Should Mircera Reach the U.S. Market, Surveyed Nephrologists State that at Least 40 Percent of CKD-ND and Dialysis Patients are Likely Candidates

EXTON, Pa., Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BioTrends Research Group, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds that, among surveyed nephrologists, familiarity with Roche's Mircera, is low, but is still second highest among six late-stage renal therapies in development. Mircera is an erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of symptomatic anemia in chronic kidney disease, which received FDA approval in November 2007. After reviewing a brief product profile, 49 percent of physicians are highly interested in Mircera and believe that over 40 percent of their chronic kidney disease–non-dialysis (CKD-ND) and 40 percent of dialysis patients are likely Mircera candidates.

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The TreatmentTrends®: US Nephrology Q3 2013 report also finds that surveyed nephrologists have extremely low familiarity with Injectafer—an IV iron product from American Regent approved in July 2013—as 70 percent report low familiarity. Interest among respondents is moderate and 25 percent of their CKD-ND patients are likely Injectafer candidates.

Mean familiarity ratings for Keryx Pharmaceutical's iron-based phosphate binder Zerenex increased significantly over the same quarter last year, likely because of the recent NDA submission and ongoing press and clinical activity. After reading a brief Zerenex product profile, most physicians expressed a preference to use it in dialysis patients versus CKD-ND patients.

"Mircera, Injectafer and Zerenex, coupled together, could have a significant impact on the U.S. renal anemia market in the coming years," said BioTrends Research Group Director Rob Dubman. "Mircera is a long-acting agent, which may provide greater patient convenience. And recent clinical trial results demonstrate that Ferinject—the brand name of Injectafer in Europe and elsewhere—reduces the need for other forms of anemia management such as erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) and blood transfusions in CKD-ND patients with iron deficiency anemia. Lastly, Zerenex has been shown to reduce the need for ESAs and IV iron in dialysis patients in Phase 3 clinical data."

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, laboratory values, 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 Q3 2013 wave published in September 2013 and the Q4 2013 wave will publish in December 2013. A similar study on renal anemia, covering the major European markets, will publish in October 2013.

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SOURCE BioTrends Research Group