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Persistent Asthma

Respiratory
4
Pipeline Programs
5
Companies
8
Clinical Trials
0
Approved Products

Pipeline by Development Stage

Preclinical
Phase 1
Phase 1/2
Phase 2
Phase 2/3
Phase 3
On Market
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
Early DiscoveryClinical DevelopmentMarket

Respiratory is a $39.4B mature market dominated by established inhalers and combination therapies with significant patent cliff risk.

$39.4B marketMature→ Stable30 products15 companies

Key Trends

  • Consolidation around GSK's triple-therapy franchises (Trelegy, Breo, Anoro)
  • Major patent expirations 2026-2031 creating $7.8B revenue cliff
  • High clinical trial activity (4,862 trials) suggesting pipeline innovation despite market maturity

Career Verdict

Respiratory offers stable commercial careers but limited growth upside; best for professionals seeking established markets with strong commercial infrastructure rather than innovation-driven advancement.

AI-generated market analysis based on FDA, CMS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and hiring data

Market Leaders

#1ELIQUISGrowing
$18.3B
Bristol Myers Squibb·Launch15.0yr
#3TRELEGY ELLIPTADeclining
$4.5B
GSK·Peak4.9yr
#4CREONDeclining
$1.5B
AbbVie·Approaching LOE
#5BREO ELLIPTADeclining
$1.4B
GSK·Peak4.9yr

Drug Class Breakdown

FXa Inhibitors
$18.3B(46%)

dominant market driver

Unknown/Undisclosed Mechanism
$9.7B(25%)

fragmented portfolio

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
$7.4B(19%)

rapidly expanding

Pancreatic Enzymes
$1.5B(4%)

legacy product

Corticosteroid/LABA Combinations
$796M(2%)

patent cliff approaching

Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonists
$456M(1%)

mature maintenance therapy

Career Outlook

Stable

Respiratory is a stable, mature market suitable for commercial and medical affairs professionals seeking established career paths, but offers limited growth or innovation-focused opportunities. The impending patent cliff ($7.8B+ revenue at risk 2026-2031) will drive near-term restructuring and consolidation, potentially reducing headcount in 2027-2028. Professionals should expect strong compensation in Medical Affairs and field roles but limited advancement into strategic or R&D positions.

Breaking In

New graduates should prioritize commercial, field-based, or Medical Affairs roles over R&D; respiratory offers structured training and stable compensation but limited innovation exposure, so pair this experience with cross-therapeutic skill-building for long-term mobility.

For Experienced Professionals

Experienced professionals should evaluate whether to maximize earnings in this mature, stable market or transition to higher-growth areas (oncology, cell therapy); respiratory consolidation 2027-2030 will reduce senior-level opportunities, so consider strategic moves before patent cliff impacts headcount.

In-Demand Skills

Commercial execution and territory managementMedical Affairs/Key Opinion Leader engagementRegulatory affairs and lifecycle managementInhalation device expertise and product trainingManaged care and payer negotiations

Best For

Brand ManagerMedical Science LiaisonRegional Sales ManagerField Medical RepresentativePayer Relations ManagerRegulatory Specialist

Hiring Landscape

$84K-$314K

The respiratory sector shows modest hiring momentum (510 jobs across tracked positions) concentrated in commercial and engineering roles, with AstraZeneca and GSK leading. Medical Affairs positions command premium salaries ($314K avg) but represent only 3% of openings, reflecting the mature market's focus on sales execution over innovation. Hiring velocity is moderate and reflects market consolidation rather than expansion, suggesting limited career progression opportunities for early-to-mid career professionals.

510
Open Roles
5
Companies Hiring
5
Departments

Top Hiring Companies

43Stable
70Growing
45Stable
15Stable

By Department

Commercial(23%)
$122K
Engineering(11%)
$111K
Medical Affairs(3%)
$314K
IT(4%)
$84K
Manufacturing(3%)

Respiratory hiring favors commercial and field-based roles over R&D; Medical Affairs roles offer premium compensation but are scarce, making this area competitive for specialized talent.

