Approximately Half of Surveyed EU5 Rheumatologists Report Increased Prescribing of RoActemra for RA Due to Superior Efficacy Over Humira in a Head-to-Head Clinical Trial

BURLINGTON, Mass., Oct. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that results from the ADACTA trial, which showed that Roche's RoActemra is superior to AbbVie's Humira as a monotherapy in biologics-naive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, have resulted in a modest to substantial increase in prescribing of RoActemra by 43 percent to 60 percent of surveyed rheumatologists across the EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom). In addition, 22 percent to 44 percent of respondents consider RoActemra more effective than Bristol Myers Squibb's Orencia or Roche's MabThera.

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The European Physician and Payer Forum report entitled Rheumatoid Arthritis: How Will Payers and Prescribers React to the Launches of Oral Kinase Inhibitors, Subcutaneous Orencia and RoActemra, and Biosimilars in the Cost-Constrained EU5? finds that, as the health technology assessment bar rises in the cost-constrained EU5, proven superiority over appropriate comparators in head-to-head trials is increasingly necessary for favorable long-term pricing and reimbursement conditions—as well as for optimal uptake—especially in highly competitive markets such as RA. The general lack of head-to-head data was a key factor cited in the recent cost-benefit assessment of the antirheumatic biological agents by IQWiG, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, which concluded that no currently marketed biologic is more effective than another for RA. Consequently, interviewed payers believe that the threat of reference pricing in Germany now looms large for the RA biologics.

The report also finds that, assuming eventual European marketing approval, Pfizer's tofacitinib will compete with the non-TNF-alpha inhibitor biologics in patients who have failed conventional DMARDs and likely more than one TNF-alpha inhibitor. Notably, a substantial percentage of those surveyed do not expect to prescribe tofacitinib within two years of launch even if it is priced at a 15 percent discount to Humira. Insufficient long-term safety data is cited as the primary reason, with expected funding and reimbursement difficulties also highlighted in most countries.

"Tofacitinib is expected to gain 3 to 7 percent DMARD-treated patient share among survey respondents," said Decision Resources Director Bingnan Kang, Ph.D. "Surveyed physicians expect that by year-end 2016, the share of their patients who receive TNF-alpha inhibitors will remain largely the same despite the launch of new therapies and the availability of SC Orencia and SC RoActemra. This response is likely due to the expected entry of biosimilar etanercept and infliximab, and increasing pressure from healthcare authorities to use these cheaper agents."

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources Group company.

About Decision Resources Group

Decision Resources Group is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources Group at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

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SOURCE Decision Resources

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