EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioTrends Research Group, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, has released findings from the second wave (W2) of its LaunchTrends®: Omontys report. This report surveyed a total of 81 U.S. nephrologists about their current awareness, trial and usage of Affymax/Takeda’s Omontys (peginesatide), an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and indicated for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult patients on dialysis.
The study was fielded approximately three months post-U.S. commercial availability of Omontys. Aided awareness of Omontys has remained about the same as wave 1 (W1) at one-month post-U.S. commercial availability with 78 percent of nephrologists aware of Omontys. The brand name is becoming more known; of those who mention Omontys when asked about new products or news in renal anemia, 85 percent (versus 54 percent in W1) mention the Omontys brand name specifically.
Despite several positives for Omontys (such as high aided physician awareness of the drug, assignment of a HCPCS code, and established contracts with Fresenius and U.S. Renal Care, promotional activity picking-up), the number of nephrologists who have prescribed Omontys remains low in this second wave.
Surveyed nephrologists forecast a significant increase in Omontys patient share in the next six months. For hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients in particular; Omontys growth is expected at the expense of Amgen’s Epogen. In keeping with the approved indication, fewer nephrologists expect to use Omontys in the CKD-non-dialysis (CKD-ND) patient population.
“In this second wave of research, we found a changing dynamic in the way surveyed nephrologists perceive the potential patient types for Omontys. Awareness of the indication has directionally increased, and as such, Omontys is likely to be used as indicated—in the dialysis patient population—anticipated use of the drug in CKD-ND patients has significantly declined since wave 1,” said BioTrends’ Associate Therapeutic Class Director-Nephrology Rob Dubman. “However, there is a high opportunity for Omontys to increase patient share as evidenced by the fact that surveyed nephrologists believe that over half of their hemodialysis ESA-treated patients are likely Omontys candidates.”
About LaunchTrends: Omontys
LaunchTrends: Omontys is a series of four post-launch syndicated reports designed to track physician perception, uptake and the competitive environment of Omontys in renal anemia, at one month, three months, six months and twelve months post-launch. For this second wave of research, which measures Omontys’ market impact at three months following post-U.S. commercial availability, BioTrends surveyed nephrologists (n=81) in the United States and conducted qualitative interviews with a subset of 16 respondents beginning July 30, 2012 through August 16, 2012. BioTrends will continue to track the uptake of Omontys in a subsequent wave in this report series which will be fielding in late October 2012 and will also be tracking renal anemia in the United States and EU further through TreatmentTrends® and ChartTrends® reports publishing later this year.
About BioTrends Research Group
BioTrends Research Group provides syndicated and custom primary market research to pharmaceutical manufacturers competing in clinically evolving, specialty pharmaceutical markets. For information on BioTrends publications and research capabilities, please contact us at (610) 321-9400 or www.bio-trends.com. BioTrends is a Decision Resources Group company.
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