BioTrends Releases Two Publications – TreatmentTrends(TM): Nephrologists and TreatmentTrends(TM): Renal Dietitians – Highlighting Market Trends for Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

EXTON, Pa., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — BioTrends Research Group, Inc. released two Nephrology TreatmentTrends(TM) Publications, both syndicated reports offering comprehensive insight into the management of renal anemia and bone and mineral metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Dialysis. These reports provide information from 105 clinical Nephrologists and 195 Renal Dietitians in the US — data were collected through an online survey fielded in March 2008. Renal Dietitians are an integral part of the dialysis patient care team and report a high level of influence in managing bone and mineral metabolism.

In the renal anemia market, safety concerns with ESAs seem to have had more of an impact on use in CKD than in dialysis with use of ESAs in CKD Stage 4 decreasing significantly from 54% in Q107 to 42% in Q108. Despite the decrease in use, ESAs still tend to be the first renal related product initiated in CKD. While Nephrologists perceive Amgen’s Aranesp and Ortho Biotech’s Procrit to be very similar, there are significant differences in the perceived benefits of each product with Procrit claiming an advantage in safety and reimbursement and Aranesp claiming an advantage in dosing intervals. The two continue to battle for market leader position with an almost even share split, unlike the dialysis market, where Amgen’s Epogen is the clear market leader.

Despite decreased use of ESAs in CKD, the use of IV Iron has not changed significantly since last year. While the majority of hemodialysis patients are treated with IV Iron, only 15% of Stage 4 CKD and 9% of Stage 3 CKD receive therapy. Nephrologists, however, project a significant increase in the percent of CKD Stage 3 and 4 patients on IV Iron in the next three months. The majority of Nephrologists continue to view American Regent’s Venofer and Watson’s Ferrlecit as interchangeable. Venofer and Ferrlecit are perceived to be identical on the most important IV Iron attributes. A new entrant to the IV Iron market, AMAG Pharmaceutical’s Ferumoxytol, could be commercially available by the end of the year.

In the phosphate binder market, concerns with calcium absorption continue to be more prevalent in dialysis, leading to increased use of non-calcium based binders (such as Genzyme’s Renagel and Shire’s Fosrenol) in this population. Renagel maintains its position as market share leader in dialysis and Fosrenol’s share is expected to significantly increase in this population. In the CKD setting, calcium-based binders are preferred and Fresenius Medical Care’s PhosLo is the market share leader with 43% share. Genzyme launched Renvela (sevelamer carbonate) the first week in March. The majority of Nephrologists and Renal Dietitians feel that Renvela offers moderate clinical advantages over Renagel and project that Renvela, while primarily cannibalizing share from Renagel, will increase the overall market share for the sevelamer franchise. BioTrends will publish Wave II of LaunchTrends(TM): RENVELA on May 9th.

In the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism, while about half of the Nephrologists and 40% of the Renal Dietitians feel that Abbott’s Zemplar and Genzyme’s Hectorol are interchangeable, Zemplar claims an advantage over Hectorol on the three PTH modifier attributes that Nephrologists report as most important: “Supported by Clinical Data”, “Effectively Lowers PTH”, and “Improves Mortality.” Zemplar continues to dominate in dialysis with 72% market share and Nephrologists project Zemplar to take the market leader position in CKD from Calcitriol in the next three months. Both Nephrologists and Renal Dietitians report that their primary reason for prescribing Amgen’s Sensipar is to lower calcium, phosphorus, and PTH. And while Sensipar scores significantly better than all Vitamin D products on efficacy, it is at a perceived disadvantage on reimbursement and tolerability. Sensipar continues to be reserved as second line therapy for dialysis patients with extremely elevated PTH, however, both Nephrologists and Renal Dietitians continue to project that their use of the product will increase.

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