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Although Generic Erosion Looms for Risperdal, the Drug Remains First-Line Antipsychotic in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Posted on: Thursday, 10 July 2008, 09:01 CDT

WALTHAM, Mass., July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that Janssen's Risperdal continues to be the leading first-line antipsychotic in the treatment of schizophrenia even though generic forms of the drug are already available and will dramatically affect physicians' prescribing habits due to new formulary controls on branded therapies. Although a large number of schizophrenia patients will have to take the generic form of Risperdal, called risperidone, before they are reimbursed for therapy with other agents, patients who are currently stable on an antipsychotic will not be expected to switch to generic risperidone.

"Because the antipsychotic market has not been stringent on formulary controls, the availability of generic risperidone will allow payers to place controls on branded antipsychotics and also place these agents on higher copay tiers," said Michael Malecki, Ph.D., analyst at Decision Resources. "Many schizophrenia patients will be required to take the generic form of Risperdal before they are reimbursed for treatment with other drugs. However, we don't expect patients who are currently stable on an antipsychotic to switch to generic risperidone."

The new report entitled Treatment Algorithms in Schizophrenia also finds that other atypicals capture patient share via their efficacy versus specific symptoms. Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka Pharmaceutical's Abilify is favored by 33 percent of surveyed psychiatrists for cases of schizophrenia with negative symptoms and 28 percent choose it for schizophrenia with cognitive dysfunction. Cases of schizophrenia with agitation call for AstraZeneca's Seroquel first-line, according to 37 percent of surveyed psychiatrists whereas cases of schizophrenia with anxiety call for Seroquel first-line, according to 46 percent of surveyed psychiatrists.

About Treatment Algorithm Insight Series

Decision Resources combines in-depth primary research with the most extensive claims-based longitudinal patient-level data from PharMetrics(R) to provide exceptional insight into physicians' prescribing trends and the factors that drive therapy product choice, from diagnosis through multiple courses of treatment, for a specific disease.

For each disease examined, Decision Resources' Treatment Algorithm Insight Series provides the following:

-- Summary of United States medical practice based on interviews with leading experts in the field

-- Qualitative diagnosis/referral/treatment algorithm for the United States

-- Drug usage by lines of therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line) -- Discussion of key freeform combinations by lines of therapy

-- Product share (class and specific compound level) within each line of therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line)

-- Progression of therapy from key 1st line products -- Pathway to key therapies from previous therapies

-- Qualitative analysis of two-year forecast incorporating upcoming launches, changes in reimbursement, etc

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (http://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.

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

For more information, contact: Elizabeth Marshall Decision Resources 781-296-2563 emarshall@dresources.com

Decision Resources

Contact: Elizabeth Marshall of Decision Resources, +1-781-296-2563,emarshall@dresources.com

Web site: http://www.decisionresources.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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