Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Market: Competitive Landscape, Pipeline, and Market Analysis 2023

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a group of genes that codes for proteins found on the surface of cells. These proteins, also known as human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) in humans, play a critical role in the immune system by presenting antigens to T cells, which trigger immune responses against pathogens and abnormal cells. MHC molecules are involved in various disease indications, including infectious diseases, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and transplantation. According to WHO, infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria remain significant global health challenges, affecting millions of people worldwide. In Europe, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is estimated at around 2.2 million cases, while tuberculosis affects approximately 273,000 individuals annually. In the United States, there are around 38,000 new HIV infections reported each year. Additionally, cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1.8 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2023. Furthermore, autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, affect millions of individuals, with approximately 24.5 million people in Europe living with autoimmune diseases.

The growth drivers of the MHC market include advancements in genomic technologies and personalized medicine, which have led to a better understanding of MHC diversity and its role in disease pathogenesis. Companies such as Teva, Viatris, EMD Serono, Worg Pharma, Cullinan Oncology, Fate Therapy, and Mapi Pharma are pharmaceutical companies operating in the healthcare industry. cater to this category. Moreover, many companies are coming up with new molecules in this space. For instance, Teva is currently conducting a clinical trial of the drug Copaxone 3TW for the treatment of autoimmune disease.

Key Developments

• In April 2023, Mapi Pharma presented efficacy and adverse events data from a phase III trial of Glatiramer acetate in multiple sclerosis presented at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology 2023
• In Aug 2022, Worg Pharmaceuticals initiated Phase-II development of WP 1303 for multiple sclerosis in Latvia and Germany

Approved MHC molecules

• Glatiramer acetate
• Copaxone 3tw (glatiramer acetate three times a week)
• Glatiramer acetate once-a-month depot (ga depot)

MHC Pipeline Molecules

• Plovamer (CO-14)
• ATX-MS-1467
• CLN-619
• FT536             

Clinical Activity and Development of MHC

In the MHC space, there are very few companies, conducting more than more than 100 clinical trials in this category of drugs. For instance,

• In May 2023, Worg Pharmaceuticals initiated Phase-I development of WP 1303 for Multiple-sclerosis in Russia and the United Kingdom
• In June 2023, PDI Therapeutics presented efficacy, adverse events and pharmacokinetics data from a phase I trial of CLN 619 in solid tumors at the 59th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO-2023)