Competitive Landscape

5 companies ranked by most advanced pipeline stage

Sandoz
SandozAustria - Kundl
3 programs
2
1
Formoterol 12 mcgPhase 41 trial
IndacaterolPhase 21 trial
QAW039 capsules once daily for 28 daysPhase 21 trial
Active Trials
NCT01156844Completed191
NCT01253603Completed170Est. Sep 2011
NCT01845025Terminated827Est. May 2016
MCM Vaccines
MCM VaccinesNetherlands - Leiden
1 program
1
Combination of low ICS and montelukastPhase 41 trial
Active Trials
NCT01147510Completed140Est. Sep 2012
Teva
TevaIsrael - Petach Tikva
2 programs
Beclomethasone Dipropionate 640PHASE_31 trial
Beclomethasone dipropionate breath-actuated inhalerPHASE_31 trial
Active Trials
NCT02513160Completed713Est. Mar 2016
NCT02040779Completed273Est. Dec 2014
Genentech
GenentechCA - Oceanside
1 program
BronchoscopyN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT02883530Unknown160Est. Oct 2024
AstraZeneca
AstraZenecaCAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom
1 program
Evaluation of the Frequency of Limitation of Activity in Patients With Persistent AsthmaN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT01078688Completed1,942Est. Oct 2010

Trial Timeline

Clinical trial activity over time

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
SandozFormoterol 12 mcg
MCM VaccinesCombination of low ICS and montelukast
TevaBeclomethasone Dipropionate 640
TevaBeclomethasone dipropionate breath-actuated inhaler
SandozQAW039 capsules once daily for 28 days
SandozIndacaterol
GenentechBronchoscopy
AstraZenecaEvaluation of the Frequency of Limitation of Activity in Patients With Persistent Asthma

Clinical Trials (8)

Total enrollment: 4,416 patients across 8 trials

NCT01845025SandozFormoterol 12 mcg

Study of Safety of Foradil in Patients With Persistent Asthma

Start: May 2013Est. completion: May 2016827 patients
Phase 4Terminated
NCT01147510MCM VaccinesCombination of low ICS and montelukast

Asthma Control in Elderly Patients With Montelukast

Start: Jul 2010Est. completion: Sep 2012140 patients
Phase 4Completed
NCT02513160TevaBeclomethasone Dipropionate 640

Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Beclomethasone Dipropionate in Adolescent and Adult Patients 12 Years of Age and Older With Persistent Asthma

Start: Sep 2015Est. completion: Mar 2016713 patients
Phase 3Completed
NCT02040779TevaBeclomethasone dipropionate breath-actuated inhaler

A 12-week Safety and Efficacy Study of Beclomethasone Dipropionate (80 and 160 mcg/Day) Delivered Via Breath-Actuated Inhaler (BAI) in Patients >=12 Years Old With Persistent Asthma

Start: Dec 2013Est. completion: Dec 2014273 patients
Phase 3Completed
NCT01253603SandozQAW039 capsules once daily for 28 days

Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of QAW039

Start: Nov 2010Est. completion: Sep 2011170 patients
Phase 2Completed

Efficacy, Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Different Regimens of Indacaterol

Start: Mar 2010191 patients
Phase 2Completed

Refractory Asthma Stratification Programme (RASP) Bronchoscopy Study

Start: Sep 2016Est. completion: Oct 2024160 patients
N/AUnknown
NCT01078688AstraZenecaEvaluation of the Frequency of Limitation of Activity in Patients With Persistent Asthma

Evaluation of the Frequency of Limitation of Activity in Patients With Persistent Asthma

Start: Mar 2010Est. completion: Oct 20101,942 patients
N/ACompleted

Related Jobs in Respiratory

Phase Legend

PreclinicalLab & animal studies
Phase 1Safety & dosing
Phase 2Efficacy testing
Phase 3Large-scale trials
On MarketApproved & available

Key Insights

5 companies competing in this space

The information on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Drug information is sourced from FDA, DailyMed, and other government databases. Adverse event data from FAERS does not establish causation. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical decisions.