Nitric Oxide - Therapeutics, Markets and Companies

This report describes the latest concepts of the role of nitric oxide (NO) in health and disease as a basis for therapeutics and development of new drugs. Major segments of the market for nitric oxide-based drugs are described as well as the companies involved in developing them.

Nitric oxide (NO) can generate free radicals as well as scavenge them. It also functions as a signaling molecule and has an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases. A major focus is delivery of NO by various technologies. Another approach is modulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which converts L-arginine to NO. NOS can be stimulated as well as inhibited by pharmacological and gene therapy approaches.

Important therapeutic areas for NO-based therapies are inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction, inflammation, pain and neuroprotection. The first therapeutic use of NO was by inhaltion for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). NO-donors, NO-mimics and NOS modulators are described and compared along with developmental status. NO-related mechanisms of action in existing drugs are identified.

Various pharmacological approaches are described along with their therapeutic relevance. Various approaches are compared using SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. NO-based therapies are compared with conventional approaches and opportunities for combination with modern biotechnology approaches are described. The text is supplemented with 25 tables and 22 figures.

Share of drugs where NO is involved in the mechanism of action is analyzed in the worldwide pharmaceutical market for 2007 and is projected to 2012 and 2017 as new drugs with NO-based mechanisms are introduced into the market. Various strategies for developing such drugs are discussed.

Several companies have a product or products involving NO and free radicals. The report includes profiles of 38 companies involved in this area of which 10 have a significant interest in NO-based therapeutics. Other players are pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as suppliers of products for NO research. Unfulfilled needs in the development of NO-based therapeutics are identified. Important collaborations in this area are tabulated.

As of the end of 2007, there are over 85,000 publications relevant to NO. Selected 500 references are included in the bibliography. The text is supplemented with 24 tables and 22 figures.It is concluded that the future prospects for NO-based therapies are bright and fit in with biotechnology-based approaches to modern drug discovery and development. It is anticipated that some of these products will help in meeting the unfulfilled needs in human therapeutics.

Table of contents

Introduction to nitric oxide (NO)

NO Pathways

Role of NO in Physiology

Role of NO in Disease

Pharmacology

Therapeutic Applications

Evaluation of NO-based drugs

Markets for NO-based Therapies

Companies involved in NO therapeutics

May 2008. 260 Pages. 24 Tables, 22 Figures, 38 Companies profiled, 17 Alliances listed and 500 References.

Table of Contents
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