Influx of TAF-Containing Fixed-Dose Combinations From Gilead and Janssen Will Address Patient Needs for Long-Term Safety and Replace Established Treatment Options in the HIV Market

BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that U.S. physicians and payers alike recognize the benefits provided by the new generation of highly effective, safer and more tolerable fixed-dose combinations for the treatment of HIV. Our research finds that Janssen/Gilead's Odefsey and Gilead's Genvoya and Descovy will increase the competitive pressure on non-tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) -containing brands such as ViiV's Triumeq, as well as garner patient share from prior-generations of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) -containing single-table regimens (Atripla, Complera, and Stribild). While the influx of these new therapeutic options is reflective of the HIV drug developers' focus on the development of safer drugs with comparable efficacy, payers have implemented widespread prescribing restrictions to curb uptake of these expensive therapies in a market with a high healthcare cost burden. 

Other key findings from the U.S. Current Treatment and U.S. Access and Reimbursement reports entitled Human Immunodeficiency Virus:

• Since its U.S. launch in November 2015, Gilead's Genvoya has quickly gained patient share despite our findings suggesting that patient-level access to Genvoya is somewhat more restricted by payer-imposed restrictions compared with its predecessor, Stribild. However, even with current market access hurdles, surveyed physicians and payers anticipate improved patient access and patient share increases for Genvoya moving forward. 
• Infectious disease (ID) specialists and non-ID specialists differ in what they perceive to be the value proposition of TAF-containing regimens for the treatment of HIV. Indeed, some surveyed non-ID specialists are waiting for real world evidence to confirm the long-term safety-to-cost benefits of TAF-containing therapies prior to switching their patients.
• Our research findings confirm the importance of clinical data as a key market access lever for favorable pricing negotiations of new HIV drugs. In particular, surveyed Managed Care Organization (MCO) pharmacy and medical directors report the positive role that pharmacoeconomic data has played in the review of recently-launched therapies.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Business Insights Analyst, Steven F. Trueman, Ph.D.:

• "There is a persistent need for advances, even incremental, in long-term safety of HIV therapies. This is becoming particularly important as patients are progressively living longer and initiating treatment earlier. As such, the excellent efficacy offered by current treatments, notably the integrase strand transfer inhibitor class, has created a market opportunity wherein drug developers can focus on improving the relative safety of individual regimen components."
• "Our research findings suggest there are brand-specific differences in the cost-containment measures implemented for HIV antiretroviral therapies covered by either commercial or heavily regulated Medicaid MCO plans. These data are particularly impactful as diagnosed HIV patients are increasingly eligible for health insurance following the recent expansion of Medicaid coverage."

Additional Resources:

• Steven F. Trueman, Ph.D. has written several blogs on the subject, which can be found here.
• Decision Resources Group will present a webinar based on the HIV U.S. Current Treatment and HIV U.S. Access & Reimbursement reports.

For more information on purchasing this report, please email [email protected].

About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group offers best-in-class, high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, delivered by more than 900 employees across 14 global locations. DRG provides the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, financial services and payer industries with the tools, insights and advice they need to compete and thrive in an increasingly complex and value-based marketplace. DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

Media contact:

Jessica Crawford
SHIFT Communications
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617-779-1893

SOURCE Decision Resources Group

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