Drugs and patents in ATC class A - Alimentary tract and metabolism

The Alimentary Tract and Metabolism (ATC Class A) market is experiencing transformative growth driven by rising disease prevalence, technological innovation, and strategic industry developments. Below is a detailed analysis of market dynamics and patent trends shaping this sector.

Market Dynamics

Growth Projections

The global gastrointestinal therapeutics market is projected to reach USD 48.61 billion by 2030 (CAGR: 3.3%) [10], while others forecast $64.5 billion by 2032 (CAGR: 5%) [15]. This growth is fueled by:
- Unhealthy lifestyles and sedentary habits increasing gastrointestinal (GI) disorders like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis [10][15].
- A surge in biologics adoption (e.g., REMICADE) and novel drug approvals such as AbbVie’s upadacitinib for Crohn’s disease [10][14].
- Government funding, including USD 352 million allocated by the NIH for colorectal cancer R&D in 2022 [14].

Regional Insights

North America leads the market, driven by advanced healthcare infrastructure and high disease prevalence. For example, 60 million Americans suffer from digestive diseases annually [3][15].
Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region due to urbanization, dietary shifts, and aging populations. Canada and Japan dominated 2023 sales with $5.85 billion and $4.94 billion, respectively [16].

Key Trends

R&D Collaborations: Partnerships like Takeda Pharmaceutical’s alliance with Columbia University aim to accelerate GI disorder therapies [10].
Biologic Dominance: Biologics account for 47% of late-stage GI pipelines, with drugs like mirikizumab showing strong Phase 3 results for Crohn’s disease [14].
Market Consolidation: Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) increased market concentration by 5.9% in therapeutic areas, particularly impacting gastrointestinal drugs (15.9% HHI rise post-M&A) [12].

Patent Landscape

Classification Systems

Patents are categorized using the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system, which includes subclasses like A61K (pharmaceutical preparations) and A23L (food compositions affecting metabolism) [2][8]. For example, metabolic health patents often fall under A61K 31/7052 (compounds with saccharide radicals) [13].

Innovation Trends

Food-Based Interventions: Over 228 patent applications since 2020 target metabolic health through foods like dairy, marine extracts, and kiwifruit [4][13]. Nestlé and Sanofi lead with filings for low-GI products and bioactive compounds [13].
Novel Drug Mechanisms: Hua Medicine’s HuaTangNing, a first-in-class glucokinase activator for diabetes, received a unique WHO ATC code (A10BX18), underscoring its innovative mechanism [17].
Challenges in Metabolite Patents: Metabolites produced in vivo (naturally in the body) face patentability hurdles, while in vitro-synthesized variants are protected. Legal disputes, such as those involving tamoxifen metabolites, highlight this complexity [11].

Key Players and Strategies

Top Patent Holders: Companies like Nestlé, Sanofi, and Abbott dominate metabolic health patents, focusing on probiotics, enzyme inhibitors, and glycaemic control technologies [4][13].
Cross-Jurisdictional Filings: Innovators increasingly file patents in multiple regions (e.g., US and EU) to navigate classification differences and secure global protection [2].

Emerging Opportunities and Challenges

Factor	Impact
Aging Populations	Increased demand for GI therapies in aging demographics [15].
Personalized Medicine	Growth in gene-targeted therapies for conditions like IBS and Crohn’s [10].
Patent Expirations	Biosimilar competition post-2026 threatens revenue for blockbuster drugs [15].
Regulatory Scrutiny	Stricter approvals for biologics delay market entry [14].

"The future of alimentary tract therapeutics lies in leveraging biologics and personalized approaches to address unmet patient needs." – Industry Analyst [14].

Conclusion

The ATC Class A market is poised for sustained growth, driven by innovation in biologics and food-based interventions. However, navigating patentability issues and regulatory hurdles remains critical. Strategic collaborations and cross-border IP management will define success in this competitive landscape.

References

https://www.precedenceresearch.com/air-traffic-control-equipment-market
https://patentpc.com/blog/understanding-the-patent-classification-system
https://www.biospace.com/alimentary-tract-and-metabolism-market-growing-prevalence-of-digestive-disorders-will-enhance-the-growth-of-market
https://bpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.auckland.ac.nz/dist/1/140/files/2021/08/Metabolic-Health-2021.pdf
http://www.atc10yearplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025-10-Year-Assessment-Preliminary-Study-Design-FINAL.pdf
https://www.iqvia.com/-/media/iqvia/pdfs/files/iqvia-quarterly-pharmaceutical-market-outlook---november-2023.pdf
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/06/14/1869074/0/en/The-World-Air-Traffic-Control-ATC-Equipment-Market-2019-Analysis-Trends-and-Forecasts-Through-2016-2024.html
https://www.uspto.gov/patents/search/classification-standards-and-development
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210163929A1/en
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-gastrointestinal-therapeutics-market
https://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=chtlj
https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ec5de77c72cff3abf802b5e9c6cc8ae4/aspe-pharma-ma-report.pdf
https://bpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.auckland.ac.nz/dist/1/140/files/2020/11/Patent-Insights-Metabolic-Health-June-2020_compressed.pdf
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/gastrointestinal-therapeutics-market
https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/gastrointestinal-therapeutics-market
https://www.reportlinker.com/dataset/03367e75eba740bf9a2a0f051a717b24af0a8a16
https://www.huamedicine.com/En/news-222

Drugs in ATC Class A

Subclasses in ATC: A - Alimentary tract and metabolism

A Market Analysis and Financial Projection