In the Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Market, the Uptake of Alternative Biologics Such as Roche/Chugai's Actemra/RoActemra Will Erode the Market Share of TNF-Alpha Inhibitors Through 2019

WALTHAM, Mass., July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug market, the uptake of alternative biologics such as Roche/Chugai's Actemra/RoActemra will erode the market share of TNF-alpha inhibitors over the next decade. Actemra/RoActemra will emerge as the likely preferred biologic agent for TNF-refractory patients and will garner blockbuster sales of approximately $1.5 billion in 2019 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan.

The Pharmacor 2010 findings from the topic entitled Rheumatoid Arthritis reveal that although rheumatologists currently switch patients to an alternative biologic after responding inadequately to two TNF-alpha inhibitors, the increasing trend will be to make the switch after one agent from this drug class is used. Additionally, while TNF-alpha inhibitors such as Amgen/Pfizer/Takeda's Enbrel and Abbott/Eisai's Humira will continue to dominate RA treatment, the market share of TNF-alpha inhibitors will decrease from 75 percent in 2009 to 58 percent in 2019.

"The continued dominance of the TNF-alpha inhibitors and insight from experts interviewed clearly indicate that rheumatologists are relatively satisfied with the efficacy of the TNF-alpha inhibitors and place great importance on positive long-term safety and physician familiarity," said Decision Resources analyst Kyle Crowell. "New agents entering the RA market will be judged according to these standards and must show compelling advantages to be considered in the same line of therapy as the TNF-alpha inhibitors."

The Pharmacor 2010 findings also reveal that two agents in development for RA have the potential to disrupt the current treatment scheme. Pfizer's oral Jak-3 kinase inhibitor, tasocitinib (CP-690550), and AstraZeneca's (formerly Rigel's) Syk inhibitor, fostamatinib disodium (R-788), are likely to find use ahead of the TNF-alpha inhibitors in the treatment algorithm and therefore divert a minority of patients away from TNF-alpha inhibitor therapy. Tasocitinib will have a stronger impact than fostamatinib disodium on the biologics market, owing to its earlier entry and robust clinical trial program, which includes a comparator trial with Humira.

About Pharmacor 2010

The newly redesigned Pharmacor advisory service offers clients in the biopharmaceutical industry the most up-to-date information available on commercially significant disease topics.

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, Inc. company.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. 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, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

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

SOURCE Decision Resources

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