Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is an extremely rare chronic genetic disease with very limited treatment options in Japan. Against this backdrop, the entry of new treatments such as pharmaceutical giants Novartis and Roche that have strong digital experience can alter the aHUS digital landscape dynamics in Japan, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Atulana Dey, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The incidence of the C3 variants in Japanese aHUS patients is much higher and predominant compared to other regions and races, resulting in a positive prognosis of the disease with anti-C5 therapies.”

The current treatment options for aHUS in Japan are sparse with Alexion’s Soliris (eculizumab)  and Ultomiris (raviluzumab LA) being the only therapies approved. Both therapies are targeted complement C5 inhibitors. However, ravulizumab LA is the first-in-class long-acting complement C5 inhibitor that was approved in September 2020.

An analysis of GlobalData’s ‘Digital Marketing Intelligence’ reveals that Alexion is the only company with a digital presence for aHUS. However, its presence is limited to just branded (Soliris.jp; Ultomiris.jp) and unbranded (Ahussource.jp) websites for patients and HCPs. However, branded/unbranded social media or mobile application that support aHUS for HCPs, patients, and caregivers are totally absent in Japan.

Against this backdrop, Roche/Chugai’s crovalimab and Novartis’s iptacopan hydrochloride are the two late-stage pipeline molecules currently being developed in Japan for aHUS, which also target the complement pathway. Both these molecules are in Phase III development and are expected to bring vital changes to the aHUS treatment landscape in Japan owing to the impressive clinical data.

Dey concludes: “Future market entrants with late-stage pipeline drugs and greater digital experience are expected to improve the aHUS digital space by creating initiatives like awareness campaigns, online sources of clinical trial data for patients and HCPs, and unbranded websites, mobile apps, and social media channels to create better understanding around the pathology and treatment of the disease.”