Surveyed MCO Pharmacy Directors are Highly Receptive to New Acute Migraine Therapies that Offer Improved Sustained Pain Freedom

BURLINGTON, Mass., April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that surveyed U.S. and European neurologists agree that sustained pain freedom beyond two hours is one of the attributes that most influences their decisions when prescribing acute treatments for migraine. Clinical data and the opinions of interviewed thought leaders indicate that, among emerging therapies, orally inhaled dihydroergotamine (MAP Pharmaceuticals/Allergan's Levadex) and sumatriptan intranasal powder (OptiNose) have advantages over sales-leading rizatriptan oral (Merck's Maxalt, Maxalt MLT, generics) on this attribute.

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The DecisionBase 2013 report entitled Opportunity Remains for Novel Therapies That Address Neurologists' and Payers' Shared Views on Unmet Need also finds that, based on clinical data and the opinions of interviewed thought leaders, the sumatriptan/naproxen fixed-dose combination (GlaxoSmithKline/Pozen's Treximet) is Decision Resources' current proprietary gold-standard therapy for migraine. Treximet has the strongest clinical profile of the key products marketed for the acute treatment of migraine.

"Despite Treximet's strong clinical profile, it was not the 2011 sales leader, owing largely to its late-to-market launch and its more restricted reimbursement, given the generic availability of its individual components," said Decision Resources Analyst Anne-Elise Tobin, Ph.D. "Through 2021, we do not expect any emerging therapy to replace Treximet as our proprietary clinical gold standard – although many agents offer some efficacy, safety and tolerability, and/or delivery advantages."

The report also finds that, in line with surveyed neurologists, surveyed U.S. managed care organizations (MCO) pharmacy directors are receptive to new acute migraine therapies that offer increased sustained pain freedom compared with currently available therapies. Surveyed pharmacy directors are also particularly receptive to therapies offering improved pain relief at 30 minutes. Although some emerging therapies hold promise for offering these improvements, Decision Resources does not expect any agents to match the clinical improvement over current therapies that surveyed U.S. payers indicated would be necessary for widespread inclusion on MCO formularies.

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.

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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