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For Prevention of Stroke, Surveyed Cardiologists and PCPs Expect to Prescribe Xarelto to Approximately One-Third of Newly-Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Posted on: Thursday, 2 April 2009, 08:00 CDT

However, Most Surveyed MCOs Say They Will Not Provide Reimbursement for Xarelto if its Only Advantage in Stroke Prevention is Greater Convenience, According to a New Report from Decision Resources

WALTHAM, Mass., April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, for prevention of stroke, surveyed cardiologists estimate they will prescribe Bayer/Johnson & Johnson's Xarelto to 36 percent of newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients, while primary care physicians (PCPs) estimate they will prescribe Xarelto to 29 percent of newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients. Additionally, surveyed PCPs indicate they will prescribe Boehringer Ingelheim's Pradaxa to 28 percent of newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients.

The new Physician & Payer Forum report entitled Novel Anticoagulants for Venous Thromboembolism and Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: Will Prescribers' and Payers' Attitudes Promote or Prevent a Shift Away From Warfarin and Heparins? finds that Xarelto is the most popular emerging antithrombotic therapy among surveyed clinicians. Despite the proven effectiveness and widespread use of vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin (Bristol-Myers Squibb's Coumadin) for stroke prevention and heparins for venous thromboembolism prevention (VTE), both drug classes have drawbacks in safety and/or drug delivery that compromise optimal anticoagulation.

"A multitude of new anticoagulants currently in late-stage development are seeking to overcome these problems and developers of these agents could capitalize on the commercial potential offered by the large patient populations with atrial fibrillation or nonsurgical inpatients at risk of VTE," said Decision Resources Director Nikhil Mehta, M.Eng. "However, existing anticoagulants are well established, and older versions of these drugs are inexpensive--these factors beg the question as to whether or not prescribers and payers will support the uptake of new, more-expensive agents in this market."

The report finds that a third or fewer of surveyed managed care organizations' (MCO) pharmacy directors would place Xarelto, Pradaxa, or Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer's apixaban on Tier 2 of their formularies if these agents are proven only to be equal to warfarin for both stroke prevention efficacy and bleeding. If the only clear advantage of these novel oral anticoagulants over warfarin in stroke prevention is greater convenience (e.g. no routine monitoring or dose adjustment), most surveyed pharmacy directors say they would be unwilling to pay for greater convenience alone.

Novel Anticoagulants for Venous Thromboembolism and Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: Will Prescribers' and Payers' Attitudes Promote or Prevent a Shift Away From Warfarin and Heparins is based on a U.S. survey of 50 cardiologists, 31 hospital internists who sit on their hospital pharmacy and therapeutics committees, 72 primary care physicians and 20 managed care organization (MCO) pharmacy directors. Their responses were compared to assess similarities and differences of opinion regarding clinical, economic and scientific factors.

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.

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

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

Source: PR Newswire

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