Drugs to Watch 2024: Here are 13 potential blockbuster therapies expected to launch this year

In addition, Clarivate report highlights some new technology platforms that are likely to achieve significant proof of medical use in the market in 2024 

Information services provider Clarivate Plc on Monday released its annual Drugs to Watch report, which has identified over 85 drugs with the potential for standout commercial and/or clinical success over the 11-year course of its publication.

Analysts at Clarivate have predicted that 13 new-to-market therapeutics and drugs that are set to launch in 2024 will achieve blockbuster status by 2029 or deliver game-changing benefits to patients.

These will include new treatments for conditions like breast cancer, hemophilia A, sickle cell disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and multiple myeloma, among others, the report stated.

Additionally, the analysts highlighted the growing chronic disease market in Mainland China, with seven drugs expected to achieve $1 billion blockbuster status by 2029, providing better treatment options for Chinese patients.

Mike Ward, Global Head of Thought Leadership, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Clarivate commented: “The fundamentals underpinning the biopharma sector have never been stronger, with new technologies fueling medical advancements and providing treatment options to patients with previously unmet needs.

"Leveraging deep industry expertise and comprehensive therapeutic area differentiated data, this year’s Drugs to Watch report identifies innovative medicines based on recent scientific breakthroughs poised to have extraordinary impacts on patient outcomes.”

The Drugs to Watch this year include:

High-dose aflibercept (EYLEA HD) for individuals with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) or diabetic retinopathy (DR). Developed by Bayer and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, the drug offers less-frequent administration but similar efficacy and safety as the current standard of care.

Budesonide (TARPEYO/Kinpeygo/Nefecon), a second-generation, synthetic, non-halogenated form of the corticosteroid budesonide, developed by Calliditas Therapeutics AB, Everest Medicines and STADA Arzneimittel AG. It has found to be more efficient in protein reduction and slowing the decline in kidney function in primary immunoglobulin A (IgA) compared to conventional corticosteroids.

Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), which is anticipated to become the best-in-class TROP2-targeted antibody drug conjugate (ADC) for treatment of both HR-positive/HER2-negative and triple-negative breast cancer, as well as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is developed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo.

Efanesoctocog alfa (ALTUVIIIO), developed by Sanofi (Bioverativ Therapeutics Inc) and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi), is the first once-weekly factor VIII (FVIII) replacement intravenous infusion therapy.

Ensifentrine is a promising treatment for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Developed by Verona Pharma, the inhaler is expected to reduce exacerbations in moderate to severe COPD without the systemic side effects of current PDE inhibitors that are delivered orally.

Exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) and lovotibeglogene autotemcel (lovo-cel) are set become the first disease-modifying therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassemia. Exa-cel is jointly developed by CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, while Bluebird Bio is the developer of lovo-cel.

Mirikizumab (Omvoh/ LY-3074828), is another drug to watch for in 2024, and it may be the third in the class approved for Crohn’s disease. The drug developed by Eli Lilly and Company has already been approved as first-in-class therapy for ulcerative colitis by the EMA and the U.S. FDA.

Niraparib + abiraterone acetate (AKEEGA) is likely to help to be breakthrough treatment for patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA-mutated, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Developed by Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, this is also the first and only dual tablet combining a PARP inhibitor (niraparib) and a next-generation hormonal therapy (abiraterone acetate).

RSV vaccines (RSVpreF and RSVpreF3), developed by Pfizer Inc (ABRYSVO) and GSK plc (AREXVY), are designed to protect infants and older adults (65 years and older), who are particularly vulnerable to respiratory syncytial virus infections, which can result in hospitalizations in severe cases. Hence,  the approval of these vaccines is considered to be a significant public health milestone.

Talquetamab (TALVEY) to treat multiple myeloma has been given conditional and accelerated approval by the European Commission and FDA, respectively. Developed by Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, the drug is likely to be an important addition to the treatment armamentarium for this incurable, often-relapsing disease.

Zolbetuximab (IMAB362) for treatment of metastatic HER2-negative gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. It has been developed by Astellas Pharma Inc.

Along with these drugs, some new technology platforms are projected to achieve significant proof of medical use in the market in 2024. These include CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) tool applications in drug discovery, which can help drugmakers cut costs, shorten innovation cycles, and speed up delivery of more innovative drugs to patients.

Read the full Drugs to Watch 2024 report from Clarivate, here.