Surveyed U.S. Neurologists Would Prescribe Biogen Idec's Tecfidera to 20 Percent of Their Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RR-MS)
An Increased Effect in Preventing Sustained Disability Progression is One of the Greatest Unmet Needs in RR-MS, According to a New Report from Decision Resources
BURLINGTON, Mass., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that surveyed U.S. neurologists indicated that they would prescribe Biogen Idec's Tecfidera to 20 percent of their patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS). Decision Resources forecasts that Tecfidera will earn a patient share similar to surveyed neurologists' estimate in the U.S. RR-MS market by 2021, owing to its robust efficacy—specifically, a greater reduction in annualized relapse rate (ARR) relative to first-line agents—and a strong safety profile relative to the most effective current therapies, such as Biogen Idec's Tysabri.
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The DecisionBase 2013 report entitled Where Do Physicians and Payers Signal the Greatest Need—and Greatest Opportunity—for New Therapeutic Advances? also finds that, according to insights from surveyed U.S. and European neurologists and managed care organizations' (MCO) pharmacy directors, an increased effect in preventing sustained disability progression is one of the greatest unmet needs in RR-MS. Clinical data and the opinions of interviewed thought leaders indicate that Genzyme/Sanofi/Bayer HealthCare's emerging agent Lemtrada has demonstrated the potential to partially fulfill this unmet need.
Surveyed U.S. MCO pharmacy directors are also particularly receptive to new RR-MS therapies that offer a greater reduction in ARR over currently available therapies.
"We expect that several emerging agents, notably Lemtrada and potentially Roche/Genentech's ocrelizumab, will match the improvements on reduction in ARR that surveyed U.S. payers indicated would be required to achieve widespread inclusion and price premiums on MCO formularies," said Decision Resources Analyst John Crowley, Ph.D.
The report also finds that surveyed U.S. and European neurologists agree that reduction in ARR and the risk of serious or life-threatening sides effects are attributes that most influence their prescribing decisions in RR-MS—findings that likely underlie their positive outlook for Tecfidera.
Clinical data and the opinions of thought leaders interviewed by Decision Resources indicate that other emerging agents—Lemtrada, ocrelizumab and AbbVie/Biogen Idec's daclizumab—have advantages in reducing ARR over Teva's Copaxone, the sales-leading agent for treatment of RR-MS. The unique risk/benefit profiles of new therapeutic alternatives will be heavily scrutinized as neurologists incorporate them into the evolving MS treatment algorithm.
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.
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SOURCE Decision Resources
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