Market Trends of MEA Cancer Vaccines Industry
Cervical Cancer Segment is Expected to Witness a Significant Growth in the Market Over the Forecast Period
- Cervical cancer is cancer of the cells in the cervix. The rising burden of cervical cancer, increasing awareness, and government initiatives across the Middle East and Africa region are propelling the growth of the segment. For instance, in October 2022, the Government of Sierra Leone introduced the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to the routine immunization schedule and launched the start of a campaign to reach 153,991 girls with the vaccine. The introduction of the HPV vaccine is one of the key strategies that the government is implementing for cervical cancer elimination in the country.
- Furthermore, the high prevalence of cervical cancer in Africa and GCC is expected to utilize the cancer vaccine market over the forecast period. For instance, as per the IARC estimations, 188.6 thousand cases of cervical cancer are estimated to be diagnosed in Africa and GCC in 2035. This number is likely to rise to 219.1 thousand by 2040. Moreover, strategic activities like partnerships, product launches, and mergers by the key players are expected to fuel market growth.
- For instance, in November 2022, AstraZeneca teamed up with a host of African organizations to help patients across the continent gain better and more fair access to cancer care. The program was led by a steering committee of doctors, oncology institutions, and advocacy groups to guide policy intervention, share lessons across borders, and put cancer patients at the center.
- Furthermore, an increase in awareness programs regarding the treatment and diagnosis of cervical cancer is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in November 2021, Saudi Arabia launched an HPV vaccination program for girls aged 9-13. Although HPV can come in 100 different variants, certain types are categorized as high-risk.
- A 2021 HPV Information Centre study showed that approximately 358 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Saudi Arabia, where cervical cancer ranks as the eighth most common cause of female cancer in women aged 15 to 44. Hence, considering the high prevalence of cervical cancer cases and the increase in cervical cancer vaccine launches, and the surge in awareness campaigns by the government, the studied segment is expected to witness fair growth over the forecast period.
GCC is Expected to Hold a Notable Share in the Market Over the Forecast Period
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region comprises the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The factors such as the growing burden of cancer cases, increasing focus on research, and development of novel therapeutics are expected to drive market growth in GCC countries. Also, a rise in government initiatives and an increase in investment in healthcare are expected to bolster market growth over the forecast period. For instance, in April 2022, Dante Labs, a company in genomics and precision medicine was selected as the genetic testing provider for Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC), the Abu Dhabi-based specialist healthcare center focused on cell therapy and regenerative medicine. In parallel, a joint R&D program has been launched focused on the development of an mRNA vaccine platform to identify individual cancer treatments.
Moreover, according to the IARC estimations, around 69.1 thousand new cancer cases are likely to be reported in GCC by 2030 and this number is estimated to rise to 104.4 thousand by 2040. The rising prevalence of cancer will boost the demand for cancer vaccines and further drive market growth. Thus, owing to the abovementioned factors, the studied market is expected to grow over the forecast period in the GCC region.
Furthermore, as per the article published in November 2022 in PubMed, the study was conducted on 805 Omani women in which approximately one-third of the women identified HPV as a risk factor for developing cervical cancer (38.9%). Very few participants knew of HPV vaccines (10.1%). Hence, the low awareness of the HPV virus and its prevention across the GCC is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period. Additionally, in February 2022, Aster Hospitals UAE launched a cancer support group coinciding with World Cancer Day on February 4, observed every year. Aster Hospitals also opened a state-of-the-art Department of Oncology at Aster Hospital Al Qusais, Dubai in 2021. The cancer support group was launched under the broader patient support entity, Aster Cosmos. Hence, thus due to the high prevalence of cancer cases and the increase in cancer awareness programs and conferences by the government, GCC is expected to hold a major share of the market over the forecast period.
