to launch their products in the mainstream vitiligo treatment market.   For example, in July 2022, Incyte Corporation received U.S. FDA approval for its product Opzelura (ruxolitinib) cream as the first tropical treatment for repigmentation in non-segmental vitiligo. This approval marks an important milestone as it addresses both cosmetics and clinical needs of patients.
• Increasing number of clinical trials: The increasing number of clinical trials in vitiligo treatment research has become a significant driver leading vitiligo treatment market growth. These trials are critical to determining and confirming new as well as effective treatments for the condition. Some developments in clinical trials have innovated the vitiligo treatment landscape. With a greater scientific understanding of the condition and innovation in biotechnology, various pharmaceutical companies are investing in clinical trials to test new combinations and approaches to therapies.
  
  For instance, in October 2022, Incyte declared that data from the pivotal Phase 3 TRuE-V clinical trial program evaluating ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) 1.5% in patients 12 years of age and above with nonsegmental vitiligo have been available in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). In the trials (TRuE-V1 and TRuE-V2), application of ruxolitinib cream resulted in significant facial and total body repigmentation versus vehicle control as shown by greater proportions of patients attaining the facial and total body vitiligo area scoring index (F-VASI and T-VASI, respectively) endpoints at Week 24 vs. vehicle, with a higher proportion of patients responding at Week 521.

Challenges

• Lack of trained professionals: The lack of trained healthcare professionals and dermatologists specializing in vitiligo presents an important challenge in effectively treating and managing the condition. The worldwide ratio of dermatologists to the general population is less. For example, according to the National Library of Medicine, in May 2020, there was approximately one dermatologist per 130,000 population in India, which highlights a significant gap in specialized care. This scarcity is further exacerbated in underserved and rural areas where access to specialized dermatologist services is non-existent or limited.
  
  Overcoming this challenge requires concentrated efforts to upsurge the number of trained dermatologists and improve education on vitiligo management between healthcare providers. Leveraging digital health platforms and implementing telemedicine services can also bridge the gap while providing patients in distant areas with access to specialized care. Moreover, ongoing training programs and professional growth are important to equip healthcare providers with the skills and knowledge that are necessary to deliver effective vitiligo treatments, thereby improving patient satisfaction and outcomes.
• Viable treatment response: The heterogeneity in treatment outcomes can be attributed to various factors including extent of depigmentation, disease duration, and individual patient characteristics. This variability complicates the development of standardized treatment protocols and poses challenges for clinicians in managing patient expectations. Additionally, the psychological impact of inconsistent treatment responses can affect patients’ quality of life and adherence to therapy.
  
  Ongoing research into the pathogenesis of vitiligo and the growth of biomarkers to predict treatment response are key steps toward improving therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, support and patient education play an important role in handling expectations and improving adherence to treatment regimens which eventually contribute to better clinical results.