Adoption of premium-priced sclerotherapy agents will contribute to growth of US sclerotherapy market

Millennium Research GroupJun 8 2011

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, the United States sclerotherapy market will experience rapid procedural growth stemming from favorable patient demographics and increased patient demand. Polidocanol, a sclerosing agent used to chemically treat varicose and spider veins, received FDA approval in 2010 and is expected to show significant growth in the US.

“Polidocanol, marketed as Asclera from Merz Aesthetics, is significantly more expensive than currently available compounded agents”

Sclerotherapy agents are used in the treatment of both varicose veins and spider veins, which lie closer to the skin surface. While these procedures have typically been carried out by vascular specialists, the revenue potential is now drawing other specialists, such as dermatologists and interventional radiologists, to provide treatment. The increased promotion of treatments by physicians is expected to strongly drive procedure growth.

"Polidocanol, marketed as Asclera from Merz Aesthetics, is significantly more expensive than currently available compounded agents," said MRG Analyst April Lee. "But it has a number of advantages. Polidocanol was previously indicated as an anesthetic, and results in less patient discomfort during treatment. It is also associated with less post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and fewer allergic reactions. It has been popular in Europe for several years. We expect demand to be large, despite the higher price, which will drive revenues."

The continued adoption of premium-priced sclerotherapy agents will contribute to a market growth averaging nearly 22 percent per year through 2015.

Millennium Research Group's US Markets for Varicose Vein Treatment Devices 2011 report includes procedure, average selling price and revenue information for endovenous ablation devices, surgical stripping devices, phlebectomy devices and sclerotherapy agents in the United States.