Diabetes Epidemic in Emerging Markets

The strategies of the largest biopharma companies have been adding focus to emerging markets for some time now. The NEJM published a paper today showing exactly why the focus is critical to the health of the population in those markets.

The researchers from the China National Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Study Group conducted a national study from June 2007 through May 2008 to estimate the prevalence of diabetes among Chinese adults. The results are staggering.

Their research suggests that China has around 92 million diabetics. This double what the International Diabetes Federation has estimated. Furthermore it is significantly more than India which is estimated to be at 50 million today. A conservative estimate of $440 (USD) per annum to treat a diabetic would suggest that the Chinese market opportunity today is over $40BN (1% of 2009 China GDP) and when one includes India a $60BN market. To get some perspective on that market size one needs to consider that in 2007, the diabetes treatment market worldwide was worth in the region of $25 billion.

Success in addressing this pandemic will be the challenge of biopharma companies and healthcare organizations around the world. What remains unclear is how we will find the funds to provide for this exploding need for healthcare.


You can read the paper here


The following graphic is sourced from bbc.co.uk