Although Physicians' Overall Impressions on the Dialysis Bundle are More Positive, Cost Concerns Remain High, Especially as Dialysis Units Prepare for Continued Changes

EXTON, Pa., Dec. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BioTrends Research Group, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds in Q4 2013 that nearly three times as many surveyed nephrologists who treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients thought positively about bundling versus when the dialysis bundle was implemented in Q1 2011. However, more than 40 percent of the surveyed nephrologists are under high pressure from their dialysis unit to restrict measurement of nonessential labs and have more stringent hemoglobin targets resulting in less erythropoietin stimulating agent (ESA) use. The TreatmentTrends^®: US Nephrology Q4 2013 report covers many other physicians' perceptions of other dialysis unit pressures.

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The report also finds that even though familiarity with FibroGen/Astellas Pharmaceuticals/AstraZeneca's oral HIF-PH inhibitor roxadustat (FG-4592/ASP1517) is low among the surveyed nephrologists, the mean familiarity rating has increased significantly compared with this time last year. Should roxadustat receive U.S. approval, surveyed nephrologists report that over 40 percent of their CKD non-dialysis (CKD-ND) and dialysis patients are likely candidates for the drug.

According to the surveyed nephrologists, safety, tolerability and efficacy are the most desirable attributes for a new phosphate binder. Should Keryx Pharmaceutical's Zerenex, an iron-based phosphate binder, reach the U.S. market, about 40 percent of surveyed nephrologists strongly believe that it will enable them to reduce their use of IV iron and ESAs in dialysis patients. The report also covers other products in development, such as AbbVie's Atrasentan, Akebia Therapeutics' AKB-6548, Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma's Velphoro (PA-21), Rockwell Medical's Triferic (SFP) and many more.

"Significantly fewer surveyed physicians were aware of the future inclusion of oral-only medications in the dialysis bundle from the same time last year," said BioTrends Research Group Director Rob Dubman. "Among the slightly more than half of surveyed physicians who were aware, about 45 percent were aware of enrolling patients in dialysis clinics' pharmacy programs as well as examining and cutting costs."

TreatmentTrends^®: Nephrology (U.S.) is a syndicated quarterly report series, based on primary market research that provides a comprehensive view of the current and expected future management of renal anemia and bone and mineral metabolism in patients with chronic kidney disease. Topics include the percent of patients on each therapy, patient share, therapy initiation levels, attribute importance and product performance ratings, sales representative metrics, bundling, compliance,  and reaction (familiarity, interest, and percentage of patients likely to be candidates) to new products in development. The Q4 2013 wave published in December 2013 and the Q1 2014 wave will publish in March 2014.

About BioTrends Research Group
BioTrends Research Group provides syndicated and custom primary market research to pharmaceutical manufacturers competing in clinically evolving, specialty pharmaceutical markets. For information on BioTrends publications and research capabilities, please visit www.bio-trends.com. BioTrends is a Decision Resources Group company.

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SOURCE BioTrends Research Group