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Decision Resources, one of the
world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and
healthcare issues, finds that 89 percent of surveyed rheumatologists
anticipate prescribing Roche/Chugai's Actemra, following the expected
launch of the drug for rheumatoid arthritis in 2009. Surveyed
rheumatologists indicated they would prescribe Actemra, an interleukin-6
inhibitor, to an estimated 10 percent of their patients six months after
the drug's launch. On July 29, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration's
Arthritis Advisory Committee recommended Actemra's approval for rheumatoid
arthritis. Although some panel members expressed concern about data that
suggested the potential for negative side effects, the committee indicated
that clinical trials supported Actemra's efficacy.



The new Physician & Payer Forum report, Biologics in Rheumatoid
Arthritis: Physician and Payer Perspective on Recently Launched and
Emerging Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis, finds that rheumatologists are
highly receptive to the many new agents expected to launch by 2011, but
they may face increasing barriers to reimbursement and limited access to
novel biological agents.



In addition to Actemra, the other emerging biologic agents included in
the report survey are UCB's Cimzia, Centocor/Schering-Plough/Mitsubishi
Tanabe/Janssen's golimumab and Biogen Idec/Genentech/Roche's ocrelizumab.
The report finds that managed care organizations' (MCO) pharmacy directors
disagree on the likelihood of formulary inclusion for key emerging
biologics as their expectations varied widely in response to whether they
will include these agents on their formularies. Pharmacy directors may be
reserving judgment on key biologic agents until more clinical data becomes
available.



Nevertheless, surveyed rheumatologists remain steadfast in their
preference for TNF-alpha inhibitors over other biologic agents for the
treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Ninety-nine of 100 surveyed
rheumatologists reported prescribing TNF-alpha inhibitors as first-line
biologic therapy for the disease.



"Most rheumatologists expect the dominance of TNF-alpha inhibitors to
continue, and possibly expand, over the next two years," said Cindy Mundy,
Ph.D., director at Decision Resources. "The upcoming launches of Cimzia and
golimumab will increase the number of TNF-alpha inhibitors approved for
rheumatoid arthritis from three to five. Following the launches of Cimzia
and golimumab, nearly half of surveyed rheumatologists expect to prescribe
three or more TNF-alpha inhibitors before moving to a different class of
agents."
















Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Physician and Payer Perspective on
Recently Launched and Emerging Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis is based
on a U.S. survey of 100 rheumatologists and 20 MCO pharmacy directors.
Their responses were compared to assess similarities and differences of
opinion regarding clinical, economic and scientific factors.



About Physician & Payer Forum



Physician & Payer Forum is a primary research service from Decision
Resources that offers access to high volume-prescribing physicians,
specialists, and managed care organization representatives in the United
States; analysis of events and survey participants' responses to them;
insight into prescribing patterns; and an examination of the implications
of events and issues for the pharmaceutical market.



About Decision Resources



Decision Resources (decisionresources) 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.



All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders


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View drug information on Actemra; Cimzia.