BURLINGTON, Mass.--()--Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the highest proportion of surveyed pulmonologists (35 percent) identified Actelion’s Tracleer (bosentan) as the most effective therapy, when compared to other available therapies. However, only 15 percent of surveyed managed care organizations’ (MCO) pharmacy directors chose Tracleer as the most effective treatment for PAH.
“While some emerging therapies hold promise, they have efficacy and safety and tolerability features that prevent them from displacing epoprostenol.”
The DecisionBase 2011 report entitled Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Despite Offering Better Safety Profiles, Late Stage Emerging Agents Fall Short of Capturing Gold Standard Status finds that the low proportion of pharmacy directors who identified Tracleer as the most efficacious PAH therapy is reflective of payers’ considerations regarding the cost-effectiveness of treatment with this agent. Tracleer, which was the second-to-launch agent for PAH in the United States (2001) after epoprostenol (GlaxoSmithKline/Gilead’s Flolan, Actelion’s Veletri, generics), has been used in the treatment of PAH for almost a decade and is regarded by many physicians as offering the best balance between documented efficacy, safety and tolerability, and delivery in the majority of PAH patients. As a result, Tracleer is the current market-leader in PAH in the world’s major pharmaceutical markets.
The report also finds that the second highest percentage of surveyed pulmonologists (29 percent) rank epoprostenol as the most efficacious therapy for PAH. Based on clinical data and the opinions of interviewed thought leaders, epoprostenol is the current gold-standard therapy owing to its strongest clinical profile among key marketed products that treat PAH.
“Through 2019, we do not expect any therapy in development to replace epoprostenol as Decision Resources’ proprietary clinical gold standard for PAH,” said Decision Resources Analyst Matthew Scutcher, Ph.D. “While some emerging therapies hold promise, they have efficacy and safety and tolerability features that prevent them from displacing epoprostenol.”
The report also finds that surveyed pulmonologists indicate that they would prescribe Actelion’s macitentan and Bayer’s riociguat to 25 percent of their PAH patients. Decision Resources forecasts that macitentan will earn a 20 percent patient share in the U.S. PAH market by 2019, owing to its positive morbidity/mortality data, superior safety profile and lower risk of causing drug interactions compared with the current market leader, Tracleer.
About DecisionBase 2011
DecisionBase 2011 combines clinical end points, market dynamics, reimbursement factors and primary research involving prescribers and payers to identify and quantify unmet need in 35 indications. As part of the unmet need analysis, patient share and sales are projected for key emerging drugs in development and for potential target product profiles based on physicians’ expectations.
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.
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