At One Year Post-Launch, Approximately One Half of Surveyed U.S. Medical Oncologists Have Prescribed Single-Agent Tafinlar and Mekinist to Their Malignant Melanoma Patients

BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that at one year post-launch in the United States, 54 percent of surveyed U.S. medical oncologists have prescribed GlaxoSmithKline's BRAF inhibitor Tafinlar for BRAF-mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma, compared with 49 percent who have prescribed GlaxoSmithKline's MEK inhibitor Mekinist. Among current non-prescribers of Tafinlar and Mekinist, the highest percentage (42 percent and 43 percent, respectively) expects to prescribe these agents to their BRAF-mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma patients within the next one to three months. Notably, at six months following its accelerated FDA approval, 41 percent of surveyed oncologists have already prescribed Tafinlar in combination with Mekinist outside of clinical trials.

Other key findings from the LaunchTrends^®: Tafinlar/Mekinist (Malignant Melanoma) (Wave 3) (US) report:

• Perceived advantage of Tafinlar and Mekinist: The top perceived advantage of single-agent Tafinlar and Mekinist over other currently available treatment options for unresectable and metastatic malignant melanoma is their efficacy.
• Perceived disadvantage of Tafinlar and Mekinist: Tafinlar's and Mekinist's safety and tolerability profiles and their cost are cited by surveyed oncologists as key disadvantages.
• Use of the Tafinlar and Mekinist combination therapy: The vast majority of surveyed medical oncologists who have prescribed both Tafinlar and Mekinist as single-agents indicate that they have also prescribed these agents in combination with one another, a significantly higher percentage than those surveyed at six months post-launch.
• Impact on prescribing of Zelboraf: According to surveyed medical oncologists, Tafinlar, Mekinist and Tafinlar/Mekinist use are most likely to replace prescriptions of Roche/Genentech/Daiichi Sankyo's first-to-market BRAF-inhibitor Zelboraf in first- and second-line BRAF-mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic malignant melanoma.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Analyst Jennifer Bamford:

• "The majority of surveyed medical oncologists who have prescribed Tafinlar, Mekinist, and Tafinlar/Mekinist combination therapy indicate high satisfaction with these therapies; with the mean satisfaction level being the highest for Tafinlar/Mekinist combination therapy."
• "Interviewed physicians expressed considerable enthusiasm about Tafinlar and Mekinist being indicated for use in combination, and many felt that the combination therapy has greater clinical potential then either agent alone."

About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on critical issues within the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Find out more at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

For more information, contact:

Decision Resources Group
Christopher Comfort
781-993-2597
[email protected]

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SOURCE Decision Resources Group

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