The narcolepsy drug market size is forecasted to increase $1.60B from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 9.1%, according to a report by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the rising number of product launches and clinical trials, the increasing incidence of narcolepsy in adults, and the growing number of studies to understand the cause and treatment of narcolepsy.
The rising number of narcolepsy cases has encouraged vendors to launch new drugs to meet the demand. For instance, in July 2020, Jazz Pharmaceuticals announced that it had received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Xywav, which is an oral solution that treats cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness in patients aged seven and above. In 2021, Avadel Pharmaceuticals's new drug application (NDA) for an investigational agent, FT218, was accepted by the FDA for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy among adults with narcolepsy. In 2021, a researcher at Stanford University illustrated a Phase 3 study, according to which an extended-release version of sodium oxybate reduces daytime sleepiness and improves muscle weakness among narcolepsy patients. These factors are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.
Narcolepsy with cataplexy will account for a significant share of the market growth during the forecast period. Narcolepsy with cataplexy generally starts during a patient's teenage or young adulthood period and continues throughout the lifetime. According to pathophysiological studies, the early loss of neurons in the hypothalamus is one of the main causes of this disease. To treat the disease, stimulant drugs are prescribed to suppress daytime sleepiness, and antidepressants are prescribed for cataplexy. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate is used to treat both symptoms. Therefore, the rising number of cases of narcolepsy with cataplexy will boost the growth of the segment during the forecast period.