An Oral Agent for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Would Earn a Higher Patient Share in the United States than in Europe

Stelara Will Earn Decision Resources’ Clinical Gold-Standard for Psoriasis in 2012, According to a New Report from Decision Resources

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that an oral agent for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis that demonstrates improved efficacy and lasting remission when compared with Amgen/Wyeth/Takeda’s Enbrel would earn a higher patient share in the United States (20 percent) than in Europe (10 percent), according to surveyed U.S. and European dermatologists. Although the parenteral route of administration has not handicapped the performance of biological agents in the psoriasis market, oral therapies are still preferred by dermatologists for their convenience and the assumption that they will be priced lower than biological agents.

The new report entitled Psoriasis: Physicians Identify Key Differentiating Product Features in Crowded Market for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis finds that surveyed dermatologists indicate that a therapy’s effect on psoriatic plaques at 10 or 12 weeks is the attribute that most influences their prescribing decisions in moderate to severe psoriasis. Clinical data and the opinions of interviewed thought leaders indicate that emerging therapies, Centocor/Janssen-Cilag’s Stelara, Abbott’s ABT-874 and UCB/Otsuka’s Cimzia, have advantages in this attribute over Enbrel, the psoriasis market sales leader. Following its likely approval in 2009 for moderate to severe psoriasis, Stelara will earn Decision Resources’ proprietary clinical gold-standard for psoriasis from 2012 to 2017.

“Stelara’s unique and most significant advantage among therapies for moderate to severe psoriasis is its effect on lasting remission,” said Decision Resources Analyst Joanna Kim. “Interviewed experts believe that Stelara’s notable efficacy, combined with its 12-week dosing interval, will position this agent to compete directly with agents in the TNF-alpha inhibitors drug class and will capture significant use as a first-line biologic in the psoriasis market.”

About the Report

Psoriasis: Physicians Identify Key Differentiating Product Features in Crowded Market for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis is a DecisionBase 2009 report. DecisionBase 2009 is a decision-support tool that provides in-depth analysis of unmet need, physician expectations of new therapies and commercial dynamics to help pharmaceutical companies optimize their investments in drug development.

The report can be purchased by contacting Decision Resources. Members of the media may request an interview with an analyst.

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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    For more information, contact:
    Decision Resources                              Decision Resources, Inc.
    Christopher Comfort                             Elizabeth Marshall
    781-296-2597                                    781-296-2563
    ccomfort@dresources.com                         emarshall@dresources.com

SOURCE Decision Resources