Fluorouracil, also known as FU or 5FU, is a chemotherapy medication used for the treatment of various types of cancer, such as cervical cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, and colon cancer. Fluorouracil is the safest and effective drug for cancer treatment, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHOs) list of essential medicines. Fluorouracil was patented in 1956 and came into medical use in 1962. It is one of the most commonly used drugs to treat cancer and is most often used in combination with other cancer drugs to treat various types of cancer. The Fluorouracil market growth is attributed to the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Thus, there is an increasing demand for Fluorouracil (5FU) across the world. For instance, in March 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for use in combination with platinum and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for patients with metastatic or locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal carcinoma who are ineligible for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation. Fluorouracil is a first-line chemotherapy drug used for the treatment of cancer patients.
The growth of the Fluorouracil (5FU) market, North America, is mainly driven by the increasing prevalence of cancer in the region, especially in the United States. Cancer has a major impact on society in the U.S. and across the world. According to the National Cancer Institute (NIH) estimated that in 2020, around 1,806,590 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. and around 606,520 people will die from the disease. Moreover, several initiatives have been taken by the government and non-governmental organizations to reduce the prevalence of cancer. Pan America Health Organization (PAHO) is working with North American countries to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, including cancer, by 25% by 2025.
Cancer is a leading cause of death in the U.S. The number of cancer deaths in the U.S. is projected to increase from 1.2 million to 2.1 million between 2008 and 2030. Thus, with the increasing prevalence of cancer, the demand for Fluorouracil is also increasing rapidly, which in turn, is driving the Fluorouracil (5FU) market growth. However, the emergence of COVID-19 is restraining the Fluorouracil (5FU) market growth. According to National Cancer Institute, some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can lower the immune system in cancer patients and may increase the risk of COVID-19 in cancer patients.